Class 1A Lower State First Round Preview

<p style="font-weight: 400;">Class A Lower State has a number of teams that could end up playing the final weekend of the season. Covid restrictions have caused a lot of teams to play a shortened season, but each have started to peak with November starting. C.E. Murray, Lake View, Bamberg-Ehrhardt and Baptist Hill are the top challengers but a surprise team in Whale Branch or Branchville could break through with the right breaks.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Here is a preview of the first-round matchups.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 4 Cross (2-4) at No. 1 C.E. Murray (4-1)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">C.E. Murray QB <strong>Tyree Prunes</strong> leads the team in rushing and passing yards. But he has help in the form of RB <strong>Quentarius Grant</strong> and on defense from LB <strong>Quentin Grant</strong>. Cross leans on two-way DB/RB <strong>Caleb Wright</strong>. Both teams lost games to Covid and are just now getting into what would normally be the middle of the season.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 3 Johnsonville (4-3) at No. 2 Branchville (6-1)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Branchville only suffered one loss and that was to undefeated Bamberg-Ehrhardt. Johnsonville has won three in a row after suffering a 3-game losing streak. RB <strong>Daquan Burroughs</strong> is the top threat offensively. TE/DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="103787" first="Wyatt" last="Smith"]</strong> is a solid two-way player.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 4 Estill (3-7) at No. 1 Lake View (8-2)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Lake View has RB <strong>Marvin Gordon</strong> and <strong>Treyvon Bellmon</strong> but Gordon missed the last game. QB <strong>DJ Bethea</strong> has thrown for over 1500 yards. His top two targets are WR <strong>Shaheed Dawkins</strong> and <strong>Trey Page</strong>. Estill lost four of five to end the season.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 3 East Clarendon (2-6) at No. 2 Whale Branch (7-1)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">RB <strong>Joseph Hicks</strong> is just shy of 1,000 yards on the season for Whale Branch. QB <strong>Kai’shawn Jenkins</strong> has played well for an offense that is averaging 30 points per game. East Clarendon has lost two in a row to end the season.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 4 Hannah-Pamplico (4-3) at No. 1 Bamberg-Ehrhardt (9-0)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">It is uncertain if Bamberg-Ehrhardt will be without QB <strong>Gage Boykin</strong>. He missed the last game of the regular season. But the Red Raiders still have the likes of RB/LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91201" first="Quincy" last="Bias"]</strong>. They have allowed less than 7 points per game with three shutouts Hannah-Pamplico is led by QB <strong>Zander Poston</strong>, RB <strong>Floyd Eaddy</strong> and WR <strong>Tae Sellers</strong>.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 3 St. John’s (2-4) at No. 2 Carvers Bay (3-2)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Carvers Bay has QB <strong>Kayshaun Brockington</strong> and a solid nucleus to build around. St. John’s must find a way to slow down the Bears high-powered attack.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 1 Baptist Hill 54, No. 4 Scott’s Branch 20</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Baptist Hill trailed 14-8 at the half but scored 48 second half points to rally for the win. QB <strong>Harold Gathers</strong> came into the game with 1,723 passing yards and 22 TDs. Baptist Hill improves to 7-0 while Scott’s Branch finishes the season 1-9.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 3 Allendale-Fairfax (3-4) at No. 2 Green Sea Floyds (5-2)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Green Sea Floyds lost the region title to Lake View in the final region game of the season. RB <strong>Colby Thorndyke</strong> paces the ground attack with RB <strong>Dan Johnson</strong> being a key piece as well.</p>