Class 1A Lower State Preview
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It’s been a fascinating season in Class 1A, and this year’s playoffs might be as wide open as we’ve seen. With five different teams receiving first-place votes in the most recent media poll, we could be in line for a…
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Continue ReadingIt’s been a fascinating season in Class 1A, and this year’s playoffs might be as wide open as we’ve seen. With five different teams receiving first-place votes in the most recent media poll, we could be in line for a hectic and unpredictable November. It all starts on Friday with a busy opening round, so let’s run through the upcoming matchups in the Lower State.
Military Magnet at Johnsonville
The Flashes have raced through their regular-season schedule with a perfect record and are deservedly ranked as Class 1A’s top team. They should have no trouble with a Military Magnet squad that has lost three straight and scored just 14 combined points in those games.
Edge: Johnsonville
Latta at Bamberg-Ehrhardt
It’s been a down year for Bamberg-Ehrhardt’s standards, but the Red Raiders won three consecutive games in shutout fashion followed by a strong 21-3 victory over Whale Branch to close out their Region 7-1A schedule. Sophomore wideout Chanston Crosby Chanston Crosby 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Bamberg-Ehrhardt | 2025 State SC has been a breakout playmaker for the Red Raiders, and they’ve found their groove on defense and should find a way to stymie Latta and athletic Vikings quarterback Kartrell Townsend Kartrell Townsend 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH Latta | 2024 State SC .
Edge: Bamberg-Ehrhardt
Allendale-Fairfax at Lamar
Lamar’s terrific defense led the Silver Foxes to the Region 6-1A crown, allowing less than 10 points in three of its last four wins. The home side should ride its defense early with stud linebacker Roshad McAllister Roshad McAllister 6'0" | 200 lbs | LB Lamar | 2023 State SC against a Tigers group that has been shut out for three straight weeks.
Edge: Lamar
Scotts Branch at Baptist Hill
Baptist Hill picked up a shutout win over St. John’s in Week 10 and will look to ride the momentum with quarterback Harold Gathers Harold Gathers 6'2" | 220 lbs | QB Baptist Hill | 2024 State SC who should be in the lineup after battling injuries midway through the season. Kaleb Brown and Kevin Townsend Kevin Townsend 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Baptist Hill | 2023 State SC provide a dangerous one-two punch in the Bobcats’ passing attack. The Eagles have a balanced offense led by running back Ernie Calloway and wideout RJ Gibson, but Baptist Hill’s Omarion Waring could be tough to contain at linebacker.
Edge: Baptist Hill
Hannah-Pamplico at Estill
Maybe the biggest surprise in Class 1A, the Estill Gators have surged to an impressive 9-1 record on the strength of quarterback Xaviar Garvin. The Raiders are one of the better four-seeds to come out of their regions, but a strong performance from the Estill offensive line should be enough to ignite the run game led by Garvin and Jamil Bobean to secure an opening-round win.
Edge: Estill
St. John’s at Carvers Bay
It’s been a clinical last three weeks for the Bears’ defense, which has surrendered just eight points over three region wins thanks to senior veteran RJ Bromell. The first round matches up well for Carvers Bay against an Islanders squad averaging just over 10 points scored per game.
Edge: Carvers Bay
East Clarendon at Cross
It’s been an impressive turnaround for the Trojans in 2022, who pulled off an 8-2 season after winning just two games a season ago. Their defense was dominant in region play, allowing just six total points on the strength of electric freshman safety Caden Ramseyn and senior linebacker Damion Haines. The Wolverines put up a strong effort against top-ranked Johnsonville in Week 8 and will need to dig in defensively if they want to pull the upset.
Edge: Cross
Whale Branch at Lake View
Whale Branch has dealt with some tough injury luck this year with running backs Mason Griffin and Clifton Major, but Jakhi Pusha and Keith Chisholm Keith Chisholm 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Whale Branch | 2024 State SC are more than capable of sparking some of their own heroics for the Warriors. Jerry Hatcher’s squad should stay in it with some tough defense from Bradford Thompson and company, making it crucial for Pusha and Chisolm to produce against a Lake View defense that gave up 32 to Hannah-Pamplico. This one should be up for grabs, but expect the Gator defense to rebound and feed off their home crowd.
Edge: Lake View