Class 4A Upper State Second Round Preview
In this article:
The first round of the 4A Upper State Playoffs came and went with little fanfare, but the action will pick up this week as you’ve got two teams who have been surging at the right time and two teams who…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe first round of the 4A Upper State Playoffs came and went with little fanfare, but the action will pick up this week as you’ve got two teams who have been surging at the right time and two teams who are trying to stay in the hunt who are led by their running games.
Important note: As of 1:15 p.m. Tuesday, all games (unless otherwise noted) are scheduled for Friday night at 7:30 p.m. Potential impacts from Subtropical Storm Nicole later this week may cause games to be moved. Please follow @1BStockdale on Twitter for the latest.
No. 14 Indian Land (7-4) at No. 6 Westside (9-2)
The Warriors are led by their run game as Jaden Singletary Jaden Singletary 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Indian Land | 2024 State SC had two touchdowns in the win over Laurens. Myles Stinson will be a threat as well. But Jaxon Schiedt will need to throw the ball down field to keep the Westside defense honest. Timir Hickman Collins and Wilkenson Mondesir will need to have an impact for the Warriors defensively.
Look for Westside to keep the connection between Joshua Williams and Cutter Woods Cutter Woods 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Westside | 2025 State SC on offense. Keep an eye on Hunter Puckett Hunter Puckett 6'3" | 240 lbs | ATH Westside | 2023 State SC , who has 11 touchdowns on the year and Titus Crisler, who leads the team in tackles.
Edge: Westside
No. 10 Greenwood (5-6) at No. 2 Northwestern (10-1)
Greenwood won in a 49-42 shootout over South Aiken last Friday. Josiah Jeffery and Kaleb Burton along with Ve Morton are the straws that stir the drink for the Eagles option offense, but will they be able to get a stop against Finley Polk Finley Polk 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2025 State SC , Elijah Caldwell Elijah Caldwell 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Northwestern | 2023 State SC and Turbo Richard Turbo Richard 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Northwestern | 2024 State SC , who scored points in bunches against Wade Hampton?
Edge: Northwestern
No. 9 South Pointe (8-3) at No. 1 Greenville (8-3)
South Pointe made a quick dispatch of Greer in the first round with a 38-14 win. Malachi Marshall is growing with his confidence with one of his main targets, Demari Kendrick. AJ Miller AJ Miller 6'2" | 250 lbs | DL South Pointe | 2023 State SC is creating pressure on the defensive front and DJ Barksdale II DJ Barksdale II 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB South Pointe | 2023 State SC is excellent in the secondary.
But Greenville will be the Stallions’ toughest test to date as the Red Raiders have been rolling, pummeling Aiken 63-0. The defense has created back-to-back shutouts as Ramani Burton creates havoc on the defensive line and Luke Schuller Luke Schuller 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Greenville | 2023 State SC leads the team in INTs. Don’t forget about Mazeo Bennett and Tyler Brown Tyler Brown 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Greenville | 2023 State SC on offense.
Edge: South Pointe
No. 5 Catawba Ridge (10-1) at No. 4 North Augusta (6-5)
Catawba Ridge will make a long road trip to face a surging North Augusta team, led by DJ Curry DJ Curry 5'11" | 225 lbs | LB North Augusta | 2023 State SC , who averages 150 yards per game. Jacquez Ryan leads the team in tackles with 6.7 on average. Ryan will be tasked with trying to bring down Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC , who is big and tough to bring down. Tyler Fikis had three touchdowns last week in their rout of Riverside last week.
Edge: Catawba Ridge