North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Kaye Collins
Mayor Mike Suggs awarded a framed Resolution Number 01-26, dated February 2, 2026, to Loris High School Head Coach Greg Mance in recognition of his dedication to the Loris Lions varsity football team over the course of six seasons.
Coach Mance has gathered a highly skilled and capable coaching team that has motivated, shaped, and guided the LHS student athletes into a successful football squad, which in 2025 established records and accomplished feats that no Lions teams have achieved in the annals of football.
In 2025, the Lions team triumphed over their conference rival, the Dillon Wildcats, for the second year in a row in an exhilarating match held in Dillon, concluding with a score of 23-22. Additionally, they maintained an undefeated record in Region Play, achieving five victories and no defeats, which led to their being named the Region 5-AAA Champion for the second consecutive year, a remarkable achievement last seen in 1991 and 1992.
The 2025 Lions achieved an impeccable record in the regular season, remaining undefeated with 10 victories and no defeats, marking them as only the third Lions team to accomplish an undefeated regular season. The Lions progressed to the South Carolina AAA State Playoffs, triumphing over every team in their bracket for the second year in a row, where they competed for the South Carolina AAA Lower State Championship. They concluded the season with an overall record of 13 wins and 1 loss, making them the first Lions team to secure 13 victories in a single season and the first to participate in the Lower State Championship for consecutive seasons.
The Loris Lions varsity football team of 2025 accumulated a total of 645 points, establishing a new record for the highest number of points scored in a single season by any Lions team. Furthermore, they attained a post-season ranking as the third best AAA Football team in South Carolina.
Coach Mance, along with his coaching staff and the 2025 Loris Lions varsity football team, have come together to invigorate the City of Loris and its neighboring communities, brought acclaim to Loris High School, and fostered a collective sense of pride within us all.
The City of Loris acknowledges and commends Coach Mance along with the record-breaking 2025 LHS Lions varsity football team for their exceptional achievements on the football field. We express our gratitude for the recognition they have brought to our high school, our city, and our community. This resolution will be documented in the minutes of the Loris City Council meeting, and a copy will be given to Coach Greg Mance.
In summarizing Coach Mance’s remarks regarding this recognition, he conveyed a sense of humility in accepting the award on behalf of the Loris Lions 2025 varsity football team. He expressed pride in the team’s achievements across various dimensions—physically, emotionally, academically—and attributed their success to the Lions pride, love, and support from the community. The young athletes dedicated themselves to making the season exceptionally successful. While Mance and the other coaches offered guidance throughout the winning season, it was ultimately the team that triumphed. This year, nearly 20 players from the varsity team are set to graduate, marking an award-winning season during which many of them have signed letters of intent to pursue college, play football, and earn a degree.
Seniors on the LHS varsity team set to graduate in June are, Khalid Sherman, Jacobien ‘Grimm’ Lewis, Khalil Sherman, Mykhai Bell, Terrence Hardee, Zamire ‘Moon’ Gerald, J. K. Robinson, Tyler Brown, Jay Todd, Jakaree Mitchell, Dirk Martin, Jayden Clay, Michael Marksberry, Bobby Bostic, Kaleb Gore, Christopher Gore, Dre Brown, Preston Hays, Jocquez Bellamy, Conner White, Cameron Isiah, Landon Conner, Jayden Bellamy, Treymarius Cooke, Kolby McCants, Jamarius Wilson, Dylan Schuhmann, Logan Coleman, Jacob Dozier, Thomas Nichols and Damarea ‘Baby Grady’ Thurmond.
