Second Round Playoff Preview: Class 2A Lower State

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 2A Lower State playoffs included the biggest first round upset of any classification when fourth seed Cheraw beat top seed Marion, 21-20.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marion beat Cheraw, 76-27, in September so nobody could have predicted the Braves would hold Marion to 20 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, it was the second straight season that a No.1 seeded Marion team would suffer a first-round loss to a fourth seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The two favorites in the Lower State remain Oceanside Collegiate and Barnwell, who ended the regular season as the top two ranked teams in all of Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Timberland (4-7) at Andrew Jackson (9-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Can Timberland's solid run defense, led by Shrine Bowl linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='91142' first='Omari' last='Jenkins'], slow down the effective running game of the Volunteers? If they can, the chances of an upset increase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrew Jackson junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='317140' first='Trey' last='Thompson'] has rushed for 2,154 yards and 31 touchdowns as part of a run game that averages 280 yards per game and 8.1 yards per carry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offensively, Timberland is not the type of team offensively that can win a high scoring battle so the pressure is on the Wolves' defense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Timberland must make a long bus trip and the game has moved up to Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Andrew Jackson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cheraw (4-7) at Woodland (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodland head coach Eddie Ford says his team is on high alert for its second-round game against the upset-minded Braves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last season, Woodland lost a second-round game to Barnwell, who had knocked off a No. 1 seed, Marion, the week before.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woodland is clearly the better team overall, led by quarterback <strong>Sudarian Harrison</strong>, tackle [player_tooltip player_id='139286' first='Kam' last='Pringle'] and linebacker <strong>Aaron Pulliam</strong>. The Wolverines should be able to put up points against a Cheraw defense that alllows more than 40 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cheraw relies heavily on running back <strong>Zay Brown</strong>, who has rushed for 1,484 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Braves, however, will need more production from other players and the defense must stand up to the balanced, explosive Woodland offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will be played Saturday at 6 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Woodland</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wade Hampton (7-4) at Oceanside Collegiate (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wade Hampton had a solid first-round win over Central but the challenge is much tougher this week. Oceanside Collegiate is operating like a well-oiled machine and could be even stronger this week if top running back [player_tooltip player_id='89344' first='Vaughn' last='Blue'] returns to action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue (pictured) has missed the last six weeks with a hand injury but should return to action this week, As one of the top senior backs in the state, Blue's addition will certainly enhance an already proven offensive unit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oceanside's defense allows only 8.3 points per game. Tackles [player_tooltip player_id='146357' first='Tim' last='Castain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='139300' first='Ben' last='Britton'] are a formidable combo inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wade Hampton also plays well defensively. Linebackers <strong>Ja'Leo Williams </strong>and <strong>Grayson Ferguson</strong> each have more than 90 tackles this season. The Red Devils prefer to control the clock and run the football with junior [player_tooltip player_id='239076' first='Zion' last='Dobson'] (994 yards, 15 TD) leading the charge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wade Hampton has yet to beat a top team this season and this will be a tough ask.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Oceanside Collegiate</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Andrews (9-2) at Barnwell (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While both teams have the ability to throw the ball effectively, both live and die with the running game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrews shares duties in their run game with<strong> Levon White</strong> and J<strong>ermaine Smalls</strong> combining for more than 1,600 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Barnwell's bell cow is senior <strong>Tyler Smith</strong>, who has rushed for 2,610 yards and 43 touchdowns while averaging 10.6 yards per carry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrews was impressive in a first-round win over Buford but this is easily their biggest task of the season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Edge: Barnwell</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->