Class 2A Upper State First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 2A upper state playoff bracket is the home to a few heavyweights – Abbeville, Gray Collegiate, Strom Thurmond and Saluda come to mind first. But the other 12 teams in the bracket hope to have something else to say about who will be playing in Columbia in early December. Here is a look at each opening round game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbia (2-8) at Abbeville (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Capitals come in on a 4-game losing streak having scored just 20 points and allowing 223 points during that span. <strong>DreVon Leonard</strong> will need to have a huge game on the defensive front to try and slow Abbeville if Columbia hopes to keep it close. Abbeville <strong>Zay Rayford </strong>is an elusive runner that has playoff experience. Defensive lineman/linebacker <strong>Ty Cade</strong> is a North-South selection. Kicker <strong>Addison Nickles </strong>is also a weapon for the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Abbeville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Batesburg-Leesville (4-6) at Newberry (4-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These teams have staged some classic playoffs battles in the past. They played in the regular season with Batesburg-Leesville holding on for a 16-14 win. <strong>Shaquil Good </strong>and <strong>Jamel Howse </strong>are a pair of talented WR for Newberry. The Bulldogs also get nice production from RB <strong>OD Robinson</strong> and QB <strong>Bryce Satterwhite</strong>. Batesburg-Leesville TE/DE <strong>Patrick Swygert</strong> is a force on both sides of the ball. <strong>Korey Williams </strong>will be counted on to pace the Panthers ground attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Batesburg-Leesville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mid-Carolina (3-7) at Silver Bluff (5-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91161' first='Maleik' last='Williams']</strong> is a force with his arm and legs for Silver Bluff. He has two solid wide receivers in <strong>Arthur Walker </strong>and <strong>Dentray McCorkle</strong>. <strong>Anthony Wicker</strong> paces the Mid-Carolina ground attack. The Rebels use two QBs in <strong>AJ Jackson </strong>and <strong>Daniel Long</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Silver Bluff</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ninety-Six (5-5) at Fairfield Central (7-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairfield Central freshman QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon']</strong> has been sensational this season with 2,648 yards passing and 29 touchdown passes. He has three top-flight receivers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier']</strong>, <strong>Jai Boyd</strong> and <strong>Donovan Watkins</strong>. Defensively, Watkins and <strong>JaShaun Manning</strong> have been key factors. If Ninety-Six hopes to keep up, QB <strong>Braden Mitchell </strong>will have to try and match McMillon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Fairfield Central &nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chesnee (2-8) at Strom Thurmond (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels come into the playoffs on an 8-game winning streak. WR/DB <strong>Tre Clark</strong> has been good for Strom Thurmond as evidence of his two interceptions in the regular season finale. RB <strong>Michael Blocker</strong> and <strong>Lewis Lee</strong> will see the bulk of the carries. Chesnee QB <strong>KJ Proctor</strong> throws it more than most quarterbacks in a Wing variation offense, but they want to run with Proctor leading the way. <strong>Austin Bigford</strong> and <strong>Kyle Martin</strong> will see plenty of carries too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Strom Thurmond</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keenan (5-5) at Landrum (6-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keenan had to forfeit one game during the regular season, or the Raiders might have a home game here. <strong>Hernandez O'Neal </strong>has thrown for 2,132 yards and 21 touchdowns to go along with 867 yards rushing. <strong>Antonio Adams</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359164' first='Amarii' last='King']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil']</strong> and <strong>Rashard Robinson</strong> are big-time pass catchers for the Raiders. <strong>Colton Link</strong> and <strong>Braden Mashtare</strong> form a solid 1-2 RB combination for Landrum.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Keenan</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fox Creek (2-8) at Gray Collegiate (7-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 2A champions have won seven in a row after starting the season off with three straight losses. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton']</strong> leads a potent passing attack that includes WRs <strong>Devin Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord']</strong> (pictured) and <strong>Savion Smith</strong>. <strong>BJ Montgomery</strong> leads the rushing attack. Fox Creek will need a huge game from RB <strong>Julian Collier </strong>if they hope to keep pace.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Gray Collegiate</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Liberty (4-6) at Saluda (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saluda lost two in a row after holding the No. 1 spot in the rankings for several weeks. <strong>Jonah McCary</strong> has been good at QB for the Tigers and freshman RB <strong>Brayden Williams </strong>is getting better as the season has gone along. Liberty will rely on the run for the most part. RB <strong>Seth Terry</strong> and QB <strong>Peyton Reed</strong> will do the bulk of the work.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Saluda&nbsp;</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->