Class 3A Lower State Final Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 3A Lower State championship has two teams that many didn't think would be here. But both Camden and Brookland-Cayce played tough early season schedules and that has seemed to have spearheaded this postseason push.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams can run the football. And both teams have been solid defensively, especially in the playoffs where both have faced high-powered offenses. The biggest difference is the Bulldogs have been able to throw it a little better.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one has all the makings of a classic Thanksgiving week showdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No. 2 CAMDEN (10-3) at No. 1 BROOKLAND-CAYCE (11-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Time:</strong> 7:30 p.m., Friday</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>About the Bulldogs: </strong>Camden is in familiar territory. This is the Bulldogs fourth state semifinal appearance in the last five years and many of these players have been around for that run. It starts with QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139311' first='Grayson' last='White']</strong>, who is a four-year starter. White is a load to say the least. He's 6-foot-1 and listed at 235 pounds but does look and play bigger than that. He's thrown for 3,302 yards and ran for an additional 636, accounting for a total of 50 touchdowns. White will also see time at defensive end where he has registered six sacks. He relies heavily on WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448982' first='Jaquarius' last='Mayrant']</strong>, who has 68 catches for 1,254 yards and 14 scores. He also doubles as a defensive back. There are other options with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142669' first='Aidan' last='Heriot']</strong> and <strong>Maxwell Ford</strong> combining for over 1,500 receiving yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448993' first='Averee' last='Hickmon']</strong> has 582 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Defensively, LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448983' first='Wilson' last='Nash']</strong> is a tackling machine with 174 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. His running mate is LB <strong>Emmanuel Presbot</strong>, who has 106 tackles, seven tackles for loss three sacks. DB <strong>JoJo Crim</strong> has four interceptions to go along with 76 tackles. DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson'] </strong>has 84 tackles and four interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11720764/655b6f95da5b5a082c84c89f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655e58ccf2d1e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>About the Bearcats: [player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young']</strong> and <strong>Deshaun Washington</strong> have accounted for 55 touchdowns and rushed for over 3,000 yards between them. Young plays quarterback for the most part but has also added 16 receptions for 383 yards and five touchdowns. Defensively, the Bearcats have been especially good in the first half of games. They've only allowed 23 first quarter points in 13 games. A lot of that has to do with the play up front. Several guys go both ways on the line of scrimmage. <strong>O'Bryan Leaphart</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771089' first='Kamden' last='Sox']</strong> (pictured), <strong>An'Tohn Ford</strong>, <strong>Jared Holmes</strong>, and <strong>Jacory Jones</strong> are big, fast and physical. They've done a good job of keeping teams away from what they do best. LB <strong>Jamorion Brown</strong> plays well in the middle as well. Young and Washington will also see time in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>There's no question the Bearcats want to run the football. Young and Washington do a great job in the scheme but the play up front against the Camden defensive front will be a key. Sox, Ford, Holmes and Jones are joined up front by <strong>Jordan Browning</strong>. They will not only have to do a good job of blocking the front of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267206' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson']</strong>, <strong>James Williams</strong> and <strong>Taner Bracey </strong>but the Bulldogs linebackers and secondary players provide solid run support. DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford']</strong> is one of the main ones. The Bearcats have rushed for over 700 yards in the last two games and if that continues, they might be able to control the clock and limit the Bulldogs offensive chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X-Factor: </strong>Brookland-Cayce has attempted just 115 passes on the season, less than nine attempts per game. But they might have to open it up to move the ball against Camden. If so, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1020770' first='Brogan' last='Sox']</strong> will be counted on to throw it. The sophomore has completed 45-of-82 for 756 yards and nine touchdowns. He will throw to Young and <strong>Sullivan Castles</strong>, who have 32 receptions for 613 yards and 10 touchdowns between them. He can't let Crim and Mayrant control the secondary for the Bulldogs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17994879/6548f2cf64df860828de1cff' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-655e58ccf2d53"} /-->