Class 2A Lower State Final Preview

Ian Guerin November 24, 2020 @ 11:05 PM

When Marion beat Andrews 28-20 to start the season, a whole bunch of people figured that was about that in terms of settling the Region VII-2A slate and the Yellow Jackets’ chances of making much of a run in an abbreviated playoff set-up. Well, here we are. The two programs will get a second go of it on Friday in the Class 2A Lower State finals, the Swamp Foxes and Yellow Jackets each hoping to punch their ticket to Columbia. So much has changed since September 25. But some things have stayed the same. Here are the questions we can’t wait to see answered this Friday. CAN CRAWFORD DO IT AGAIN? Qualiek Crawford has been running the ball like a man possessed the last three weeks. The Marion senior went for 112 in the regular-season finale against Manning, dumped 196 on Andrew Jackson to start the playoffs and then followed it up with a 171-yard performance against Barnwell last week. But if there were indications that his two monster games toward the end of his junior campaign weren’t flukes, they started plenty early this fall. In the season opener against Andrews, Crawford went for 145 yards and a touchdowns on just 15 carries. He chased it with a 175-yard, two-touchdown night against Kingstree, had his two down games against Latta and Mullins (when he still went for 61 and 80 yards, respectively) and then started his recent hot streak against Manning. For the year, he stands 60 yards shy of 1,000 and has reached the end zone seven times rushing and another two times receiving. Clearly, he’s is the top focus for Andrews’ defense. WILL THE YELLOW JACKETS’ DEFENSE STAY HOT? It’s crazy to think about, considering Andrews only allowed 28 points in that season-opening loss. But the Yellow Jackets have made everyone else since look elementary, and often by a considerable margin. Pelion’s 19 points in a second-round playoff loss last week was the second-most points scored against Andrews this year. The rest of the bunch put up 0, 8, 18 and 6. How? Remember these names: Franklin Grant, Donte Fulmore and Charlton Williams. The Yellow Jacket linebacking core floats all over the field and there’s a good chance if a tackle is made, at least one of them is in on it. Grant, a 5-foot-7 senior, leads the team with 42 tackles and three interceptions to go along with 5.5 tackles for loss, a pass break-up and a fumble recovery. Fulmore, a 5-foot-11 junior, also has 42 tackles and four tackles for loss. And Williams, a 6-foot senior, has 38 tackles, a team-leading seven for loss and a forced fumble. PREP RED ZONE’S PICK Line Marion up against 90 percent of the teams in Class 2A this year, and the Swamp Foxes are probably considered the favorite. But between how hard it is to beat a team twice and Andrews’ defensive prowess this year, we like the Yellow Jackets in the rematch.