Class 4A Lower State Second Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You want defense?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've got defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Of the top four statistical units in all of Class 4A, they all reside in the Lower State bracket. And all of them are ready to prove that while offense sells tickets, defense wins championships, or at the very least, create championship opportunities.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo, James Island, Lucy Beckham and South Florence, the above-mentioned four teams, each host second-round games this week. And while each of them are considered the favorites to advance, nothing is settled.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 9 RICHLAND NORTHEAST (7-4) AT NO. 1 SOUTH FLORENCE (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you blink, you might have just missed <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> rushing for another touchdown. His ridiculous 400 yards against Bluffton last week helped push one of two 80-point nights in the first round of this half of the bracket. If that wasn't enough tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142696' first='James' last='Willingham']</strong> also topped 300 yards rushing against the Bobcats. But make no mistake, if either of them gets even half of those totals against South Florence, it will be even more impressive. The Bruins' defense is big, fast and seemingly always in the right position. Linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'] </strong>(55.5 total tackles, nine tackles for loss) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='652832' first='Noah' last='Moore']</strong> (51 tackles, seven TFL in the regular season) are both highly productive. Defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='996915' first='Dirrick' last='Goodman'] (45.5 tackles), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208353' first='Quincy' last='Rhodes']</strong> and <strong>Kemonte Rose</strong> are turnover machines. And none of that mentions defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams']</strong> - who has affected his share of results this year.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AT-LARGE LANCASTER (2-9) AT NO. 5 LUCY BECKHAM (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In what might be the most physical game in the Lower State this week, Lancaster will be making the trip to Mount Pleasant still riding high from last week's upset of Ridge View. Bruins linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142639' first='Bryce' last='Surratt']</strong> was all over the field in that one and with quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown']</strong> and tailback <strong>Mikel McCollum</strong> proving effective out of the backfield, Surratt will be able to concentrate solely on defense. That's important, because yards will be tough to come by for both squads in this one. Beckham is expected to use another heavy dose of <strong>Stephen Segars</strong> at running back. The senior has now topped 100 yards in back-to-back games after missing nearly a month of the regular season. If that doesn't immediately work, the Bengals have plenty of faith in junior quarterback <strong>Chalmers Ballard</strong> and receiver <strong>Mason Ombres</strong>. And, don't forget about tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302853' first='Bryce' last='Rothwell']</strong> and his 6-foot-3 frame. He'll be charged with plenty of blocking, but if Beckham gets near the end zone, he's one of the most reliable targets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 6 MYRTLE BEACH (9-2) AT NO. 3 IRMO (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo might be the most complete team in all of Class 4A this season. The Yellow Jackets' defense is allowing fewer than five points per game and have pitched five shutouts, including last week's 85-0 beatdown of Colleton County. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> would have even insane numbers if it wasn't for so many blowouts along the way relegating him to the bench. Yet, he added seven touchdowns to his ledger last week. Tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix']</strong> is flirting with a 2,000-yard rushing season. And receiver <strong>Donovan Murphy</strong> is 94 yards away from 1,000 for the year. All that put together means Myrtle Beach is going to have be even better than its been of late, and much of the pressure falls onto the shoulders of junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe']</strong>. The good news is Goodroe is coming off maybe his best game. Against May River last week, he was 12-of-17 for 194 and three touchdowns. He connected with five different receivers, and spreading the ball around on the outside will only help keep the Seahawk offense on the field against such a dynamic opponent.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 7 HARTSVILLE (8-3) AT NO. 2 JAMES ISLAND (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nobody needs a reminder of what the Red Foxes' offense is capable of when it's healthy, but Jeff Calabrese's squad doled one out last week anyway. Hartsville put a 70-27 whooping on AC Flora, thanks to big nights from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel']</strong> (184 yards, three touchdowns), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters']</strong> (184 yards, two touchdowns) and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208342' first='McKendrie' last='Douglas']</strong> (80 yards rushing, 130 passing, four total touchdowns). No, the question here will be how well linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578873' first='Coleman' last='Radcliff']</strong> (103.5 total tackles) and safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272699' first='Da'Marion' last='Coe']</strong> (87.5 tackles) can support the line against a talented James Island rushing attack that rotates <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589055' first='Amontrae' last='Scott']</strong> (pictured), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605524' first='Amor' last='Scott']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='594497' first='James' last='Maxwell']</strong> from one play to the next. The approach keeps them all fresh, and, most importantly, dangerous for all four quarters. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->