Class 3A Upper State Second Round Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's talk about this 3A Upper State bracket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The remaining eight teams have a combined 14 losses. One of those is to an out-of-state power, seven are to higher-classification teams, and one is to a 3A program that bowed out last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rest are to each other. Wren has lost to BHP. Chester has lost to Clinton, which has lost to Chapman. The Panthers also beat Broome. Pendleton lost to Daniel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So yeah, you could kind of see a bracket like this coming. There are, quite legitimately, eight teams who can win the 3A Upper State title. On Friday night by 11:00 or so, there will be four. But who it will be is still wide open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the toughest bracket in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 WREN (6-5) AT NO. 1 DANIEL (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hurricanes played one of the toughest non-region schedules in the state, and it paid off down the stretch. Wren's five losses came to a Georgia power, three 5A teams who are all still playing, and undefeated BHP. In Anthony Frate's first year at the helm of the Hurricanes, Wren is led by QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158040' first='Colten' last='Bagwell']</strong>, who has more than 1,200 yards passing and almost 1,000 on the ground. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253994' first='Reese' last='Price']</strong> is the workhorse, with 225 carries and more than 1,000 yards to go with 11 touchdowns. <strong>Seth Hickerson</strong> leads a deep corps of receivers, while <strong>Pedro Acatitian</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578733' first='Noah' last='Ramey'] </strong>lead the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lions have ripped through yet another undefeated regular season, but it's looked a little different. Daniel is still airing it out, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1055627' first='Kolton' last='Chapman']</strong> throwing for nearly 1,700 yards and 19 TDs. But he's getting a LOT of help on the ground, as <strong>Ja'Kari Bennett</strong> has rushed for 1,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, with <strong>Tory Shaw</strong> adding more than 500 yards and eight scores. <strong>Graydon Nix</strong> and <strong>Sam Earle</strong> both have more than 400 receiving yards. And success for the Lions starts up front - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young']</strong> anchors the offensive line, and the Mr. Football finalist has been on the field for one loss in four years. Defensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157945' first='Spencer' last='Conn']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144087' first='Ty' last='Plumblee']</strong> have been standouts for the Lions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 CHESTER (9-2) AT NO. 1 CHAPMAN (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This has the potential to be one of the best games in the state this week. The Cyclones come in as a No. 2 seed, but they've been battling some injuries, and they're finally healthy. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='457973' first='Trooper' last='Floyd']</strong> does plenty at QB, but the Cycs are reliant on the run. They get it done with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997385' first='Elijah' last='Coleman']</strong>, who's got more than 1,600 yards on 230 carries. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771062' first='Reggie' last='Heath']</strong> is a two-way guy who does a little bit of everything, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771035' first='Kyan' last='Kennedy'] </strong>shines at both DE and TE. Coleman's emergence has also allowed <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771067' first='Antonio' last='Hopkins']</strong> to spend more time concentrating on the defensive side of the ball, where he's turned in a Shrine Bowl season. And <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford']</strong> is a walking tackle for loss. He's got 12 this year, with nine sacks and 23 hurries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapman also relies on the run, but they use three guys to ring up big yardage. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='998700' first='Coleman' last='Gray']</strong> plays the position like a fullback, running over people as much as past them. <strong>Matthai Scott</strong> and <strong>Keanu Na</strong> are similarly physical at RB. When the Panthers need a downfield threat, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142680' first='Rashawn' last='Cunningham']</strong> is a dynamic playmaker outside, and <strong>Hudson Moss</strong> has put together a great season. <strong>Harrison Bridges</strong> leads a deep, talented offensive line, with <strong>Clay Justus</strong> particularly impressive at right guard. On defense, LB <strong>Reese Lynch</strong> plays the position like he was born to do it, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1041795' first='Chanson' last='Mickles']</strong> is having a phenomenal sophomore year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 PENDLETON (9-2) AT NO. 1 BELTON-HONEA PATH (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two offenses can absolutely light it up. Pendleton comes in averaging 47 points per game, and a lot of that is on the arm of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142563' first='Luke' last='Gray']</strong>. He's thrown for more than 3,500 yards, averages 320 yards per game, and has tossed 49 TDs. <strong>Kory Jones</strong> has more than 1,500 receiving yards, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157733' first='Abijah' last='Webb']</strong> has more than 1,000. <strong>LJ Maddox</strong> has rushed for almost 500 yards for the Bulldogs, and has more than 400 receiving. Defensively, Pendleton is led by tackle machines <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253970' first='John' last='Henderson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402508' first='Trent' last='Garner']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The other sideline couldn't possibly look much different. BHP has nearly 5,000 yards of offense, and more than 3,500 of that has come on the ground. Leading the way is junior phenom <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson']</strong>. All he's done is gain 1,917 yards, average more than 13 yards per carry, and score 31 rushing TDs - and that's just the start. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144034' first='Shaheem' last='Robbs']</strong> has also topped 1,000 yards, with 1,077 and 13 scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas']</strong> has thrown for more than 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns, with <strong>Qua Alexander</strong> as his top target. <strong>Jakyri Anderson</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon']</strong>, and <strong>Norikus Cowan</strong> lead the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 BROOME (9-2) AT NO. 1 CLINTON (9-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Centurions are an extremely dangerous team. <strong>Kamajay Brackett-Brannon</strong> is a dual-threat QB, but one who's run-first and also capable of beating you with his arm. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473001' first='Jaylen' last='McGill']</strong> is one of the most dynamic sophomore backs in the state, as physical as he is fast. <strong>Tre'Sean Suber</strong> and <strong>Grayson Bradley </strong>are big-play threats at receiver, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996854' first='Steven' last='O'Dell']</strong> leads the way up front. On the other side of the ball, <strong>DT Thompson</strong> is a North All-Star and <strong>Tristan Cromer</strong> is a fast, physical tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton has opened up its pistol-spread offense a little bit, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012830' first='Tushawan' last='Richardson']</strong> does a great job of tossing it around. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='949764' first='Kadon' last='Crawford'] </strong>is his main target, with a couple of Clinton receiving records to his credit, and also carries the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771037' first='Zay' last='Johnson']</strong> is a standout at WR, DB, and returning kicks, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241184' first='Rion' last='Gordon']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150043' first='Brett' last='Young']</strong> both shine both offensively and defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->