Class 4A Upper State First Round Playoff Preview
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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…
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Continue ReadingThe 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.
Win and advance.
NO. 16 INDIAN LAND (6-4) AT NO. 1 GREER (5-5)
Sequel Patterson Sequel Patterson 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Indian Land | 2027 State SC 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 Hayden Morris Hayden Morris 6'2" | 160 lbs | WR Indian Land | 2026 SC and Ricky Meyers Jr in last week’s season finale against Lancaster. On defense, everything begins with linebacker and Florida St. commit Timir Hickman-Collins Timir Hickman-Collins 6'1" | 200 lbs | LB Indian Land | 2024 State SC who is a tackling machine.
Greer will run it and run it often. LaDainnian Martin LaDainnian Martin 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB JL Mann | 2025 State SC (pictured above) is a workhorse, as he has run for 1155 yards and 15 touchdowns. Keep an eye on Chris Hall, who has run for 830 yards and 14 touchdowns. Max Hannon and Brody Diggins Brody Diggins 5'10" | 175 lbs | LB Greer | 2025 State SC are first and second on the team in interceptions.
NO. 9 SOUTH AIKEN (3-7) AT NO. 8 GREENVILLE (6-3)
Bryson Drummond Bryson Drummond 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain View Prep | 2025 State SC 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 Mazeo Bennett Mazeo Bennett 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Greenville | 2024 State SC , who has 445 yards receiving and 4 touchdowns. Keep your eye on KD Mosley KD Mosley 6'3" | 220 lbs | WR Greenville | 2024 State SC as well as William Bunton and Jayden Wilson Abrams defensively.
Jevon Edwards Jevon Edwards 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB South Aiken | 2025 State SC will be the guy to watch offensively for the Thoroughbreds as he has run for 1377 yards. Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB South Aiken | 2024 State SC is the signal caller, who has thrown for 1146 yards so far this year. Garrett Still Garrett Still 5'10" | 165 lbs | LB South Aiken | 2025 SC and Justin Bradley defensively as they are first and second on the team in tackles.
NO. 12 GREENWOOD (4-5) AT NO. 5 NORTH AUGUSTA (7-3)
Michael Doe Michael Doe 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB North Augusta | 2026 State SC is averaging 110.2 yards per game as the Yellow Jackets will look to run the ball along with Corey Tillman, who is averaging 77.8 yards per game. DJ Bookard and Bryce Tillman will be your guys to watch defensively for North Augusta.
Keep your eye on Tristan Lewis on offense for Greenwood and Damarion Roman Damarion Roman 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Greenwood | 2026 SC on defense for the Eagles.
NO. 13 LAURENS (2-8) AT NO. 4 NORTHWESTERN (9-1)
Northwestern has been scoring points in bunches Finley Polk Finley Polk 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2025 State SC has thrown for 2374 yards and 27 touchdowns. He can spread the wealth around with a plethora of receivers, which include Jayden Nichols Jayden Nichols 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Northwestern | 2025 SC who leads the team with 471 yards and 4 touchdowns And we can’t forget about Turbo Richard Turbo Richard 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Northwestern | 2024 State SC who was selected as a finalist for Mr. Football. The Trojans are stingy on defense, particularly the defensive line with Andre Pickett and Will Massey Will Massey 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Northwestern | 2025 State SC leading the way.
For Laurens, keep your eye on Nick Danciu, who is averaging 211 yards passing per game. Nick Fowler will be a guy to watch running the ball.
NO. 11 YORK (7-3) AT NO. 6 RIVERSIDE (5-5)
York has a team full of athletes, beginning with Ayden Davis Ayden Davis 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB York | 2024 State SC who will take snaps at quarterback, wide receiver and defensive back. Javarus Guthrie Javarus Guthrie 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB York | 2024 State SC provides a steady hand at the running back position. Tashon Freeman will get into the mix at quarterback when the Cougars need to throw it. Trey Wagner 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.
Riverside is led by quarterback Jacob Medlin, who has thrown for 873 yards and 8 touchdowns so far on the year. Keep an eye on Mikkel Skinner Mikkel Skinner 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Riverside | 2025 State SC , who has run for 501 yards and 4 touchdowns on the year. Quinton Hood is a tackling machine with 76 on the year along Clay Black with 61 total tackles.
NO. 14 AIRPORT (5-3) AT NO. 3 WESTSIDE (9-1)
Montrell Keys 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 Shiloh Perry offensively at wide receiver.
For Westside, quarterback Cutter Woods Cutter Woods 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Westside | 2025 State SC is the straw that stirs the drink for the Rams along with Demarco Evans in the backfield. Keep your eye on Zeke Marshall Zeke Marshall 6'3" | 175 lbs | DB Westside | 2025 State SC and Jimmar Boston Jimmar Boston 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Westside | 2024 State SC defensively.
NO. 10 EASTSIDE (6-4) AT NO. 7 SOUTH POINTE (7-3)
Kalvin Banks Kalvin Banks 5'9" | 170 lbs | RB Eastside | 2024 State SC 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, Jaquavious Dodd Jaquavious Dodd 6'6" | 220 lbs | DL Eastside | 2025 State SC and Andrew Moree are first and second on the team in sacks with 12 and 9 sacks, respectively.
For South Pointe, Aidan Turner Aidan Turner 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB South Pointe | 2025 NC 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 Dalian Duncan and Xavier Preston at receiver. Chris Dixon Chris Dixon 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL South Pointe | 2024 State SC and J’Zavien Currence J’Zavien Currence 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH South Pointe | 2026 State SC will be two guys to keep your eye on defensively.
NO. 15 EASLEY (4-6) AT NO. 2 MIDLAND VALLEY (10-0)
Jay Stoker Jay Stoker 6'1" | 205 lbs | QB Easley | 2026 State SC is the leader of the Easley offense with 1376 yards passing. He’ll be accompanied by Logan Sullivan, who has run for 918 yards. Keep your eye on Talon Scott defensively who has 91 tackles on the year. That’s not a misprint.
We can’t begin the conversation about Midland Valley without talking about star running back Traevon Dunbar Traevon Dunbar 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2024 State SC who ran for 315 yards and four touchdowns in a thrilling regular season finale win over North Augusta last week. Keep your eye on Dominic Morgan and Andon Hawkins Andon Hawkins 5'7" | 205 lbs | LB Midland Valley | 2025 State SC defensively.