Class 5A Lower State Third Round Preview

Ian Guerin November 16, 2021 @ 06:00 PM

The Class 5A Lower State final four have each found a special formula to get to this point. Lexington and Sumter have relied on huge defensive efforts. Fort Dorchester has a special quarterback who still has a year of high school ball left after this year. And Dutch Fork? Well, the Silver Foxes have just kept doing their thing. Friday’s Lower State semifinals pit contrasting styles, superb defenses attempting to slow down dynamic offenses. These are the names who could play the biggest roles in determining the final scores. Dutch Fork (10-0) at Sumter (10-1) We’ve written ’s name so much over the course of the last two seasons. The Dutch Fork tailback has rushed for 2,014 yards and 41 touchdowns in that time. And he’s done it with plenty of moving pieces around him. Yet, he’s continued to produce. Last week against Cane Bay with only 12 carries, Green (pictured) rushed for 97 yards and four touchdowns and caught a couple of passes for another 49 yards. He’s obviously going to get his chances against Sumter. The Gamecocks, though, aren’t going into this game empty-handed. Defensive lineman (64 tackles, 20.5 TFL) has been a monster all year, part of the reason for his steady stream of Division-I offers. Linebacker has matched Rhames’ TFL total while putting up 45.5 tackles of his own. Junior defensive back has amassed nine interceptions and has proved himself as reliable as they come in the coverage game over the course of three seasons. It’s why, even though Dutch Fork is considered the favorite again, this is still a potential roadblock toward another Lower State finals berth. Lexington (9-2) at Fort Dorchester (11-0) By now, we’ve all figured out that this Lexington defense is no joke. The Wildcats have shut down almost all of their opponents, save for the opener against West Florence and the loss to Dutch Fork. Clearly, the development of Grady Johnson (57 tackles, 6.5 TFL, two forced fumbles), Rhett Peeples (45.5 tackles, five TFL), Reese Waites (38 tackles, three fumble recoveries) and Tanner Johnson (39.5 tackles, 13.5 TFL, two forced fumbles) has been instrumental in that pursuit. All of them will have no choice but to show up and show out at Fort Dorchester. Patriots quarterback has put up an electric season, having already thrown for 2,992 yards and 35 touchdowns. Last week against Chapin in the second round, he put up 392 and four scores alone. His comfort level with top receivers Davion Joynner, and Tre Ryan has never been higher. If those players can put together a long drive or two early in the game - something Lexington hasn’t allowed much of in the last three weeks since that loss to Dutch Fork - it could signify someone cracking that defense again.