Class 4A Lower State Final Preview

North Myrtle Beach has never been in this position before. Myrtle Beach is here so often that when the Seahawks actually fail to make it the season is looked upon as a failure. The contrasting histories will meet head on in a budding rivalry that took way too long to develop. Simply, the Chiefs were just not very good most years when these teams separated by 18 miles would line up against each other. Myrtle Beach won 21 of the first 28 games in the series, including four games over the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The first game between these Region VI-4A foes this year was different. North Myrtle Beach was physical in the November 6 tilt - knocking out the Seahawks’ quarterback and one of their star receivers - and rolled in the second half, eventually winning 34-6. Myrtle Beach wants payback. North Myrtle Beach wants a changing of the guard. <strong>EXPERIENCE MATTERS</strong> When Myrtle Beach won the 2018 state championship over Greer, most of the current crop of Seahawks were either not yet in uniform or basically didn’t see playing time. The closest thing to the three-season carryover was <strong>Sullivan Hardin</strong>, who handled punting duties in that game and now punts and kicks for Myrtle Beach.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span> However, many of them were on the sidelines and getting a feel for the atmosphere. It showed last season, when the Seahawks lost to Wren at Williams-Brice Stadium. There were signs of soon-to-be legacies all over. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59494" first="Ryan" last="Burger"]</strong>, receivers <strong>J.J. Jones</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59464" first="Adam" last="Randall"]</strong>, defensive lineman <strong>Tyrone Miles</strong>, linebacker <strong>Keltron Bessant</strong> and cornerback <strong>T.J. Auston</strong> were there, among others, getting a taste for the Weekend of Champions. Although the defense has had its moments, the Myrtle Beach offense has pumped up 3,835 total yards in nine games so far this year while scoring 44 and 49 points in each of their first two playoff contests. These are guys who are used to huge moments. <strong>THE UPSTARTS</strong> Matt Reel’s bunch in Little River could have easily been a top-ranked team in the statewide media polls entering the playoffs if it had a little more luster on its record from 2019. Instead, the Chiefs chimed in at No. 2 after rolling through just about everyone in the regular season and the first two rounds of the playoffs. Everyone notices tailback <strong>Nyliek Livingston</strong> after his eight 100-yard games so far. Quarterback <strong>Cam Freeman’s</strong> 891 combined passing/rushing yards and 13 total touchdowns are important, too. But the Chiefs’ claim to fame this year is a defense built by future college athletes. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="59341" first="Chase" last="Simmons"]</strong> (6-foot-4) and <strong>Henry Duke</strong> (6-foot-6) may be the tallest defensive end duo in the state. They bookend <strong>Trey Baker</strong> and <strong>Mark Bellamy</strong> on the run-stuffing interior. Linebackers <strong>T.J. Cox</strong> and <strong>Billy Barlow</strong> are both college-sports bound (Barlow will be playing baseball at Clemson) and <strong>Chandler McCall</strong> is going to have a few offers by the time he graduates in 2022. Add them all together, and there’s a reason North Myrtle Beach has allowed just 12.2 points per game this year. <strong>PREP RED ZONE’S PICK</strong> Consistency has to count for something, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a team that has done its thing better start-to-finish in this crazy 2020 season than North Myrtle Beach. The Chiefs get our nod in the rematch.