Class 5A Upper State First Round Playoff Preview

Season three is set to begin.   High school coaches tend to divide the season into three phases. There's the first, non-region, where you see where you stand. The second, region play, dictates where you fall in the playoffs.   Now it's time for the payoff. And the road ends at the state title game in Orangeburg.   The 5A Upper State playoff field is loaded. Here's a look at the contenders.   NO. 5 FORT MILL (2-8) at NO. 1 T.L. HANNA (9-1)   Fort Mill's record doesn't indicate the way they look on the field, especially a hard-nosed defense led by the likes of Josh Welch, TJ Cornelius, Landon Kurtz, and Josef Anderson. Welch has 14 of Fort Mill's 66 tackles for loss on the year, while Cornelius has four sacks. Offensively, though, Fort Mill has struggled. [player_tooltip player_id='1149056' first='Quinn' last='Kelly'] plays well at QB, with Tyson Helms, Jackson Smith, and [player_tooltip player_id='1246944' first='Tanner' last='Mays'] standing out at receiver. Fort Mill struggles to run the ball, so there's a challenge in the run game.   Hanna has no such challenges. They run it, then run it some more, and their option-look attack is tough to figure out. [player_tooltip player_id='1144047' first='Chase' last='Gregorek'] and Travonte Richardson help anchor a deep offensive line, and [player_tooltip player_id='1157743' first='KD' last='Patterson'] has been a gamebreaker offensively for Hanna. Defensively, Cam Strong and Khilon Groves help lead the way for Hanna.   NO. 3 BOILING SPRINGS (4-6) at NO. 2 DUTCH FORK (5-5)   The Bulldogs will go as far as QB [player_tooltip player_id='1012707' first='Lincoln' last='Huskey'] and their defense take them in the postseason. Huskey is back from an injury suffered against Spartanburg in Week 9, and will look to direct the Bulldogs as a true dual-threat guy. Defensively, it starts up front with [player_tooltip player_id='771223' first='Calvin' last='Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1036731' first='Dennis' last='Glenn'], while [player_tooltip player_id='473009' first='Jeremiah' last='Favorite'] is capable of taking away half the field in the secondary.   Dutch Fork has been on fire since the return of QB Jonathan Hunt from a Week 0 injury. He's played six games for the Silver Foxes, and since a 17-14 loss to White Knoll, they've rolled up 135 points and three straight wins with Hunt at the helm of the offense. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1142713' first='Deon' last='Winsley'] and Bryce Nuttall have combined for 150 tackles for Dutch Fork.   NO. 4 WOODMONT (5-5) at NO. 1 CLOVER (8-2)   Woodmont has been led by QB [player_tooltip player_id='421471' first='Jordan' last='Sink'], who throws it well and has spread his more than 1,700 yards passing among four receivers with more than 200 yards each. Drake Stewart is the leader, with 547 yards and six scores. [player_tooltip player_id='347760' first='Tavorace' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1254085' first='Ezekiel' last='Belcher'] have powered the Wildcats' ground game, combining for more than 1,900 yards. Caden Jeter leads Woodmont in tackles, while RJ Flemmings tops the team in both tackles and tackles for loss.   The Blue Eagles doubled down on the running game when their top receiver transferred to Lewisville, and [player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone'] has been the beneficiary. He's got more than 1,600 yards on the season. TJ McCluney runs it, catches it, and returns kicks, and he's a big play waiting to happen. Defensively, Coastal Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='997351' first='Jayden' last='Bryant'] leads the way. He's a walking tackle for loss. Deontae Starr is a lockdown corner, while Jaylen Holmes and Peyton Root make a ton of plays for Clover.   NO. 3 LEXINGTON (7-4) at NO. 2 GAFFNEY (8-3)   The Wildcats put together a good season under new head coach Dustin Curtis. They've looked good defensively, with North all-star LB [player_tooltip player_id='448988' first='Christian' last='Sexton'] helping to lead the way, along with fellow LB [player_tooltip player_id='997334' first='Montrell' last='Byrd']. [player_tooltip player_id='208887' first='Taiden' last='Mines'] is a true dual-threat at QB for Lexington.   Gaffney is loaded. The Indians have a balanced offense with [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'] at RB, [player_tooltip player_id='448239' first='Emazon' last='Littlejohn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1251135' first='Jamarcus' last='Smith'] on the outside, and [player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton'] at QB. But where Gaffney truly shines is on defense. The Indians are deep and talented at DL, with Jarriel Jefferies, [player_tooltip player_id='1142651' first='Caron' last='Foster'], and Imari Foster-Boyd helping lead the way, while [player_tooltip player_id='605522' first='Andrew' last='Ruppe'] anchors a rock-solid LB corps.   