Defense Contractor Attorney Near Florence, SC

Scott Braswell is going from one state championship program to another. This time, he will be calling the shots.

The Dutch Fork defensive coordinator will be the next head coach at South Florence. Braswell replaces Drew Marlowe, who resigned last week to become new coach at Sumter.

Braswell was introduced at a press conference Tuesday afternoon.

“It was so incredibly hard to leave Dutch Fork,” Braswell told The State. “The entire community had just become like a family and I feel like I had such great relationships with the faculty, staff and coaches. ... We are so excited to be at South Florence but very sad to be leaving the Dutch Fork community.”

Under Marlowe, the Bruins have had the best run in school history with four straight state championship appearances from 2022-25, winning it all 2022 and 2024. The 2022 championship featured future South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers and was the first title in program history.

The 36-year-old Braswell has been a hot name in the coaching hiring cycle in the state over the last few seasons. He was a candidate for a few jobs, most recently at North Myrtle Beach, who hired Perry Woolbright earlier this month.

Braswell said Tuesday he got discouraged after being passed over for other jobs and was a little hesitant when he was approached by South Florence athletic director Cody Slaughter.

“By default, I was a little hesitant to get too excited because of those close calls,” Braswell said. “But once we got into the process, spoke more with coach Slaughter, principal Josey, superintendent O’Malley, they kind of swept me and my family off our feet and made us feel wanted. I just became enamored and impressed with the South Florence High School community.”

Braswell has been at Dutch Fork since 2021 and was part of the Silver Foxes’ four straight state championship squads from 2022-25. The Silver Foxes’ 2024 defense had a school record for shutouts (6) and tied a school record for fewest points allowed in a season with 94.

This year’s Dutch Fork defense allowed 12.4 points a game.

“Coach Braswell works so hard and works so diligently,” Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts said after the team set the record for shutouts against Spartanburg in 2024. “He puts this before everything, so I wanted the guys to know how important it was to get the shutout for him.”

Braswell talked about Knotts’ influence on him and what he can take from him at his first coaching job.

“Coach Knotts is great at attention to detail and accountibility,” Braswell said. “Holding all players, coaches and staff members to a high standard both in and out of the school building.”

Braswell comes from a coaching family. His father, Scott Sr., was a head coach in North Carolina and an assistant coach under Knotts at West Charlotte in the 1990s. The stadium at Hoggard High in Wilmington is named after the elder Braswell.

In 2013 interview with the Wilmington Star News, the younger Braswell credited his dad for wanting to be involved in coaching football. He was his father’s special teams coach at Woodberry Forest School in Virginia.

Braswell spent time as a defensive assistant at Methodist College and also did an internship at UNC Charlotte and coached at Ava Maria University in Florida.

Braswell Sr. and his wife was in attendance at the press conference and Braswell Jr. said his father will have a role on the Bruins staff. The younger Braswell said he plans on keeping several members of the current South Florence staff and likely will start at the school sometime in early March.

SC Football Coaching Openings

School — Former Coach — New Coach

AC Flora — Ken Floyd — TBA

Andrews — Scott Durham — TBA

Belton-Honea Path — Russell Blackston — TBA

Chapin — Ryan Cole — Cory Helms

Chester — Victor Floyd — TBA

Clover — Perry Woolright — Bennett Swygert

Colleton County — Adam Kinloch — Bradley Adams

Conway — Josh Pierce — Jody Jenerette

Goose Creek — Jason Winstead — TBA

Green Sea Floyds — Patrick Martin — TBA

Hillcrest — Bennett Swygert — TBA

Lake Wylie — (School opens in 2026) — N/A — Nick Pelham

Liberty — Paul Sutherland — Bobby Ruff

McCormick — Leroy Collier — TBA

Marion — Brian Hennecy — TBA

May River — Richard Bonneville — TBA

Ninety-Six — Matthew Bennett — Austin Sargent

North Myrtle Beach — Greg Hill — Perry Woolbright

Pelion — Cory Helms — TBA

South Florence — Drew Marlowe — Scott Braswell

St. James — Tommy Norwood — Stephen Cagle

Sumter — Mark Barnes — Drew Marlowe

Union County — Quinnon Isom — Bryan Robinson

Wagener-Salley — Blaze Gillespie — TBA

Whale Branch — Willie White (interim) — Dee Delaney

White Knoll — Nick Pelham — Victor Floyd

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Over the past six years, (SC) football program has seen an immense level of success under the guidance of head coach .

Now, the Bruins will be looking to find someone who can carry the torch of success after his half dozen years at the helm.

According to , Marlowe has officially stepped down as the head football coach at South Florence. Marlowe led the Bruins to Class 4A state championships in 2022 and 2024.

During his time as the South Florence head coach, Marlowe over the course of six seasons compiled an overall record of 63-16, which included four state championship game appearances and falling just short of a third 4A title in 2025, losing to South Pointe, 35-14.

South Florence finished with a 13-2 record and as the No. 5 ranked team in the state, according to the final .

South Florence High School, located in Florence, South Carolina, is a respected public school known for its strong academics, competitive athletics, and vibrant extracurricular programs. Offering a variety of AP and honors courses, the school prepares students for higher education and future careers. South Florence’s athletic teams are successful, frequently achieving regional and state recognition. Emphasizing leadership, community involvement, and personal growth, the school ensures students are well-rounded and ready for future challenges.

