Class 2A Lower State First Round Playoff Preview
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This year’s Class 2A Lower State playoffs is filled with teams familiar with championship success. Teams like Timberland, Cheraw, Central and Barnwell have had the opportunity to hoist the state championship trophy. Now, newcomers like Hampton County will try to…
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Continue ReadingThis year’s Class 2A Lower State playoffs is filled with teams familiar with championship success.
Teams like Timberland, Cheraw, Central and Barnwell have had the opportunity to hoist the state championship trophy. Now, newcomers like Hampton County will try to reach Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg over the next four weeks to achieve that goal for the first time.
Here’s how the first-round matchups shape up in Class 2A Lower State.
NO. 4 RIDGELAND (5-5) AT NO. 1 ANDREW JACKSON (7-3)
The Region V-2A champion Volunteers present a balanced offense with quarterback Brady Williams (1,434 passing yards, 17 touchdowns), Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl running back Trey Thompson Trey Thompson 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Andrew Jackson | 2024 State SC (1,630 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns), wide receivers Isaac Blackmon (20 receptions, 479 receiving yards, six touchdowns), Banks Helms Banks Helms 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Andrew Jackson | 2024 State SC (22 receptions, 270 yards, three touchdowns) and Bryce Peterson (19 receptions, 241 yards, 2 touchdowns) and a well-sized physical line with tight end Hayden Williams Hayden Williams 6'1" | 220 lbs | TE Andrew Jackson | 2024 SC (40 pancake blocks), guard Michael Hinson (23 pancake blocks) and center Brooks Horton Brooks Horton 6'6" | 315 lbs | OL Andrew Jackson | 2024 State SC . Kaden Hornsby and JT Gandy are active tacklers at linebacker and Peterson at defensive back leads the team in interceptions. Maurice Brown Maurice Brown 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Ridgeland | 2024 State SC carries the load on offense as the Jaguars’ quarterback (910 passing yards, nine touchdowns) and second-leading rusher (652 yards, seven touchdowns). Wenson Smith leads the team in rushing (824 yards, seven touchdowns). The defense is allowing 31.2 points per game.
NO. 3 KINGSTREE (5-5) AT NO. 2 TIMBERLAND (4-6)
The visiting Blazers rely on their running game with junior quarterback Ja’Shaun Dorsey (596 rushing yards, six touchdowns; 497 passing yards, four touchdowns) and senior running back Rodney Bryant, who rushed for 185 yards and four touchdowns in the season-ending win over Lee Central. Freshman linebacker Maleek Dukes Maleek Dukes 6'2" | 190 lbs | LB Kingstree | 2027 State SC puts pressure on the quarterback (seven sacks) with Rodney Bryant and defensive tackles James Brockington James Brockington 6'3" | 295 lbs | DL Kingstree | 2024 State SC and Heavis Morris and safety Terrance Scott has a team-high 62 tackles. The Wolves were held to seven points in last week’s loss to Oceanside Collegiate. They will need running backs/linebackers Demarri Middleton and Kavon Green to pick up the offense and continue to play stout defense the second half of the season in which opponents have managed only 12 points a game with two shutouts.
NO. 4 BISHOP ENGLAND (2-7) AT NO. 1 HAMPTON COUNTY (9-1)
Aside from a 28-14 road loss to Region V-3A champion Brookland-Cayce, the first season for the newly consolidated school has gone without a hitch. It’s helped to have a Mr. Football finalist in Touchstone Energy Bowl selection Zion Dobson Zion Dobson 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Hampton County | 2024 State SC , who’s a triple threat to run, catch and pass the football. He’s also 157 yards shy of 2,000 rushing yards to go with 26 touchdowns. The Hurricanes have another Touchstone Energy Bowl selection on defense with lineman Kavon Chisolm. He and linebacker Mandrell Sanders Mandrell Sanders 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Hampton County | 2025 State SC lead a defense which has held opponents to 8.3 points per game. The Bishops needed a season-ending victory over Academic Magnet to reach the post-season. They have only eight seniors on the roster and average 13.4 points a game. Junior Jacob Mackara and freshman William Donato will see time at quarterback and Dixon Hardy and Jack Leahy are the main ball-carriers. The defense has allowed 40 or more points four times this season.
