Class A Upper State Second Round Preview
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Round two of the Class A Upper State bracket features five former state champions among the eight remaining schools. One matchup features two teams in Wagener-Salley and Blackville-Hilda facing each other for the second time this season. There’s also a…
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Continue ReadingRound two of the Class A Upper State bracket features five former state champions among the eight remaining schools.
One matchup features two teams in Wagener-Salley and Blackville-Hilda facing each other for the second time this season. There’s also a first-ever meeting between St. Joseph’s and top-ranked Lewisville.
The remaining two contests involve teams in defending champion Christ Church and McBee and Southside Christian versus Calhoun County who’ve faced each other in the postseason in the recent past.
Here’s a look at Friday’s games:
NO. 2 MCBEE (7-4) AT NO. 1 CHRIST CHURCH (9-2)
The defending Class A champion Cavaliers have won seven straight games after early season losses to Gray Collegiate and Riverside. Shrine Bowl running back and Northwestern commit Dashun Reeder Dashun Reeder 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2024 State SC rushed for 148 yards and three touchdowns in the 49-0 win over Ridge Spring-Monetta. Quarterback Tucker Hendrix Tucker Hendrix 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Christ Church | 2025 State SC threw for 170 yards and three touchdowns. For the season, he’s thrown for 1,879 yards and 25 touchdowns. His main target is Jackson Repp Jackson Repp 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Christ Church | 2025 State SC with over 800 yards and 15 touchdowns. The defense has posted back-to-back shutouts and four overall this season. Senior linebacker Jake Good Jake Good 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Church | 2024 State SC has a team-high 81 tackles. Defensive lineman Lincoln Weldie and linebacker Cooper Hronchek each have five sacks and defensive back Matthew Covington has four interception.
The Panthers rebounded from a season-ending 58-7 loss to top-ranked Lewisville with a 49-12 win over Dixie. The offense is run-oriented with running back Devarius Ponds Devarius Ponds 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB McBee | 2025 State SC leading the team in rushing and wide receiver Darrell Harper has a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Evan Talbert has a team-high 63 tackles and three sacks. Linebacker Jakari Holloman has 45 tackles and a sack and Jasson Brockington has 33 tackles and three sacks on the season.
NO. 3 WAGENER-SALLEY (7-3) NO. 2 BLACKVILLE-HILDA (9-2)
A rematch from Week Six won by the Hawks 34-8. They are coming off a 47-20 win over McCormick in which Jaquel Holman Jaquel Holman 6'2" | 195 lbs | RB Blackville-Hilda | 2025 State SC rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns and had a 38-yard scoring reception. For the season, he has 1,589 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns. Backfield mate Tamari Daniels Tamari Daniels 5'8" | 145 lbs | WR Blackville-Hilda | 2024 State SC had 101 rushing yards and a touchdown. On defense, Kedrick Smith had 7.5 tackles and has 8t.5 tackles on the season and defensive back Darius Jenkins had seven tackles and has 33.5 tackles on the season.
The War Eagles rely on a ground game spearheaded by an offensive line led by Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl selection Brandon Pontoon Brandon Pontoon 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Wagener-Salley | 2024 State SC . Kentrall Brown and Aiden Stroman will look to capitalize on the upfront blocking for yardage and points. The defense allowed just 183 total yards and tied a season-low in points allowed in the 46-6 victory over C.A. Johnson.
NO. 2 SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN (7-3) AT NO. 1 CALHOUN COUNTY (10-1)
The Saints have won eight straight games. Running back Ahmir Smith Ahmir Smith 5'10" | 190 lbs | ATH Calhoun County | 2024 State SC celebrated his addition to the Shrine Bowl team led by his head coach Wayne Farmer with three touchdowns in the 62-0 win over Whitmire. Marquez Davenport rushed for two scores and the defense forced three turnovers.
After an 0-2 start, the Sabres have won seven of their last eight games. In the 49-6 win over Denmark-Olar, receiver Josh Hennum rushed for close to 100 yards and a touchdown. The two-quarterback system with Paul Cobin and Carson Bolemon has resulted in a combined 2,000 total yards. As a team, Southside Christian are holding opponents to 9.8 points per game since the winless start. A big reason in the play upfront with Silas Robertson, and defensive linemen Micah McGowan Micah McGowan 6'1" | 260 lbs | DL Southside Christian | 2024 State SC and Jeremiah Jackson.
NO. 3 ST. JOSEPH’S (9-2) AT NO. 1 LEWISVILLE (10-1)
This is the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Running back Brayden Johnson Brayden Johnson 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB St. Joseph's | 2025 State SC has carried the Knights’ offense and is coming off a 180-yard, two-touchdown performance in the 49-6 win over Denmark-Olar. He’s joined in the backfield by Lucas Salgado, who scored three touchdowns (two rushing and a kick return) in the regular-season finale against McCormick.
The Lions have posted seven shutout victories this season, including last week’s 52-0 win over Calhoun Falls Charter, and have allowed a total of 37 points in 10 games played. Linebacker Joaquan Howze Joaquan Howze 6'0" | 180 lbs | LB Lewisville | 2024 State SC leads the team with 100 tackles, followed by linebacker Daquan Evans with 73 tackles. Elisha Baker Elisha Baker 5'9" | 205 lbs | LB Lewisville | 2025 State SC has a team-high nine sacks and Jakarri Strong is among the state leaders in interceptions with nine. On offense, quarterback Ian Grissom Ian Grissom 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Rock Hill | 2025 State SC is one of the state’s most prolific passers with 2,331 yards and 31 touchdowns. He has versatile weapons in Dion Brown Dion Brown 6'0" | 150 lbs | WR Lewisville | 2024 State SC (pictured), De’Adrian Robinson and Jacorreun Howze. In the backfield, Damion Fee has rushed for close to 700 yards and 11 TDs.