By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer | garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
The McDonald’s Kick-off Classic started six years ago as a one-site junior varsity preseason competition to help pay for a fifth official for middle school and JV football games.
Now, it is one of the premier preseason high school football events in South Carolina and a major charitable event.
The McDonald’s Kick-off Classic has expanded to five host sites and brings in many of the Palmetto State’s best programs each season. This year, 42 teams from across the state will take part. For the first time, Woodruff’s W.L. Varner Stadium will host a portion of the event, and all for a good cause.
During a press conference held at Tap Three on July 23, the head coaches from each participating school were on hand with several of their players to talk about the event and provide updates on how their respective teams are shaping up as the season nears. Lee Smith, a Woodruff native and former player for the Wolverines, is one of the original referees who founded the event, which is overseen by many of the best high school football officials in the state. Smith said that with Woodruff being his hometown, being able to bring the McDonald’s Kick-off Classic to Varner Stadium was a real pleasure.
“What a pleasure to be here,” said Smith. “This is my hometown. This is where I went to school, and this is where I played at so this is a treat for me to be up here and be a part of this. Thank you to Athletic Director (Mike) Morris and Principal (Christine) Morris for allowing us to partner with you and be a part of the Woodruff venue.”
A non-profit event, much of the proceeds from each host venue will be donated to charity, including a significant portion to the Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing to families whose children are undergoing life-saving medical treatment away from home. Not only a high-level football event, but the McDonald’s Kick-off Classic has become a vessel to support these worthy philanthropic efforts further. Randy Mason, owner of the local Woodruff McDonald’s, expressed his appreciation for the community and for being a part of the McDonald’s Kick-off Classic.
“We love being in communities and being part of a community,” said Mason. “For us, we moved here from Kentucky four years ago, so I’m new to the community of Woodruff. Thank you for letting us be here and be a part of this event.”
On Thursday, August 7, the lights will come on for the first time in 2025, and six teams will take the field at Varner Stadium with each match-up consisting of two quarters of play. The match-ups include Clinton versus Fountain Inn, which happens to be the Wolverines’ first two regular season opponents, and Byrnes versus national powerhouse Providence Day School from Concord, NC.
The nightcap will see Woodruff take on 5A Nation Ford, coached by former University of South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley, in a first-ever meeting of any kind between the two schools.
In total, there will be at least five players rated in the ESPN 300 recruit rankings on hand, with many other Division 1 caliber players suiting up as well. Woodruff’s Aiden Gibson, Kam Taylor, and Shaun “War Daddy” Graybill, along with Tre Segarra of Byrnes and offensive lineman Tre Aiken of Clinton, will be among the local standouts whose talents will be on display.
Woodruff head coach Brett Sloan is excited for Woodruff to be a host school for the McDonald’s Kick-off Classic for the first time. As he describes, it is a special event for a town that loves high school football.
“Most of you know some things about Woodruff, and it really is a special football town,” Sloan stated.
Until you really live here, you don’t appreciate it for what it is until you’re here, and it is a special and magical environment on Friday night. It’s a special football town, and we’re so proud to be able to host this event and be able to represent our community and our team.”
Each of the coaches in attendance expressed excitement in kicking off the preseason against quality competition at the Wolverines’ legendary venue. Corey Fountain, head coach at the Wolverines’ arch rival, Clinton, is ready to see how his team stacks up against a quality opponent in Fountain Inn.
“This is an awesome opportunity for us and our team to showcase really early what is going to be taking place later on in the season,” said Fountain. “Our guys have been working really hard in the offseason.”
For Sloan, it is a chance to evaluate his team as well, with Woodruff returning a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball while also bringing along a set of new faces.
“We have some good players coming back,” he said. “We have six players coming back on offense and seven on defense. We’ve got some talented guys and guys with a whole lot of potential, but you still have to do the right things. There are so many things we have to do before we become a good football team.”
Author: gmitchell85