NO. 3 NORTH CENTRAL (2-7) AT NO. 2 ANDREWS (9-1)
The Knights held off a late rally by Central to clinch third place out of Region 5-2A. Running back Casey Shropshore surpassed 1,000 yards last week and leads the team with 14 touchdowns. At 6-foot-2 and 270 pounds, center Aiden Wiles is a blocking machine on both sides of the ball with 62 pancake blocks and 64 tackles. Safety Jordan Joe Jordan Joe 6'4" | 180 lbs | DB North Central | 2025 State SC has seven interceptions on the season and Quayson Peoples had six tackles, two interceptions, two sacks and two fumble recoveries against Central. The Yellow Jackets have three players with double digit touchdowns with quarterback Brandon Cumbee Brandon Cumbee 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Andrews | 2025 State SC (920 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns; 523 passing yards, four touchdowns) and running backs AJ Lee (1,050 yards, 13 touchdowns) and Touchstone Energy Bowl selection Lavon White Lavon White 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB Andrews | 2024 State SC (560 yards, 13 touchdowns).
NO. 4 LEE CENTRAL (4-5) AT NO. 1 OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE (7-2)
The Landsharks return experience on both sides of the football. Seniors quarterback Edward Reidenbach, wide receivers CJ Moskos and Logan Hamilton and offensive linemen Phen Johnson and Ben Britton Ben Britton 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Oceanside Collegiate | 2024 State SC , a Touchstone Energy Bowl selection, are back on offense. The defense has linebackers Max Moorman Max Moorman 6'3" | 200 lbs | LB Oceanside Collegiate | 2025 State SC and Trey Brown and safety Grayson Freeling Grayson Freeling 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Oceanside Collegiate | 2025 State SC . The Stallions look to snap a three-game losing skid with four seniors on the roster, including linemen Jamarion Robinson, Trevion Washington, Kenyon Scarborough and Chris Thomas.
NO. 3 WOODLAND (7-2) AT NO. 2 CHERAW (5-5)
The Wolverines snapped a 2-game skid to enter the post-season. Attention will be focused upon University of South Carolina commit and Shrine Bowl selection Kam Pringle Kam Pringle 6'7" | 305 lbs | OL Woodland | 2024 State SC on the offensive line. He will look to protect quarterback Cooper Glazer and open holes for running back TJ Wright TJ Wright 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Woodland | 2024 State SC and Jaiden Gardner-Taylor on a Woodland offense coming off a season-high 57 points against Edisto. Junior Antonio Ford has been a surprise on the defensive line and linebackers Dwayne Blanding and Chance Ford are active in stopping the run. The Braves have run off four straight wins following a 1-5 start. Quarterback Aiden Nolan is coming off a four-touchdown performance against Chesterfield in which he completed 7-9 passes. Nick Gordon accounted for two touchdown receptions and safety Dwight Harrington has an offer from The Citadel.
NO. 4 CENTRAL (3-7) AT NO. 1 MARION (9-1)
It’s one of the first-round matchups which is also a rematch from the regular season. The Swamp Foxes won 34-7 on Sept. 1 as quarterback Gabe Cusack Gabe Cusack 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Marion | 2024 State SC threw for 176 yards and two touchdowns. The same game saw Eagles’ quarterback Jacob Griffin Jacob Griffin 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Central | 2024 State SC intercepted three times by Ronqarius Jamison, Kerry Moody and Geoman Warren. Cusack is 67 yards shy of 2,000 total yards on the season to go with 28 touchdowns. Running back Quay’Sheed Scott Quay’Sheed Scott 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Marion | 2024 State SC (pictured) has 1,065 total yards and 18 touchdowns (10 rushing, 8 receiving) for Marion.
NO. 2 BARNWELL (6-4) AT NO. 3 LAKE MARION (2-7)
The Gators earned a playoff berth with a season-ending win over Academic Magnet two weeks ago. Running backs Torington White and Tracey Snider lead the offense which looks to keep up with a Warhorse team more pass-oriented than years’ past. Quarterback Cameron Austin Cameron Austin 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Barnwell | 2025 State SC has thrown for 1,185 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 622 yards and 17 touchdowns. Juniors Jaquan Peeples and Jordan Peeples are versatile threats running and catching the football and Logan Sturkie is a deep threat for Austin. Linemen Klayten Zissett and Jahlian Carter, safety Lex Thomas Lex Thomas 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Barnwell | 2025 State SC and linebacker Jeremiah Eady lead the Barnwell defense.