Class 4A Lower State Third Round Preview

Ian Guerin November 16, 2021 @ 11:36 AM

We warned y’all about the possible Region VI-4A tournament. Now, we’re in the end game. Three of the final four Class 4A Lower State teams come from that division, with only Beaufort standing in the way of one of the other three making the state finals in Columbia on December 2. And between Beaufort-Myrtle Beach and West Florence-Hartsville, the two games have history inside of the last calendar year. So, who will move on to the Lower State finals? Here’s what we’ll be keeping close tabs on in these two games. Beaufort (10-2) at Myrtle Beach (9-1) For all the talk of Beaufort’s [player_tooltip player_id="89319" first="Tyler" last="Haley"] and Amarie Morris and Myrtle Beach’s [player_tooltip player_id="59494" first="Ryan" last="Burger"] and [player_tooltip player_id="59464" first="Adam" last="Randall"], another barn burner of a game between these two in entirely possible. Haley’s number from behind center are excellent, as he’s thrown for just shy of 2,300 yards and 14 touchdowns while rushing for another 480 and nine. Morris’ 848 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns has been a great complement. Burger and Randall, two Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl selections on their way to NCAA Division-I full rides, aren’t too shabby either. Randall, the Clemson commitment, is a catch from surpassing 1,200 receiving yards on the season to go along with his 16 receiving touchdowns (he’s also rushed for 257 yards and five scores). Burger, who is verbally committed to Appalachian State, has passed for 2,119 yards and 31 touchdowns. Where he gets the edge over Haley, though, is his lack of turnovers. Burger has been picked off just twice in 191 attempts this year. Either way, if either or both duo gets going, the score in this game could grow in a hurry. West Florence (9-2) at Hartsville (6-5) West Florence coach Jody Jenerette has said in recent weeks that his team is getting better as the Knights go. And, surely, the difference between September 24 and now is evidence of that. It was on that night that Hartsville shellacked West Florence 33-13. Running back [player_tooltip player_id="91198" first="Terry" last="McKithen"] and quarterback Orlando Hudson couldn’t get going, rushing for just 129 yards, roughly 95 yards below their combined season averages. In the rematch, the offensive lines will dictate which of these two powerful running games does its thing. Hartsville will counter will sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="208339" first="Carmello" last="McDaniel"] (1,289 yards, 21 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id="202738" first="J’Shawn" last="Anderson"] (1,152, 15), a pair of running backs that have put Jeff Calabrese’s Wing T back on the map after a slow start to the 2021 season. Meanwhile, each team’s quarterback will serve as the wild card in terms of passing. Hudson has thrown for 782 yards and five scores. Hartsville’s [player_tooltip player_id="208342" first="McKendrie" last="Douglas"] has 1,172 yards and 10 touchdowns.