Class 4A Championship Game Preview 

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='208353' first='Quincy' last='Rhodes'] didn't need much time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He and his teammates haven't lost a game since the end of the 2021 season, when former star quarterback LaNorris Sellers was injured and Rhodes had stepped in on offense. So, how would some of the new faces respond to preparing for a game knowing losing hasn't been part of the equation?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The guys&nbsp; who don't know what it's like [to lose], we don't plan on letting them get to know that feeling,” Rhodes said after the Class 4A Lower State title win over Irmo.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Faced with a game against high-flying Westside, how South Florence gets to 30 straight wins and a second straight championship, the weight of the streak has both a positive and negative side effect for South. If nothing else, it's turned a 13-win Westside squad into an underdog bunch despite it being chock full of future college players.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The nitty gritty of the locker room motivation is clearly there. And neither Westside nor South Florence want to let this moment slip through their fingers.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WESTSIDE (13-1) VS. SOUTH FLORENCE (14-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Time:</strong> 12 p.m., Saturday, South Carolina State.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>About the Rams: </strong>While all eyes were on Northwestern for most of the year, Westside quietly turned itself into the type of team that could reach the final weekend of the season. We only say “quietly” because while everyone and their mother has known about quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] for some time, the pieces around him have flourished, too. On top of Woods, who surpassed 3,000 passing yards in the second round of the playoffs, the Rams also boast a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157819' first='Sharode' last='Richardson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142742' first='Marco' last='Evans']</strong> and a talented receiving corps that we'll get into a little later. Now, add in a defense that has an abundance of talent in some two-way stars and the likes of linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142817' first='Omar' last='Williams']</strong> and safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346193' first='Zeke' last='Marshall']</strong> and his interception-happy ways, and the Rams have a tendency to make up for any ills by forcing turnovers in bunches. Last week against Greenville, for instance, Westside ended up with five, something that allowed the offense plenty of time to make the most of all that talent. It was the 11th time this season that Westside scored 40-plus points. This is a dangerous crew.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>About the Bruins: </strong>Once again, there's no secret in what South Florence is going to try to do on offense. The Bruins are going to line up behind their powerful offensive line - tackles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157891' first='Jayden' last='Granger']</strong> and <strong>Tyler Cockfield</strong>, guards J<strong>ustin Joe</strong> and <strong>Connor Jones</strong>, center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574065' first='EJ' last='King']</strong> and tight ends <strong>Felder Gibson</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='393028' first='Rodney' last='Lesane']</strong> - and try to run it down an opponent's throat. Alternating between wildcat snaps with Syree Livingston (1,193 yards, 22 touchdowns) and traditional handoffs to [player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert'] (1,309 yards, 12 touchdowns), South Florence believes in the offense and what it can accomplish. There's a reason the Bruins only attempted two passes against Irmo. The system shortens the game some, well, at least when those two tailbacks aren't breaking off long runs, and it takes a ton of pressure off a defense that has allowed a measly 11.5 points per game this year. With linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='652832' first='Noah' last='Moore']</strong> leading the way, South's defense has been very, very good at forcing turnovers and three-and-outs and getting off the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Matchup: </strong>Westside receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139314' first='Josh' last='Williams']</strong> (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139296' first='Jimmar' last='Boston']</strong> are going to push South Florence's talented secondary, maybe unlike any other opponent this season. Case in point: last week against Greenville, Williams finished with seven receptions for 135 yards, while Boston added eight catches for 160 yards. For the most part, South kept Irmo in check, but corner <strong>Kemonte Rose</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208353' first='Quincy' last='Rhodes'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996915' first='Dirrick' last='Goodman']</strong> are going to have no choice but to mind their Ps and Qs against the Rams. Goodman picked off a pass against the Yellow Jackets, and the three have combined for 10 interceptions this season. Williams carried the load for much of the season on offense while Boston recovered from a hand injury, and it's safe to say he alone is plenty dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11975776/64f3d326dfd9da0238628a78' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656403ba9b555"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>X-Factor: </strong>While it feels odd to say, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142600' first='Terrance' last='Moorer']</strong> returning after a one-game absence following his ejection in the third-round win over Richland Northeast is a monster addition for the South Florence defense. After all, he leads the team with seven sacks and has added 11 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception. His reach can seal off edge throws - as evidenced by a number of them against RNE - and he's a better-than-average run stopper from his spot at defensive end, too.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15239018/654f178290eec00858766d1b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-656403ba9b589"} /-->