NO. 4 SPARTANBURG (5-5) at NO. 2 ROCK HILL (6-4)   The Vikings have got to feel a little bit like they've got new life, as their first region win in Week 10 vaulted them into a secure spot and a trip to Rock Hill. [player_tooltip player_id='448978' first='Bennie' last='Littlejohn'], [player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='589014' first='Demario' last='Bookhart'], and the rest of the Spartanburg defense have led the way, and the Vikings seem to have found offensive threats in [player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice'] on the outside and [player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'], whose Week 10 performance was the best this season for a Vikings' back. Rock Hill is led by Shrine Bowler [player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson'] at QB. [player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark'] is his top WR target, and ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1036779' first='Kaiden' last='Watkins'] has scored in multiple ways on both sides of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='997363' first='Landon' last='Armstrong'], Isaiah Palmer, and Keith Moore lead the way on defense.   NO. 4 BLYTHEWOOD (4-6) at NO. 2 J.L. MANN (8-2)   The Bengals have the talent of a No. 1 or No. 2 seed, with some tough losses knocking them down to No. 4. They're led by Trent Lewis, who has great hands and is a walking safety net for his QB. [player_tooltip player_id='804333' first='Kaleb' last='Kelly'] is a guy who can go up and high point the ball, contributing a number of big catches. On the defensive side, [player_tooltip player_id='771091' first='Edward' last='Robinson'] stands out at LB/DE, as he brings constant pressure and makes plays in the defensive backfield.   Mann is an offensive juggernaut behind what's shaping up to be a huge year from [player_tooltip player_id='1144060' first='Ethan' last='Anderson']. The senior signal-caller has thrown for 2,570 yards and 33 touchdowns on the year, with [player_tooltip player_id='1142457' first='Mikel' last='McClellan'] bringing in more than 1,100 receiving yards and [player_tooltip player_id='1249825' first='Keyshun' last='Henderson'] adding more than 900. Na'cyus Morrison and OJ Jones have combined for 1,300 yards rushing. Defensively, Jacari Bennett is a force for the Patriots.   UPPER STATE AT-LARGE DORMAN (3-7) at NO. 1 BYRNES (9-1)   This is a pretty long way from a regular playoff game. Two rivals, separated by a dozen or so miles, who just played in mid-October. That's what's on tap as the Cavaliers, who grabbed the Upper State at-large bid, return to No. 1 seed Byrnes. The Cavaliers have put some things together late in the season, notably [player_tooltip player_id='1308084' first='Brice' last='O'Neal'] at QB. He's gotten progressively better, and the Cavaliers nearly pulled of an improbable win with him at QB in the teams' first matchup. [player_tooltip player_id='1395046' first='KD' last='Hainsworth'] is a big-play threat, while Owen Hendricks and [player_tooltip player_id='1144090' first='Brannon' last='Teamer'] lead the Cavaliers' defense.   For Byrnes, [player_tooltip player_id='1144103' first='James' last='Oates'], [player_tooltip player_id='267455' first='Knai' last='Cook'], and [player_tooltip player_id='267454' first='Chris' last='Foster'] have been defensive standouts, while the offense is led by [player_tooltip player_id='272708' first='Chamarryus' last='Bomar'], [player_tooltip player_id='272705' first='Armoni' last='Weaver'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra'].   NO. 3 HILLCREST (8-2) at NO. 3 NATION FORD (5-5)   The Rams feature one of the most dynamic players in the Upstate in [player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden']. They get him the ball a bunch of ways, but he's a true standout at receiver, where he's got most every record in the Hillcrest books, and at kick returner. [player_tooltip player_id='809746' first='Kalab' last='Sutton'] is electric on the move at QB, Thomas Stanley is a grinder at RB, and [player_tooltip player_id='346198' first='Bryce' last='Rainwater'] leads a good group up front. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='997218' first='Tyson' last='Moses'] has been a monster for the Rams.   [player_tooltip player_id='1253889' first='Kaden' last='Barnett'] can spin it at QB for the Falcons, while [player_tooltip player_id='1575429' first='Josh' last='Ameo'] uses track-star speed to make big plays. [player_tooltip player_id='1253939' first='Kaleb' last='White'] has been an eye-opener at tailback, averaging five yards per carry. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1574612' first='Rylee' last='Cook'] and Brayden Flores are the anchors for the Falcons.

Season three is set to begin.