Class 3A Upper State Second Round Playoff Preview
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Let’s talk about this 3A Upper State bracket. 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…
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Continue ReadingLet’s talk about this 3A Upper State bracket.
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.
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.
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.
Here’s a look at the toughest bracket in the state.
NO. 2 WREN (6-5) AT NO. 1 DANIEL (11-0)
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 Colten Bagwell Colten Bagwell 5'8" | 170 lbs | QB Wren | 2025 State SC , who has more than 1,200 yards passing and almost 1,000 on the ground. Reese Price Reese Price 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Wren | 2025 State SC is the workhorse, with 225 carries and more than 1,000 yards to go with 11 touchdowns. Seth Hickerson leads a deep corps of receivers, while Pedro Acatitian and Noah Ramey lead the defense.
The Lions have ripped through yet another undefeated regular season, but it’s looked a little different. Daniel is still airing it out, with Kolton Chapman Kolton Chapman 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Daniel | 2024 State SC throwing for nearly 1,700 yards and 19 TDs. But he’s getting a LOT of help on the ground, as Ja’Kari Bennett has rushed for 1,100 yards and 22 touchdowns, with Tory Shaw adding more than 500 yards and eight scores. Graydon Nix and Sam Earle both have more than 400 receiving yards. And success for the Lions starts up front – Watson Young Watson Young 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Daniel | 2024 State SC anchors the offensive line, and the Mr. Football finalist has been on the field for one loss in four years. Defensively, Spencer Conn Spencer Conn 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Daniel | 2025 State SC and Ty Plumblee Ty Plumblee 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Daniel | 2024 State SC have been standouts for the Lions.
NO. 2 CHESTER (9-2) AT NO. 1 CHAPMAN (10-1)
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. Trooper Floyd Trooper Floyd 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Chester | 2025 State SC does plenty at QB, but the Cycs are reliant on the run. They get it done with Elijah Coleman Elijah Coleman 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB Clover | 2024 State SC , who’s got more than 1,600 yards on 230 carries. Reggie Heath Reggie Heath 6'1" | 165 lbs | ATH Chester | 2024 State SC is a two-way guy who does a little bit of everything, and Kyan Kennedy Kyan Kennedy 6'3" | 215 lbs | TE Chester | 2024 State SC shines at both DE and TE. Coleman’s emergence has also allowed Antonio Hopkins Antonio Hopkins 5'11" | 180 lbs | LB Chester | 2024 State SC to spend more time concentrating on the defensive side of the ball, where he’s turned in a Shrine Bowl season. And Terry Radford Terry Radford 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL Chester | 2026 State SC is a walking tackle for loss. He’s got 12 this year, with nine sacks and 23 hurries.
Chapman also relies on the run, but they use three guys to ring up big yardage. QB Coleman Gray Coleman Gray 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Chapman | 2024 State SC plays the position like a fullback, running over people as much as past them. Matthai Scott and Keanu Na are similarly physical at RB. When the Panthers need a downfield threat, Rashawn Cunningham Rashawn Cunningham 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Chapman | 2024 State SC is a dynamic playmaker outside, and Hudson Moss has put together a great season. Harrison Bridges leads a deep, talented offensive line, with Clay Justus particularly impressive at right guard. On defense, LB Reese Lynch plays the position like he was born to do it, and Chanson Mickles Chanson Mickles 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Chapman | 2026 SC is having a phenomenal sophomore year.
NO. 2 PENDLETON (9-2) AT NO. 1 BELTON-HONEA PATH (11-0)
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 Luke Gray Luke Gray 6'1" | 165 lbs | QB Pendleton | 2024 State SC . He’s thrown for more than 3,500 yards, averages 320 yards per game, and has tossed 49 TDs. Kory Jones has more than 1,500 receiving yards, and Abijah Webb Abijah Webb 5'11" | 200 lbs | ATH Pendleton | 2025 State SC has more than 1,000. LJ Maddox has rushed for almost 500 yards for the Bulldogs, and has more than 400 receiving. Defensively, Pendleton is led by tackle machines John Henderson John Henderson 6'2" | 185 lbs | LB Pendleton | 2025 State SC and Trent Garner.
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 Marquise Henderson Marquise Henderson 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Belton-Honea Path | 2025 State SC . 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. Shaheem Robbs Shaheem Robbs 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Belton-Honea Path | 2024 State SC has also topped 1,000 yards, with 1,077 and 13 scores. Noah Thomas Noah Thomas 5'11" | 150 lbs | QB Belton-Honea Path | 2026 State SC has thrown for more than 1,300 yards and 22 touchdowns, with Qua Alexander as his top target. Jakyri Anderson, Justin Lathon Justin Lathon 5'11" | 185 lbs | ATH Belton-Honea Path | 2025 State SC , and Norikus Cowan lead the defense.
NO. 2 BROOME (9-2) AT NO. 1 CLINTON (9-2)
The Centurions are an extremely dangerous team. Kamajay Brackett-Brannon is a dual-threat QB, but one who’s run-first and also capable of beating you with his arm. Jaylen McGill Jaylen McGill 5'10" | 195 lbs | RB Broome | 2026 State SC is one of the most dynamic sophomore backs in the state, as physical as he is fast. Tre’Sean Suber and Grayson Bradley are big-play threats at receiver, and Steven O’Dell Steven O’Dell 6'6" | 290 lbs | OL Broome | 2024 State SC leads the way up front. On the other side of the ball, DT Thompson is a North All-Star and Tristan Cromer is a fast, physical tackler.
Clinton has opened up its pistol-spread offense a little bit, and Tushawan Richardson Tushawan Richardson 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Clinton | 2025 State SC does a great job of tossing it around. Kadon Crawford Kadon Crawford 6'2" | 180 lbs | ATH Clinton | 2024 SC is his main target, with a couple of Clinton receiving records to his credit, and also carries the ball. Zay Johnson Zay Johnson 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Clinton | 2024 State SC is a standout at WR, DB, and returning kicks, while Rion Gordon Rion Gordon 5'10" | 240 lbs | OL Clinton | 2025 State SC and Brett Young Brett Young 5'10" | 175 lbs | LB Clinton | 2025 State SC both shine both offensively and defensively.