Class 5A Lower State First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the race for the Class 5A Lower State title begins on Nov. 4, there would appear to be four legitimate favorites to advance out of the bracket to the state finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter is the early favorite to survive the Lower State battle but teams from Lexington, Fort Dorchester and Summerville also rate as strong candidates. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Any other of the 12 teams in the chase would be considered longshots. No teams have been as consistent as the aforementioned top four, but then again, that's why we play the games. So here goes a glance at the first round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashley Ridge (7-3) at Cane Bay (7-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the second meeting between these two teams this season with Cane Bay winning the week one contest, 30-20. Game will feature a pair of Shrine Bowl linebackers in [player_tooltip player_id='263162' first='Christian' last='Garland'] of Ashley Ridge and [player_tooltip player_id='146380' first='Cameron' last='Avery'] of Cane Bay, Cane Bay is using a backup at quarterback but the running game has been solid throughout the season. Ashley Ridge quarterback <strong>Xavier Proctor-Floyd</strong> could be a key player against a suspect Cane Bay pass defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Cane Bay</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Conway (4-6) at Summerville (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game brings back memories of classic battles between two heavyweights during the 1990's. Conway has been inconsistent at best all season and relies heavily on production from quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger']</strong>, who has thrown for more than 1,500 yards and is the team's second-leading rusher. Summerville counters with a big-time playmaker at running back in senior <strong>Marquez Spells,</strong> who is effective as a running back, receiver and kick returner. Summerville has too many other weapons and should win this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Summerville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wando (3-7) at Lexington (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexington is clearly the better overall team in this matchup. The Wildcats' only losses came to Dutch Fork and West Florence. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='443502' first='Jonah' last='Norris'] has rushed for more than 1,200 yards and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='208887' first='Taiden' last='Mines'] is effective in the passing game. Wando has struggled offensively all season, averaging less than 13 points per game. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='313408' first='Mikey' last='Rosa'], however, anchors a fairly stout defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Lexington</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Stratford (2-8) at Fort Dorchester (7-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On paper, this is not a competitive game. Stratford has played a tough schedule, but its best win came against a 5-5 St. James squad. Freshman quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'],</strong> the third of three Davis brothers to play quarterback at Stratford, is a player to watch in the future. Fort Dorchester has too much talent to lose this game. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='91350' first='Davian' last='Brown'], quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='89345' first='Zolten' last='Osborne'], and a big, strong offensive line will be hard to handle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Fort Dorchester</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Berkeley (2-8) at St. James (5-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One team will advance to the second round but not any farther through the bracket. St. James has put together their best and most competitive season in years and should be favored at home. Berkeley has struggled offensively all season but was showing positive signs before last week's 45-0 loss to Cane Bay. Common opponents of the two teams are Ashley Ridge and Stratford. Berkeley split with those teams while St. James lost to both, whatever that's worth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: St. James</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chapin (3-7) at Sumter (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter has been one of the top six or seven 5A teams in the state all season. Multi-purpose athlete [player_tooltip player_id='202743' first='Zyeir' last='Gamble'] is the best player on either roster. He and Chapin linebacker/end [player_tooltip player_id='204427' first='Max' last='Drag'] are both Appalachian State commits. Sumter has more talent and is the better defensive team by far and should advance easily.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Sumter</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>River Bluff (7-3) at Carolina Forest (6-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is one of the more competitive matchups of the first round and the guess here is that there will be a good many points scored. River Bluff relies on a strong and productive running game, led by 1,000-yard rusher [player_tooltip player_id='443497' first='Cooper' last='Johns']. Carolina Forest quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='202739' first='Scott' last='Saylor'] (pictured) has passed for more than 2,200 yards and is coming off his best game of the regular season last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: River Bluff</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>West Ashley (7-3) at Goose Creek (4-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators of Goose Creek are the only region champion in the state with an overall losing record. All four of their wins came in region 6-AAAAA play. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='91143' first='Drew' last='Moore'] and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='448997' first='Davion' last='Malloy'] and <strong>Troy Reid</strong> are a lethal combination. Moore has 2,100 passing yards and Reid is over 1,000 yards on the receiving end. West Ashley started the season 7-0 but lost their last three games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Goose Creek</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->