Class 4A Lower State Second Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first round of the Class 4A Lower State bracket came and went about as expected.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myrtle Beach was able to knock off a higher-seeded May River squad, but every other result was status quo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What it means is that a whole bunch of stars are set to clash in the second round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hartsville (7-4) at AC Flora (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three of the absolute best tailbacks in the entire state will share the field in what could be a big night for offenses. AC Flora senior Markell Townsend (2,027 yards, 28 touchdowns) has been a force all season for the Falcons. Better yet, he's gotten better. Since the start of region play, he's accumulated 17 rushing touchdowns and added a couple more receiving. But while few players in the state can compare to Townsend's individual numbers, Hartsville's [player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel'] (1,671 yards, 22 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='202738' first='J'Shawn' last='Anderson'] (1,300, 22) are a one-two punch that have frequently proved impossible to stop. AC Flora is certainly equipped to slow them down, and if it starts to happen, Red Fox quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='208342' first='McKendrie' last='Douglas'] (pictured) -  1,142 yards, 11 touchdowns - may look for Anderson (253, 3) and <strong>Jackson Moore</strong> (276, 2) a little more than normal.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: AC Flora</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Myrtle Beach (5-6) at West Florence (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So much has changed for these two teams since they met at the end of September. But so much as stayed the same, too. And that begins and ends with these two teams' rushing attacks. Myrtle Beach junior [player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington'] (1,338 yards, 17 touchdowns) and West's <strong>Darren Lloyd</strong> (1,873 yards, 24 touchdowns) are each their respective teams' first options. Clearly, Myrtle Beach will have to do a better job blocking this time around. West held Washington to 51 yards on 16 carries the first time around. Meanwhile, Lloyd went for 175 yards and a score. It was the beginning of a trend of huge games for a senior who is now just 127 yards shy of 2,000 yards rushing this season, his first as the starter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: West Florence</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Irmo (8-3) at James Island (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo had a less-than-stellar showing in the first round against a two-win North Myrtle Beach team, with sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] mostly being held in check until the fourth quarter. The Yellow Jackets will clearly need to get some of the pieces around him in space, too, something that won't be easy against a James Island team that has allowed only 83 points all season thank to the play of key defensive player [player_tooltip player_id='277543' first='Walker' last='Woodall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='340395' first='Chris' last='Glover']. Irmo, though, can't simply be worried about its offense. The Yellow Jackets' defense will have to be ready to slow down Trojans' quarterback <strong>Liam Nixon</strong> (1,573 yards, 15 touchdowns), tailback <strong>Junior Maxwell</strong>, who has already rushed for 802 yards and 10 touchdowns and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448987' first='Wushi' last='Ravenel']</strong>, who is closing in on a 1,000-yard season and was kept out of the end zone for the first time all year last week in the win over York.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: James Island</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bluffton (5-6) at South Florence (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Max Vonhohenstraeten</strong> had yet another huge game last week against Westwood, when he threw for 401 yards and five more touchdowns. And after a three-week absence due to an injury mid-way through the season, he's clearly re-established his rapport with receiver <strong>Jaylin Linder</strong>, who has gone over 100 yards and recorded at least one touchdown in seven straight games. But South Florence has overwhelmed teams with stars all season long. Last week, the Bruins' defense shut down Richland Northeast and sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996915' first='Dirrick' last='Goodman']</strong> returned an interception for a touchdown, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe']</strong> and <strong>Ryan Johnson</strong> had a couple of tackles for loss and most of the starters were able to take the second half on the sidelines with the game firmly in hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: South Florence</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->