Class 5A Lower State Second Round Preview
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Seven of the eight Class 5A Lower State playoffs games went to the home team last week, and the four homestanding teams this week hope that trend continues. There are still two undefeated teams remaining in this half of the…
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Continue ReadingSeven of the eight Class 5A Lower State playoffs games went to the home team last week, and the four homestanding teams this week hope that trend continues. There are still two undefeated teams remaining in this half of the bracket, but that doesn’t mean anyone is putting them in the lower state finals just yet.
Here a rundown of the four games in the Class 5A Lower State bracket this week:
No. 2 FORT DORCHESTER (7-3) AT NO. 1 WHITE KNOLL (11-0)
This will arguably be the toughest test for the unbeaten Timberwolves this season. Behind a defense led by Connor Burgess Connor Burgess 5'9" | 195 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2025 SC and Jaiden Kimble, White Knoll recorded its fourth shutout of the season in a 28-0 win over Cane Bay in round one. Devin Geronomi Devin Geronomi 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2025 State SC and Caleb Geronomi Caleb Geronomi 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2026 State SC lead a hard-hitting secondary as well. QB Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC threw for 240 yards with three passing touchdowns and a rushing one as well last week. Sharpe has thrown for 2,137 yards. Freshman Tiyon Fanning Tiyon Fanning 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2027 State SC has 646 yards and will look to lead the ground attack.
The Patriots are averaging more than 37 points per game, but this will be a tough test against a White Knoll defense this is allowing 6.4 points per game. The QB duo of Charles Watson Charles Watson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Fort Dorchester | 2024 State SC and Bennett Riffer Bennett Riffer 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB Fort Dorchester | 2024 SC will look to continue the onslaught that has scored at least 28 points in nine of 10 games. Watson has 19 touchdowns passes while splitting time. They will look to get Mul-Ty Snider, Monty Johnson and Jalen Berry out in space to work. RB Davion Brown will lead the ground attack.
NO. 2 SUMTER (8-3) AT NO. 1 STRATFORD (5-6)
No. 1 seeded Stratford escaped with a 28-27 win over Chapin last week thanks to a last second field from Enzo Mori. Lineman Wes Snowden and Landon Stradcutter Landon Stradcutter 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Stratford | 2024 State SC will try to clear the way for QB Jachin Davis Jachin Davis 6'1" | 180 lbs | QB Stratford | 2026 State SC (1,372 yards) to throw to J’qwan Crosby, Elijah Riley Elijah Riley 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Stratford | 2024 State SC and TE Jacob Deacon. Riley also has five interceptions and has been productive in the kickoff and punt return role, as well. Josh Faucett is a load at linebacker.
Sumter counters with a steady attack that will lean on John Peeples John Peeples 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Sumter | 2025 State SC and his 29 rushing touchdowns. Senior quarterback Pate Merchant Pate Merchant 5'11" | 190 lbs | QB Sumter | 2024 State SC is a solid game manager who has thrown for 1,261 yards and seven scores. Jamie Tedder, Dazaun Jackson Dazaun Jackson 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR Sumter | 2024 State SC and Jamireh Bey are three targets who have nearly 30 receptions on the season. Jahiem Rose, Tymaries Thompson-Durant and AJ Bracey lead a talented defense that registered five interceptions in the 56-13 win over Ashley Ridge in the first round.
NO. 3 BERKELEY (6-5) AT NO. 1 SUMMERVILLE (11-0)
The lowcountry’s longest running rivalry will play a rematch in the second round. The Green Wave blistered the Stags 62-27 on September 1. Summerville has scored 33 points in 10 of 11 games with last week’s 28-3 win over River Bluff being the exception. Transfer QB Jaden Cummings Jaden Cummings 5'11" | 195 lbs | QB Summerville | 2025 State SC has thrown for 2,870 yards with Yannick Smith Yannick Smith 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC (pictured) averaging almost 24 yards per reception. The Senior has 1,286 yards and 17 touchdowns and ran the ball nine times last week for 122 yards and two scores. Quintrelle Pettiford Quintrelle Pettiford 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC has 37 catches for 693 yards and nine touchdowns. Keon Washington and Sheldon Glenn also scored against River Bluff. If the Stags can slow that trio, Trae Green Trae Green 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Summerville | 2024 State SC is six yards shy of 1,000 yards on the season. Defensively, look for Jacob Cotterill, Jamin Brown and Jaiden Kelly to give the young Stags fits.
Berkeley hasn’t won away from the cozy confides of Gerald Moody Field, going 0-5 on the road with the closest loss being by 28 points. If quarterback Henry Rivers Henry Rivers 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB Berkeley | 2027 State SC can find some time, he has a couple of weapons in Kayden Bush and Kevin Boone Kevin Boone 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Berkeley | 2025 State SC , who have combined for 85 catches for 1,593 yards receiving. Rivers and Josh Smalls will have to try to find something in the running game so Summerville can’t come after Rivers hard in the pocket. A pair of sophomores in Marcus Henderson Marcus Henderson 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC and Kevin Rivers Kevin Rivers 6'0" | 185 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC will be tasked with slowing the Green Wave.
NO. 4 WEST ASHLEY (6-5) AT NO. 1 CAROLINA FOREST (8-3)
Carolina Forest has nearly 4,000 total yards of offense this season with the ground attack leading the way. Kalil Johnson Kalil Johnson 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Carolina Forest | 2024 State SC (1,376 yards), Ethan Hamilton Ethan Hamilton 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB Carolina Forest | 2024 State SC , Chris Livingston and Jaryn Fox each have over 420 yards rushing this season. Hamilton is second with 915 yards rushing and 632 yards passing. Braylin Fernandes and Jonathan Rivas lead a defense that hasn’t allowed over 20 points in a game since September.
The Wildcats snapped a three-game skid with a 30-21 win over Goose Creek, the only seeding upset in round one. West Ashley rushed for more than 300 yards in the game with the RB duo of Kevin Brown and Mason White doing the bulk of the work. Quarterback David Dounian David Dounian 5'10" | 175 lbs | QB West Ashley | 2025 State SC and Terry Grant Terry Grant 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB West Ashley | 2024 State SC also had rushing scores. Christopher Dolloff intercepted two passes last week, as well.