Class 5A Upper State First Round Preview
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Only one thing’s for certain in this year’s 5A playoffs: there won’t be a championship game rematch. That’s because Dutch Fork is the region champion from the flex-region IV-5A, and will play in the Upper State bracket. Add the Silver…
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Continue ReadingOnly one thing’s for certain in this year’s 5A playoffs: there won’t be a championship game rematch. That’s because Dutch Fork is the region champion from the flex-region IV-5A, and will play in the Upper State bracket. Add the Silver Foxes to a murderer’s row of teams including defending champ Gaffney, T.L. Hanna, Spartanburg, Dorman, Byrnes, Blythewood, and upstart Hillcrest, and the Upper State could be a lot of fun. Here’s a look at all eight first round matchups.
White Knoll (7-3) at T.L. Hanna (9-1)
The Yellow Jackets started as a bit of a mystery. They survived Greenville, got thumped by Westside, and looked like they were finding their way. Find it they did, led by a host of backs in their wing-based offense, notably Sasheen Lattimer, who’s as close to a feature-back as the Jackets get. QB Kenny Fretwell directs the offense well, and the defense has gotten a ton of big stops with games on the line, including in a 14-13 win over Hillcrest. White Knoll will roll into Anderson with an 1,800-yard passer in Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC (pictured) and four defenders with at least 50 tackles, led by Hayden Cushman.
Edge: T.L. Hanna
Nation Ford (5-6) at Spartanburg (6-4)
Spartanburg’s four losses might be the most deceptive record in the state. They’ve lost to a pair of Southeastern powerhouses, and to both of last year’s 5A state finalists – Dutch Fork by two points, and Gaffney by a score in overtime. Make no mistake, the Vikings are GOOD. QB Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg | 2023 State SC leads the way, with freshman RB Rah’Keith Kelly Rah’Keith Kelly 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2026 GA a homerun threat, WR Andrew Dantin seemingly everywhere, and a ton of standouts on defense, including Jacob Mattison and Bennie Littlejohn Bennie Littlejohn 5'7" | 210 lbs | LB Spartanburg | 2024 State SC . QB Carson Black Carson Black 6'3" | 190 lbs | QB Nation Ford | 2023 State SC will key the Nation Ford offense, bolstered by AJ McCullum at RB.
Edge: Spartanburg
Mauldin (2-8) at Dutch Fork (9-1)
Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC . Those two words could serve as the Dutch Fork playoff preview for as long as the Silver Foxes play. He’s that special, with more than 1,200 yards rushing and an 8.8 yards per carry average to go with 24 total TDs. Green makes the offense go, while Dutch Fork has a slew of top-notch defenders, including Landon Danley Landon Danley 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC and John Buetow John Buetow 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC . Mauldin has had a tough year, but made the playoffs with a win over Woodmont. The Mavericks got a late-season boost by the performance of Devan Ortega at RB.
Edge: Dutch Fork
Dorman (8-2) at Clover (6-4)
The Cavaliers started 8-0, but suffered a couple of setbacks in the final weeks of the regular season. A last-minute FG beat Byrnes, but they dropped a decision at Gaffney and fell on a failed two-point conversion against Spartanburg in the finale. Demarius Foster Demarius Foster 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Dorman | 2023 State SC and a big, physical OL powered by D1-bound Markee Anderson Markee Anderson 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Dorman | 2023 State SC and DJ Geth DJ Geth 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Dorman | 2023 State SC will provide plenty of punch on the ground, but the Cavaliers have to figure out their QB situation, with starter Hudson Talley struggling late in the season and backup DJ Porter injured against Spartanburg. Clover will throw it all over the yard behind 2,000-yard passer Jaylon Hoover, and have plenty of targets for him to choose from, including Dion Brown, who averages 118 receiving yards per game.
Edge: Dorman
Rock Hill (2-8) at Gaffney (6-3)
The defending champs started 1-2 with a cancelled game against Union County and a ton of questions. They’ve answered all of them. The return of ATH Edward Jefferies sparked the offense, with the play of QB Grayson Loftis Grayson Loftis 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2023 State SC and freshman RB Jaiden McDowell Jaiden McDowell 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gaffney | 2026 State SC leading the way. Defensively, DL Nathan Johnson Nathan Johnson 6'6" | 225 lbs | DL Gaffney | 2023 State SC and LB Brayshawn Littlejohn Brayshawn Littlejohn 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Gaffney | 2023 State SC have been a wrecking crew in region play, as the Indians outlasted Spartanburg and Boiling Springs and demolished Dorman before a final-week loss to Byrnes. For Rock Hill, the questions will hinge on defense. QB Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Rock Hill | 2024 State SC and the offense are capable of putting up points, but the Bearcats have struggled to stop opponents, giving up more than 42 points per game.
Edge: Gaffney
Spring Valley (4-7) at J.L. Mann (6-4)
The Patriots have had a breakout season, and get a home playoff game as their reward. Mikel McClellan Mikel McClellan 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR JL Mann | 2024 State SC and Toby Cates Jr are both game-breakers at receiver, and QB Ethan Anderson Ethan Anderson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB JL Mann | 2024 State SC does a good job of getting them the ball. Mann is also battle-tested, going 3-1 in one-score games this season. Spring Valley will bring a balanced rushing attack with Zion Fuller Zion Fuller 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Spring Valley | 2023 State SC and Evan Javis Evan Javis 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Spring Valley | 2023 State SC combining to rush for more than 1,000 yards, and QB Aden Jones is nearing 1,000 passing. Defensively, David Wilson David Wilson 6'1" | 205 lbs | LB Spring Valley | 2023 State SC has 134 tackles for the Vikings.
Edge: J.L. Mann
Boiling Springs (2-8) at Blythewood (8-2)
The Bulldogs nabbed the Upper State’s at-large spot, something to build on for a young squad loaded with sophomores and juniors. QB Lincoln Huskey Lincoln Huskey 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Boiling Springs | 2025 State SC and WR Zy Landrum are turning into a tough tandem for opponents to deal with. The Bengals, meanwhile, will present a unique challenge. Blythewood won the Region III-5A title utilizing a two-quarterback system with David Herden and Harrison Collins Harrison Collins 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Blythewood | 2024 State SC , a system that allows both to shine.
Edge: Blythewood
Byrnes (7-3) at Hillcrest (9-1)
This might be the best game of the first round, and might also feature the most offensive weapons. The Rebels used a Week 9 bye to get some players back from injury, and QB Colby Shaw should have plenty of talent at his disposal, including RB RJ Livingston and WR Kyai Cook Kyai Cook 5'11" | 180 lbs | WR Byrnes | 2023 State SC . Defensively, Byrnes boasts a stout, talented line and two of the best DBs in the sophomore class in Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC and Chamarryus Bomar Chamarryus Bomar 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC . Hillcrest, meanwhile, counters with 2,500-yard passer Bennett Judy Bennett Judy 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Hillcrest | 2023 State SC , 1,000-yard receiver Avery McFadden Avery McFadden 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Hillcrest | 2024 State SC , and 900-yard rusher Logan Coldren Logan Coldren 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Hillcrest | 2023 State SC .
Edge: Hillcrest