Class 5A Lower State First Round Playoff Preview

It's the time of year football fans live for. It's win or pack up the equipment time on Monday. All eyes are on getting to Orangeburg, the new site for the SCHSL state championship games.   Class 5A lower state has more than a few teams that have an eye on a deep postseason run and practicing on Thanksgiving morning. Here's a look at the first round games this Friday.   NO. 4 CANE BAY (6-4) AT NO. 1 WHITE KNOLL (10-0)   It's very little secret that White Knoll is riding one of the best defenses in the state in securing the first undefeated regular season in school history. The Timberwolves are big, strong and athletic with linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1142518' first='Demenico' last='Banks'], Marcus Domenech and [player_tooltip player_id='911089' first='Jaiden' last='Kimble'] forming one of the most talented groups in the state. On offense, QB [player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe'] gets a lot of attention but his wide receiver group of Evan Henderson (39 catches, 570 yards), [player_tooltip player_id='994939' first='CJ' last='Earl'] (25-420) and [player_tooltip player_id='448995' first='Austin' last='Cunningham'] (14-186) causes teams issues. Cane Bay is going to try and run the football with RB Deshawn Tompkins leading six backs with over 150 yards rushing. Center Jayden Ferguson could be a key against the stout White Knoll front.   NO. 3 SOCASTEE (3-7) AT NO. 2 FORT DORCEHSTER (6-3)   This will be a challenge for the Braves on the road, a place they haven't won this season. QB [player_tooltip player_id='139313' first='Rocco' last='Wojcik'] has thrown for 1,920 yards for Socastee and the Patriots defense has allowed 26 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='413890' first='Joshua' last='Brown'] (48 catches, 672 yards) and [player_tooltip player_id='771237' first='Quadir' last='Scott'] (38-639, 9 touchdowns) will have to be at their best because Fort Dorchester scores 37 points a game on average. Davion Brown and Ryan Cambell are nice 1-2 punch on the ground game and [player_tooltip player_id='1142837' first='Mul-ty' last='Snider'] is a threat at wide receiver.   NO. 4 CHAPIN (6-4) AT NO. 1 STRATFORD (4-6)   This isn't your typical No. 1 vs No. 4 first round matchup. Chapin offers an explosive offense behind the arm of [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'] (2,526 yards) and wide receivers Jacob Nerone (55 receptions, 630 yards) and Kalen Bostick (48-612). Five receivers have over 18 catches this season. The Knights will try to counter with QB [player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] and RB Markell Holman. In the region-clinching victory over Goose Creek, those two combined for 390 yards rushing with Davis scoring five touchdowns.     NO. 3 ASHLEY RIDGE (8-2) AT NO. 2 SUMTER (7-3)   This might be the most entertaining game in this part of the bracket. Let's face it, [player_tooltip player_id='589052' first='Derrick' last='Salley'] is going to be problem for the Gamecocks defense. The Ashley Ridge senior has 100 receptions for 1,862 yards and 19 touchdowns. QB [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] is averaging 274 yards passing per game with 27 touchdowns. Defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1012625' first='Dylan' last='Polansky'] will be counted on to slow the Sumter offense. [player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples'] has 1,083 yards rushing and 26 total touchdowns to lead the attack. The biggest challenge will be in secondary, where Bryce Allen will try to slow the explosive passing combo of Kalisz to Salley.      AT LARGE NO. 1 RIVER BLUFF (5-5) AT NO. 1 SUMMERVILLE (10-0)   The Green Wave are the consensus No. 1 ranked team in Class 5A after an undefeated season. A lot of that success is attributed to an offense that scores 49.5 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='771065' first='Yannick' last='Smith'] is one of the top receivers in the state with 46 receptions for 1,176 yards and 15 touchdowns. He's also a threat in the return game. [player_tooltip player_id='589013' first='Trae' last='Green'] is bearing the 1,000-yard mark on the ground. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='140607' first='Kayden' last='Gaddist'] can rush the passer or play in coverage. If the Gators have a shot at pulling the upset, LB Hayden Cushman will have to play a huge factor. QB [player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray'] (1,450 yards) will also have to play his best game to match Summerville score-for-score.   NO. 4 CONWAY (1-9) AT NO. 3 BERKELEY (5-5)   The Stags are 5-0 at home this season. The hope in Moncks Corner is the playoff pressure isn't too much for steady freshman QB [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] (pictured). So far, things haven't been as he's thrown for 2,114 yards and 22 touchdowns and he's the leading rusher with 418 yards. Wide receivers [player_tooltip player_id='683478' first='Kayden' last='Bash'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158021' first='Kevin' last='Boone'] both average over 16 yards per reception. Conway has had several narrow misses this season with three losses by 10 points or less. A lot of pressure will be on [player_tooltip player_id='448994' first='Moses' last='Freshley'] (110 tackles, 10 tackles for loss), Jaden Stubbs and Na'jere Green to slow down Rivers. If they can, QB [player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger'] is talented enough to lead the Tigers to a victory.   AT LARGE NO. 2 ST. JAMES (3-7) AT NO. 1 CAROLINA FOREST (7-3)   In an odd twist of scheduling, these two teams closed the regular season with Carolina Forest winning 35-14 last week. The Sharks took the early lead only to see the Panthers score the final 35 points to secure the region title. [player_tooltip player_id='267465' first='Kalil' last='Johnson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1142820' first='Ethan' last='Hamilton'] form a solid 1-2 punch on the ground. Johnson has 1,282 yards rushing and Hamilton comes in at 898 yards. Carolina Forest rushed for 365 yards last week. Defensively, Jonathan Rivas and Charles McCray lead the pack. St. James will lean on Issaiah Brown (761 yards rushing) and Connor Schwaim (717 yards rushing and 1,048 yards passing) to try and pull the upset.   NO. 4 WEST ASHLEY (5-5) AT NO. 2 GOOSE CREEK (4-6)   This is another on the docket that could go either way. The Gators score a ton of points behind QB [player_tooltip player_id='402499' first='Kymani' last='Clary'] and WR Shy'Juan Grant. But the Goose Creek defense has been spotty at best, allowing 34 points per game. The Wildcats had bigger hopes for the season but lost the final three games against teams with a combined 24-5 record. [player_tooltip player_id='208366' first='Terry' last='Grant'] is a load at linebacker and typically arrives at the ball-carrier in a bad mood. Throw in talented defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='91363' first='LB' last='Bailey'] and West Ashley will be tough on the Goose Creek attack.

It's the time of year football fans live for. It's win or pack up the equipment time on Monday. All eyes are on getting to Orangeburg, the new site for the SCHSL state championship games.