Class 4A Upper State First Round Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first round of the playoffs are here. And for teams in the Upper State bracket in 4A, while some of the matchups may not grab your attention with six teams at or above .500, it's why it's the playoffs and it's why you play the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Win and advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 16 INDIAN LAND (6-4) AT NO. 1 GREER (5-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036748' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] </strong>is a young freshman who has been making plays all year for Indian Land and he'll be counted on as they begin their playoff run. He connected on two touchdowns to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris'] </strong>and <strong>Ricky Meyers Jr </strong>in last week's season finale against Lancaster.<strong> </strong>On defense, everything begins with linebacker and Florida St. commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771063' first='Timir' last='Hickman-Collins'] </strong>who is a tackling machine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greer will run it and run it often. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012565' first='LaDainnian' last='Martin'] </strong>(pictured above) is a workhorse, as he has run for 1155 yards and 15 touchdowns. Keep an eye on <strong>Chris Hall</strong>, who has run for 830 yards and 14 touchdowns. <strong>Max Hannon </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254107' first='Brody' last='Diggins'] </strong>are first and second on the team in interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 9 SOUTH AIKEN (3-7) AT NO. 8 GREENVILLE (6-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='349806' first='Bryson' last='Drummond']</strong> can sling it around for Greenville as he's thrown for 141.9 yards per game and he has a reliable weapon to throw to in South Carolina commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='163871' first='Mazeo' last='Bennett']</strong>, who has 445 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns. Keep your eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997216' first='KD' last='Mosley'] </strong>as well as <strong>William Bunton </strong>and <strong>Jayden Wilson Abrams </strong>defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards'] </strong>will be the guy to watch offensively for the Thoroughbreds as he has run for 1377 yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340388' first='Terrence' last='Smith'] </strong>is the signal caller, who has thrown for 1146 yards so far this year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797153' first='Garrett' last='Still'] </strong>and <strong>Justin Bradley </strong>defensively as they are first and second on the team in tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 12 GREENWOOD (4-5) AT NO. 5 NORTH AUGUSTA (7-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe'] </strong>is averaging 110.2 yards per game as the Yellow Jackets will look to run the ball along with <strong>Corey Tillman</strong>, who is averaging 77.8 yards per game. <strong>DJ Bookard </strong>and <strong>Bryce Tillman </strong>will be your guys to watch defensively for North Augusta.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keep your eye on <strong>Tristan Lewis </strong>on offense for Greenwood and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828831' first='Damarion' last='Roman'] </strong>on defense for the Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 13 LAURENS (2-8) AT NO. 4 NORTHWESTERN (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwestern has been scoring points in bunches <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'] </strong>has thrown for 2374 yards and 27 touchdowns. He can spread the wealth around with a plethora of receivers, which include <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753896' first='Jayden' last='Nichols'] </strong>who leads the team with 471 yards and 4 touchdowns<strong>&nbsp; </strong>And we can't forget about <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='265222' first='Turbo' last='Richard'] </strong>who was selected as a finalist for Mr. Football. The Trojans are stingy on defense, particularly the defensive line with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey'] </strong>leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Laurens, keep your eye on <strong>Nick Danciu</strong>, who is averaging 211 yards passing per game. <strong>Nick Fowler </strong>will be a guy to watch running the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 11 YORK (7-3) AT NO. 6 RIVERSIDE (5-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>York has a team full of athletes, beginning with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208367' first='Ayden' last='Davis'] </strong>who will take snaps at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771226' first='Javarus' last='Guthrie'] </strong>provides a steady hand at the running back position. <strong>Tashon Freeman </strong>will get into the mix at quarterback when the Cougars need to throw it. <strong>Trey Wagner </strong>will need to be a guy Riverside will want to know where he is, because he is a force on defense. He has 11 sacks on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riverside is led by quarterback <strong>Jacob Medlin</strong>, who has thrown for 873 yards and 8 touchdowns so far on the year. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012616' first='Mikkel' last='Skinner'], </strong>who has run for 501 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year. <strong>Quinton Hood </strong>is a tackling machine with 76 on the year along <strong>Clay Black </strong>with 61 total tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 14 AIRPORT (5-3) AT NO. 3 WESTSIDE (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Montrell Keys </strong>had 8 tackles and 1 tackle for loss against North Augusta and will be a guy to watch defensively for Airport. Keep your eye on <strong>Shiloh Perry </strong>offensively at wide receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Westside, quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] </strong>is the straw that stirs the drink for the Rams along with <strong>Demarco Evans </strong>in the backfield. Keep your eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346193' first='Zeke' last='Marshall'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139296' first='Jimmar' last='Boston'] </strong>defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 10 EASTSIDE (6-4) AT NO. 7 SOUTH POINTE (7-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448996' first='Kalvin' last='Banks'] </strong>leads the team in touchdowns with 16 touchdowns and is averaging 152.8 yards per game and has run for 1222 yards in 2023. He will be the guy to watch for Eastside offensively. On defense, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013073' first='Jaquavious' last='Dodd'] </strong>and <strong>Andrew Moree </strong>are first and second on the team in sacks with 12 and 9 sacks, respectively.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For South Pointe, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012612' first='Aidan' last='Turner'] </strong>has been one of the mainstays for the Stallions offensively, and he had another great performance against York last week, rushing for 159 yards and one touchdown. Keep your eye on <strong>Dalian Duncan </strong>and <strong>Xavier Preston </strong>at receiver. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Chris' last='Dixon'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'] </strong>will be two guys to keep your eye on defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 15 EASLEY (4-6) AT NO. 2 MIDLAND VALLEY (10-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025811' first='Jay' last='Stoker'] </strong>is the leader of the Easley offense with 1376 yards passing. He'll be accompanied by <strong>Logan Sullivan</strong>, who has run for 918 yards. Keep your eye on <strong>Talon Scott </strong>defensively who has 91 tackles on the year. That's not a misprint.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We can't begin the conversation about Midland Valley without talking about star running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar'] </strong>who ran for 315 yards and four touchdowns in a thrilling regular season finale win over North Augusta last week. Keep your eye on <strong>Dominic Morgan </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272716' first='Andon' last='Hawkins'] </strong>defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->