Class 5A Upper State First Round Playoff Preview
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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…
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Continue ReadingSeason 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. Quinn Kelly plays well at QB, with Tyson Helms, Jackson Smith, and Tanner Mays Tanner Mays SC 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. Chase Gregorek Chase Gregorek 6'5" | 290 lbs | OL TL Hanna | 2024 State SC and Travonte Richardson help anchor a deep offensive line, and Kedarrion Patterson Kedarrion Patterson 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB TL Hanna | 2025 State SC 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 Lincoln Huskey Lincoln Huskey 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Boiling Springs | 2025 State SC 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 Calvin Jackson Calvin Jackson 6'2" | 225 lbs | DL Boiling Springs | 2024 State SC and Dennis Glenn Jr Dennis Glenn Jr 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Boiling Springs | 2027 State SC , while Jeremiah Favorite Jeremiah Favorite 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Boiling Springs | 2026 State SC 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, Deon Winsley Deon Winsley 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC 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 Jordan Sink Jordan Sink 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Woodmont | 2025 State SC , 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. Tavorace Williams and Ezekiel Belcher Ezekiel Belcher 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Woodmont | 2025 State SC 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 Landon Stone Landon Stone 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Clover | 2025 State SC 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 Jayden Bryant Jayden Bryant 6'4" | 215 lbs | DL Clover | 2024 State SC 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 Christian Sexton Christian Sexton 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC helping to lead the way, along with fellow LB Montrell Byrd Montrell Byrd 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC . Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC is a true dual-threat at QB for Lexington.
Gaffney is loaded. The Indians have a balanced offense with Jaiden McDowell Jaiden McDowell 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gaffney | 2026 State SC at RB, Emazon Littlejohn Emazon Littlejohn 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Gaffney | 2024 SC and Jamarcus Smith Jamarcus Smith SC on the outside, and Riley Staton Riley Staton 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2024 State SC at QB. But where Gaffney truly shines is on defense. The Indians are deep and talented at DL, with Jarriel Jefferies, Caron Foster Caron Foster 6'2" | 240 lbs | DL Gaffney | 2024 State SC , and Imari Foster-Boyd helping lead the way, while Andrew Ruppe Andrew Ruppe 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Gaffney | 2025 State SC 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. Bennie Littlejohn Bennie Littlejohn 5'7" | 210 lbs | LB Spartanburg | 2024 State SC , Cam’Rich Smith Cam’Rich Smith 5'9" | 200 lbs | LB Spartanburg | 2025 State SC , Demario Bookhart Demario Bookhart 6'1" | 175 lbs | DB Spartanburg | 2024 State SC , and the rest of the Spartanburg defense have led the way, and the Vikings seem to have found offensive threats in Justin Rice on the outside and Trenton Lynch Trenton Lynch 5'9" | 185 lbs | RB Spartanburg | 2027 State SC , whose Week 10 performance was the best this season for a Vikings’ back. Rock Hill is led by Shrine Bowler Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Rock Hill | 2024 State SC at QB. Malik Clark Malik Clark 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Rock Hill | 2025 State SC is his top WR target, and ATH Kaiden Watkins Kaiden Watkins 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Rock Hill | 2027 State SC has scored in multiple ways on both sides of the ball. Landon Armstrong Landon Armstrong 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Rock Hill | 2024 State SC , 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. Kaleb Kelly Kaleb Kelly 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Blythewood | 2024 SC is a guy who can go up and high point the ball, contributing a number of big catches. On the defensive side, Edward Robinson Edward Robinson 6'0" | 230 lbs | DL Blythewood | 2024 State SC 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 Ethan Anderson Ethan Anderson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB JL Mann | 2024 State SC . The senior signal-caller has thrown for 2,570 yards and 33 touchdowns on the year, with Mikel McClellan Mikel McClellan 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR JL Mann | 2024 State SC bringing in more than 1,100 receiving yards and Keyshun Henderson Keyshun Henderson 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR JL Mann | 2025 State SC 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 Brice 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. KD Hainsworth is a big-play threat, while Owen Hendricks and Brannon Teamer Brannon Teamer 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Dorman | 2024 State SC lead the Cavaliers’ defense.
For Byrnes, James Oates James Oates 6'4" | 195 lbs | LB Byrnes | 2024 State SC , Knai Cook Knai Cook 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2024 State SC , and Chris Foster Chris Foster 6'0" | 205 lbs | DL Byrnes | 2024 State SC have been defensive standouts, while the offense is led by Chamarryus Bomar Chamarryus Bomar 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC , Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC , and Tre Segarra Tre Segarra 5'11" | 195 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2027 State SC .
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 Avery McFadden Avery McFadden 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Hillcrest | 2024 State SC . 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. Kalab Sutton Kalab Sutton 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Hillcrest | 2025 State SC is electric on the move at QB, Thomas Stanley is a grinder at RB, and Bryce Rainwater Bryce Rainwater 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC leads a good group up front. Defensively, Tyson Moses Tyson Moses 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Hillcrest | 2024 State SC has been a monster for the Rams.
Kaden Barnett Kaden Barnett 6'0" | 150 lbs | QB Nation Ford | 2025 State SC can spin it at QB for the Falcons, while Josh Ameo uses track-star speed to make big plays. Kaleb White Kaleb White 5'9" | 205 lbs | LB Nation Ford | 2025 State SC has been an eye-opener at tailback, averaging five yards per carry. Defensively, Rylee Cook and Brayden Flores are the anchors for the Falcons.