---
title: "Irmo Yellow Jackets Fall to Rock Hill in Season Opener"
url: https://www.hereirmo.com/2026/08/24/irmo-yellow-jackets-fall-rock-hill/
date: 2026-08-24T01:51:40+00:00
modified: 2026-08-24T01:51:40+00:00
author: "Ty T. Alarcon"
categories: ["News"]
site: "HERE Irmo"
attribution: "HERE Irmo"
---

# Irmo Yellow Jackets Fall to Rock Hill in Season Opener

*Source: [HERE Irmo](https://www.hereirmo.com/2026/08/24/irmo-yellow-jackets-fall-rock-hill/) — August 24, 2026 by Ty T. Alarcon*

The Irmo Yellow Jackets faced a 24-14 defeat against Rock Hill in their 2026 high school football season opener on August 22, 2026, at W.C. Hawkins Stadium. The game, a matchup of highly-ranked South Carolina teams, saw Irmo rally in the second half but ultimately fall short.

Rock Hill established a 17-0 lead by halftime. Irmo quarterback Britton Davis provided a spark in the third quarter, accounting for both of Irmo’s touchdowns. He connected with Jay Eady for a 39-yard touchdown pass and also scored on an 8-yard run, narrowing the deficit to three points at 17-14.

Despite the second-half surge, Irmo’s comeback efforts were thwarted by Rock Hill’s secondary, which secured two interceptions in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Zymier Gordon-Miles intercepted Davis with 3:44 left, and Donovan Franklin made another interception near the Irmo 20-yard line with less than three minutes remaining, returning it to the 2-yard line.

Irmo head coach Aaron Brand expressed frustration with the team’s performance, citing three turnovers and 22 penalties as significant factors. He described the plays as self-inflicting mistakes and acknowledged the need for better coaching and player discipline. Brand noted that running back and Alabama commit Tai Phillips had a 17-yard touchdown run called back due to a penalty, highlighting missed scoring opportunities.

Defensive lineman and University of Miami commit Jaiden Bryant recorded a sack for Irmo, with University of South Carolina offensive lineman commit Nate Carson also occasionally joining the defensive front. The game was marked by a high number of penalties, with both teams combining for nearly 35 infractions, including offsetting personal fouls on back-to-back plays.

This loss marks the second consecutive defeat for the Yellow Jackets, following their Class 5A Division I final loss to Northwestern.