Class 2A Upper State First Round Playoff Preview
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There are plenty of storylines in the 2A Upper State bracket this season. At the forefront is a looming showdown between Abbeville and Gray Collegiate, but that’s a couple of rounds (and wins) in the future. There’s also the last…
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Continue ReadingThere are plenty of storylines in the 2A Upper State bracket this season. At the forefront is a looming showdown between Abbeville and Gray Collegiate, but that’s a couple of rounds (and wins) in the future. There’s also the last playoff run for coaching legend Phil Strickland at Newberry, and a possible matchup of Greenville County private schools Christ Church and St. Joseph’s in the second round.
Here’s a game-by-game look at the first round of the bracket.
No. 4 Blacksburg (1-7) at No. 1 Abbeville (10-0)
Blacksburg has had a tough season, but there are bright spots. One of them is Dre Buckson, who’s rushed for 777 yards and a 6.6 yards per carry average. The defending state champion Panthers have been the top-ranked team in 2A all season, and are led by a quartet of talented backs including QB Zay Rayford. Perhaps the Panthers’ most intriguing player, though, is Jeremiah Lomax Jeremiah Lomax 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB Abbeville | 2022 State SC (pictured), who returned interceptions for touchdowns in five consecutive games at one point this season, and is one off the national record for pick-6s in a season.
No. 3 Andrew Jackson (6-3) at No. 2 Saluda (6-2)
Andrew Jackson has gone with the ground game for success this season, and sophomore RB Trey Thompson is the workhorse. Thompson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards and 12 TDs for the Volunteers. Saluda has shown some offensive balance, with Jabari Baker throwing for more than 1,300 yards and Montrevious Baker rushing for 560 yards and a dozen scores.
No. 5 North Central (3-6) at No. 1 Gray Collegiate (9-1)
North Central has put up a couple of big numbers this season, led by Delvontai Drakeford and Layton Smith. The War Eagles feature one of the most dynamic backs in the state in Kazarius Adams Kazarius Adams 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB Gray Collegiate Academy | 2022 State SC . Adams has rushed for nearly 2,000 yards and 23 touchdowns, averaging 9 yards per carry and 216 yards a game.
No. 3 Crescent (4-5) at No. 2 Chesnee (3-7)
Crescent put together a solid season in a rugged region. The Tigers are led by Kaydon Sauers Kaydon Sauers 6'5" | 225 lbs | QB Crescent | 2022 State SC , who has more than 1,500 yards of total offense, and by Darius Latimer, with 566 yards on the ground.. The Eagles are banged-up heading into the contest, but expect big things from Jayden Gossett. The senior B-Back and DE will be crucial to Chesnee’s success.
No. 4 Ninety Six (5-4) at No. 1 St. Joseph’s (7-2)
Payne Davis has been the standout for Ninety Six. The Wildcats’ QB has thrown for 1,324 yards and a dozen touchdowns. Ninety Six has a balanced rushing attack, with Zayvion King leading the way. However, five other Wildcat backs have rushed for at least 100 yards this season. The Knights won a region title for the first time in school history, and they did it mostly on the ground. K.D. Boyd and Harrison Scott Harrison Scott 6'0" | 190 lbs | QB St. Joseph's | 2022 State SC help to lead the way for the St. Joseph’s, including a key fourth-down conversion and the game-winning touchdown in the win over Landrum that clinched the region crown.
No. 4 Batesburg-Leesville (3-3) at No. 2 Christ Church (7-2)
Batesburg-Leesville has played in fits and starts this season, with COVID-19 cancellations wiping out a lot of the schedule. Amah-Dre Leaphart has led the way for the Panthers on the ground, with Hunter Carlyle leading the defense. For the Cavaliers, success has a lot to do with Grayson Klue Grayson Klue 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2022 State SC . Klue has rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season, averaging more than 10 yards per carry with six 100-yard rushing games.
No. 5 Columbia (3-6) at No. 2 Chesterfield (6-2)
Randall McDaniel has put up an impressive season for the Capitals, with 1,107 yards of total offense, including 944 on the ground. Chesterfield has put up a ton of yards and points, with Kaegan Chambers leading the way. He’s thrown for more than 900 yards and rushed for more than 500, with 16 combined touchdowns. He’s joined in the backfield by Kevin Diggs Kevin Diggs 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Chesterfield | 2022 State SC and Jayden Little, who have run for almost 800 yards each.
No. 3 Landrum (4-5) at No. 3 Newberry (4-5)
Jesse Bowers has been a standout for the Cardinals as they moved to an option-based offensive attack. Landrum’s junior QB has rushed for 877 yards and 15 touchdowns to spearhead the attack, with Colton Link adding 457 yards on the ground. The Bulldogs are led by legit gamebreaker Zack Chalmers Zack Chalmers 6'4" | 200 lbs | WR Newberry | 2022 State SC . The No. 6 recruit in Prep Redzone’s 2022 class, Chalmers has a handful of Division I offers.