Class 5A Upper State Third Round Preview
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The dominant team in 5A for the past half a decade has crashed the Region II invitational. Dutch Fork defeated Dorman to move into the third round and keep hopes for an early rematch of last year’s title game alive,…
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Continue ReadingThe dominant team in 5A for the past half a decade has crashed the Region II invitational. Dutch Fork defeated Dorman to move into the third round and keep hopes for an early rematch of last year’s title game alive, but that’s it for teams outside of Region II-5A. Gaffney won at home, while Spartanburg and Byrnes both upset region champions on the road to advance.
And speaking of rematches, we’ve got two. The top half of the bracket will see the Silver Foxes host the team that’s given them the biggest scare in their long regular season winning streak against in-state opponents. The bottom half is a rematch between bitter rivals. Here’s a look at the matchups.
Spartanburg (8-4) at Dutch Fork (11-1)
The Silver Foxes haven’t lost to a team from South Carolina in the regular season since the season-opener in 2017. That streak nearly came to an end in Week 1 when Spartanburg looked them squarely in the eye. Dutch Fork kicked a last-second FG to win, and nearly needed a TD as Spartanburg narrowly missed a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter that would’ve given the Vikings a four-point lead.
The story of that game was two Mr. Football finalists showing out. Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg | 2023 State SC led Spartanburg, powering the Vikings to that late fourth-quarter lead. For Dutch Fork, it was the Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC show, as the senior RB ran wild against the Vikings.
This time around, it could be about the other guys. Dutch Fork QB Aliam Appler Aliam Appler 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC has steadily improved and given the Foxes a wrinkle, including a long TD run on their opening play last week against Dorman. Landon Danley Landon Danley 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC and the defense have been strong all season. Spartanburg’s Rah’Keith Kelly Rah’Keith Kelly 5'8" | 165 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2026 GA gives the Vikings a look that Dutch Fork didn’t see early, while Cam Jackson, Bennie Littlejohn Bennie Littlejohn 5'7" | 210 lbs | LB Spartanburg | 2024 State SC , and Jacob Mattison have led an inspired Spartanburg defense. This one might be as good as it gets.
Edge: Dutch Fork
Byrnes (9-3) at Gaffney (8-3)
These two rivals couldn’t have arrived to this matchup in a much different manner. Byrnes thumped Gaffney in Week 10, but the region had already been decided, and both could already look down the road at a potential playoff matchup. Byrnes has built double-digit leads and held on to win late in both playoff matchups – once on a missed FG, and once on a make. Gaffney, meanwhile, started slowly in the first round before pulling away, then blasted J.L. Mann in the second round.
The Rebels tossed it around a bunch during the regular season, and after a physically dominant rushing performance in Round 1, they went back to the air in the second round. Colby Shaw threw for 265 yards and 3 TDs, with Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC and Knai Cook Knai Cook 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2024 State SC as his main targets. RJ Livingston and Kemren Prysock combined to provide plenty of punch on the ground for the Rebels.
Gaffney has shown some balance, particularly down the stretch. With Jaiden McDowell Jaiden McDowell 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gaffney | 2026 State SC and Quashon Tate Quashon Tate 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Gaffney | 2024 SC leading the way at RB, Grayson Loftis Grayson Loftis 6'2" | 175 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2023 State SC has steadily gotten better and better, including a 14-for-18 performance in the second round, for 352 yards and 3 TDs, with another on the ground.
This one is intriguing because of a couple of matchups. If Gaffney’s Nathan Johnson Nathan Johnson 6'6" | 225 lbs | DL Gaffney | 2023 State SC and Brayshawn Littlejohn Brayshawn Littlejohn 6'3" | 220 lbs | LB Gaffney | 2023 State SC can create some havoc, it could be a long night for the Rebels. But Byrnes’ defensive secondary has been playing lights-out, with Cook and Elijah Barnes Elijah Barnes 6'1" | 200 lbs | ATH Byrnes | 2023 State SC turning in a couple of great games. In the end, it could come down to home field advantage.
Edge: Gaffney