Class 5A Lower State Final Preview
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Around midseason, people began thinking Summerville and White Knoll could be on collision course for the Class 5A Lower State Championship. The Green Wave have been ranked No. 1 since early in the season. White Knoll began the season outside…
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Continue ReadingAround midseason, people began thinking Summerville and White Knoll could be on collision course for the Class 5A Lower State Championship. The Green Wave have been ranked No. 1 since early in the season. White Knoll began the season outside the top 10 and steadily climbed the rankings to sit at No. 2.
Both teams featured a high-powered offense. It’s going to be fun to watch a Summerville offense that is averaging 47 points a game go against a White Knoll defense that is allowing just over 6 points a game. The Green Wave haven’t scored less than 28 points in any single game this season while the Timberwolves defense hasn’t allowed more than 15 points in any game. It’s a classic offense vs defense matchup.
It might come down to the White Knoll offense, which is averaging 38 points a game, against a Summerville defense that has allowed an average of 20 points per game.
No. 1 SUMMERVILLE (13-0) at No. 1 WHITE KNOLL (13-0)
Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday
About the Green Wave: RB Trae Green Trae Green 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Summerville | 2024 State SC had a playoff game for the ages last week. He rushed for over 268 yards and five touchdowns to help Summerville score on nine of 10 possessions. The Green Wave had over 400 yards rushing. But it’s been like that nearly every week for the Green Wave. Transfer QB Jaden Cummings Jaden Cummings 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Summerville | 2025 State SC is well over 3,000 yards passing and his arsenal of weapons is impressive. There might not be many wide receivers in the state better than Yannick Smith Yannick Smith 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC . The senior is near 1,500 receiving yards and over 2,000 all-purpose yards on the season. But he isn’t the only wideout that can make plays. Kemori DeWeese, Quintrelle Pettiford Quintrelle Pettiford 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC , Keon Washington and Sheldon Glenn might round out the best wide receiver bunch in the state. Defensively, the Green Wave have allowed some points, but the unit has several playmakers. The linebacker group of Omarion Tucker, Ike Rutherford, Kayden Gaddist Kayden Gaddist 5'10" | 205 lbs | LB Summerville | 2024 State SC and Evan Howell-Smith will have to play a solid game to slow the Timberwolves. Jacob Cotterill up front and Ryland Mitchell will be counted on to cover the Timberwolves host of receivers.
About the Timberwolves: When you talk about White Knoll, you have to start with the defense. Anytime you have three players with over 100 tackles, that’s pretty impressive. Demenico Banks Demenico Banks 5'10" | 225 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC (108 tackles), Connor Burgess Connor Burgess 5'9" | 195 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2025 SC (101 tackles) and Jaiden Kimble Jaiden Kimble 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC (100 tackles) are a fast and physical linebacking group. Kimble has 19 tackles for loss and six sacks. Lincoln Illunga leads the team with nine sacks and has added 11 tackles for loss. Mondo Domench is another name to know for a unit that has allowed 161 yards of offense per game. They’ve also only allowed four rushing touchdowns and 10 total touchdowns. QB Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC is the one that makes the offense go. The junior has thrown for 2,465 yards and rushed for another 400 yards. He’s accounted for 35 touchdowns. WR Austin Cunningham Austin Cunningham 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH White Knoll | 2024 State SC (pictured) and CJ Earl CJ Earl 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH White Knoll | 2025 SC combined for 65 receptions for 938 yards. Add in the 52 catches for 690 yards from Evan Henderson and White Knoll is prolific in the passing game. Freshman RB Tiyon Fanning Tiyon Fanning 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2027 State SC , Sean Evans, Kimble and Banks will all be counted on in the running game.
Key Matchup: This will be the toughest test of the season for the Timberwolves defense. If the front limits Green in the rushing department, it will be up to Caleb Geronomi Caleb Geronomi 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2026 State SC , James Smith James Smith 6'0" | 180 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2027 State SC and Devin Geronomi Devin Geronomi 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2025 State SC to control the Summerville ariel attack. That group has allowed just 1,012 yards passing this season and has 13 interceptions. One of the keys is to limit the yards after catch. The Green Wave have feasted on the big play this year and if they have to use 8,9 or 10-play drives, it will be to the White Knoll advantage.
X-Factor: The offensive line for the Timberwolves might be the difference in this game. Mason Gravlin, Ty Bennett, Hayden Hohlwein, Donovan Sims, and Thomas Disbrow must protect Sharpe when he drops back to pass. Maybe more importantly, they will need to provide running room against a talented Summerville front seven. If White Knoll reaches 150 yards rushing in the game, they are likely to advance to its first-ever state championship appearance.