For South Carolina high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the . This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Palmetto State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across South Carolina.

FLORENCE COUNTY, SC (WMBF) - South Florence High School will soon be looking for a new head football coach.

Drew Marlowe said in a statement sent to WMBF News Friday that he is resigning to pursue other opportunities in coaching.

“My family and I can’t possibly express our gratitude to the South Florence administration for their trust in us and the Bruins faithful who helped us achieve our program’s lofty goals,” Marlowe said.

Marlowe said he was hired six years ago as a first-time head coach.

During his tenure, South Florence saw waves of success, including four state title game appearances and two 4A state championships.

“Most of all, I want to thank the players who have come through this program and poured every bit of their blood, sweat, and tears into South Florence Bruin Football,” Marlowe said. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”

Marlowe’s full statement can be viewed below.

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FLORENCE — Florence County and other parts of the Pee Dee are in for even more winter weather following an icy mid-January weekend.

The area’s last patch of winter weather brought icy roads, drooping trees and difficult travel across much of South Carolina. Pee Dee counties are gearing up for more wintry weather for the second weekend in a row. This time, the forecast is different — maybe even historic.

“This is going to be a really historic event that we're not going to forget for many years,” Meteorologist Ian Boatman said.

The National Weather Service’s Wilmington office issued a winter storm warning for Florence, Darlington, Dillon, Marlboro, Marion and Williamsburg Counties Jan. 30. It will be in effect from early Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon.

Very light snow will begin sometime Saturday afternoon and become heavier overnight and into Sunday morning, Boatman said. Most areas can expect 5 to 8 inches of snow, but isolated areas could see even more than that.

One small change in the weather pattern could lead to a bigger change somewhere else, Boatman said, similar to a butterfly effect. That opens the Pee Dee up to potentially getting more than a foot of snow. Though unlikely, Boatman said he could not rule the possibility out.

A change could also mean less snow than expected, hovering around 4 inches on the low end. Florence saw about 2 inches of snow last January.

Some Pee Dee counties were put under a winter storm watch last weekend, but snow wasn’t in the forecast as much as ice was. There are few concerns about ice this weekend, and Meteorologist Stephen Keebler said it’s not expected.

“Certainly the difference this weekend is it's going to be all snow, maybe a little very light rain to start, but it's going to be all snow,” Keebler said.

This is good and bad, Keebler said. The good news is that widespread power outages are not anticipated with “this kind of snow.” However, he said travel will be treacherous during this period, especially for Southerners not used to driving in such conditions.

The snow is expected to stick around for a few days, possibly until mid-week, according to Keebler, because of cold temperatures that will linger throughout next week.

Anyone who drives a car understands the sting of having to fill up their tank and pulling into the gas station, only to discover that gas prices have skyrocketed. Paying extra for gas means you have less to spend on other things, which, over time, can really put a crimp in your budget.

Cheap Insurance explored some of the reasons behind major changes in gas prices, and compiled a list of the cheapest gas stations in Florence, South Carolina using data from Gas Buddy.

Gas prices fluctuate based on several factors, including the cost of the key ingredient, crude oil, as well as the available supply and demand for gasoline. If the price of oil rises, a major refinery goes offline, or more drivers are hitting the road, for example, then the cost will increase.

In the first half of 2022, a unique confluence of events led to a surge in gas prices. The increased demand stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a slowdown in oil production all contributed to a national all-time high of $4.93 per gallon on average in June 2022.

Seasons also affect gas prices. Demand tends to drop in winter, but the cost also falls because gas stations switch to a different blend of gasoline that's optimal for lower temperatures—and has cheaper ingredients.

Location also matters. The South and Midwest tend to have the lowest gas prices, while the West, including Hawai'i, has the highest. Californians, in particular, pay more for gas on average than any other state. That's because of its high state excise taxes; its isolation from the country's major pipelines, which causes supply issues; and its requirements that mandate a more environmentally friendly blend of gas that costs more to produce and adds to the price per gallon.

No matter where you live, read on to see if you can get a deal on gas near you.

#1. Exxon- Address: 2099 N Irby St, Florence, SC- Price: $2.33

#1. Sam's Club (tie)- Address: 200 Beltline Dr, SouthCarolina, SC- Price: $2.33

#3. QuikTrip- Address: 3311 State Rd S-21-545, Florence, SC- Price: $2.35

#4. Pilot- Address: 3006 N Williston Rd, Florence, SC- Price: $2.39

#4. Pilot (tie)- Address: 2015 W Lucas St, Florence, SC- Price: $2.39

#4. Amoco (tie)- Address: 3763 W Palmetto St, Florence, SC- Price: $2.39

#4. BP (tie)- Address: 2301 W Lucas St, Florence, SC- Price: $2.39

#4. BP (tie)- Address: 101 Cashua Ferry Rd, Darlington, SC- Price: $2.39

#4. Amoco (tie)- Address: 3301 W Palmetto St, Florence, SC- Price: $2.39

#4. Breakers (tie)- Address: 2240 Harry Byrd Hwy, Darlington, SC- Price: $2.39