Class 2A Lower State Second Round Preview

<p style="font-weight: 400;">If you wanted to look for upsets in the first round, look no further than the Class 2A Lower State bracket. Central and Barnwell, a couple of No. 4 seeds, defeated No. 1 seeds. Another team, Woodland, went on the road and won as well. Only two of the eight games were decided by a score or less.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">This week features a couple of No. 2 at No. 1 seeds that are marquee matchups. Here is a look at this Friday’s games.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 4 Central (4-6) at No. 1 Silver Bluff (8-0)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">After having a bye last week, undefeated Silver Bluff starts the playoffs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91348" first="Traevon" last="Dunbar"]</strong>, <strong>Vernon Lawrence</strong> and <strong>Zaden Davis</strong> lead a talented group that has outscored opponents 370-41 this season. The Bulldogs have recorded five shutouts. Central rallied from a 13-0 deficit last week to knock off Lee Central. <strong>Daniel Moore</strong> scored twice, and <strong>Zack Sowell</strong> added a score.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 2 Timberland (9-1) at No. 1 Cheraw (7-3)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Since losing to Philip Simmons, Timberland has won two in a row by a combined score of 73-0. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91223" first="Roman" last="Wadford"]</strong>, <strong>Damarion Hampton</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91142" first="Omari" last="Jenkins"]</strong> lead a talented Wolves backfield that defeated Pelion 39-0 in the first round. Cheraw received touchdowns from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="91221" first="Damarion" last="McCaskill"]</strong>, <strong>Derreon Pegues</strong>, <strong>Zay Brown</strong> and <strong>JuJu Hood</strong> in a 43-0 win over Latta.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 4 Barnwell (7-4) at No. 3 Woodland (5-4)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Barnwell pulled one of the biggest upsets according to seeding when they defeated defending state runner-up Marion in the first round. But the Warhorses overcame a halftime deficit with 34 third quarter points in the 51-40 win. LB/RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="31310" first="Tyler" last="Smith"]</strong>, RB <strong>Marion Jones</strong> and QB <strong>Weston Sandifer</strong> lead the way. Woodland went on the road and defeated Andrews 38-6. OL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="139286" first="Kam" last="Pringle"]</strong> and DL <strong>Kendrick Clark Jr</strong> will be key.</p> <p style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>No. 2 Wade Hampton (9-1) at No. 1 Philip Simmons (10-1)</strong></p> <p style="font-weight: 400;">Maybe the marquee matchup in the lower state bracket. Wade Hampton did squeak out a 20-14 win over Lake Marion while Philip Simmons dominated Mullins 41-6. The Red Devils got a huge night from QB <strong>Jamian Risher</strong> and will need more of that against the Iron Horses. LB <strong>Andrew Robinson</strong> and <strong>Robert Clark </strong>will be key as well. Philip Simmons received big games from <strong>Bryce Smalls</strong> (10 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery), <strong>Que Green</strong> (66-yard TD reception and 76-yard KO return) and <strong>Tripp Williams</strong> (136 passing yards and three touchdowns).</p>