Staff Picks: State Championship Games

Well, we had so much doing this a week ago we decided to re-up our staff picks for the state championship games.   If you're curious, we went 8-2 as a staff in the Upper State and Lower State title contests, so we've got some work to do this time around. And here's the fun part: We're pretty sure our ourselves this time around.   In two of the games, the entire seven-person staff picked the same winner, while at least five members of the Prep Redzone South Carolina crew picked the same winner in the other three.    Enjoy.   CLASS A   Johnsonville (11-2) vs. Christ Church (12-2)   Staff pick: Christ Church (Unanimous)   Why the Cavaliers will win: "The rematch for the 1A state championship is set - and we're expecting similar results. Last year, Christ Church turned to their quarterback down the stretch to break open the game, allowing tailback [player_tooltip player_id='267466' first='Dashun' last='Reeder'] to shine. Well, Reeder is back, and though the quarterback is a different guy, [player_tooltip player_id='1013068' first='Tucker' last='Hendrix'] has shown he's more than capable of taking over a game, just like he did against St. Joseph's in the Upper State final. [player_tooltip player_id='1012637' first='Jackson' last='Repp'] is back at receiver, and has had a huge season coming off last year's great state title game. Cooper Hronchek and [player_tooltip player_id='997188' first='Jake' last='Good'] help anchor a stingy defense. The Flashes have plenty of talent. [player_tooltip player_id='997242' first='Malik' last='Shippy'] is dangerous with his arms and his legs at QB, [player_tooltip player_id='996857' first='Travis' last='Wilson'] is a stout DE and a threat at WR, and [player_tooltip player_id='997329' first='Neal' last='Martin'] has done double-duty at RB and LB, turning in big games on both sides of the ball in the playoffs. But the Cavaliers have just seemed to hit a different gear once region play started, and they don't seem to be slowing down any time soon." - Jed Blackwell   CLASS 2A   Gray Collegiate (15-3) vs. Oceanside Collegiate (11-2)   Staff pick: Gray Collegiate (6-1)   Why the War Eagles will win: “The War Eagles have played with a fire of motivation throughout the season. They now look to claim their second state title with a team with as many diverse weapons as the first one. Wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord'] wil get a chance to play on his future college field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. He and [player_tooltip player_id='91353' first='Jamarious' last='Lockett'] will prove to be a difficult matchup and the War Eagles' offensive line will keep quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] protected and open holes for [player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery'].While Oceanside Collegiate's defense allowed an average of a touchdown this season, it faces an offense which has averaged 43 points a game and has many ways to score. The Landsharks' offense has not lost a step with freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'], but Gray Collegiate's defense has the size, speed and experience to slow them down.” - Thomas Grant   CLASS 3A   Camden (11-3) vs. Daniel (14-0)   Staff pick: Daniel (unanimous)    Why the Lions will win: "At this point of Daniel's program, how could anyone ever not pick the Lions to win? They've lost once in the last 51 games - on a two-point conversion with eight seconds left in round three of the 2022 playoffs. Nobody knows that better than Camden, which lost to Daniel by 21 points in the 2020 Class 3A state championship and 25 in the 2021 state final. With Mr. Football finalist [player_tooltip player_id='1142430' first='Watson' last='Young'] anchoring the line up front, the Lions have a balanced offense led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1055627' first='Kolton' last='Chapman'] (2,279 yards passing) and running back Ja'Kari Bennett (1,377 yards rushing).” - Scott Keeler   CLASS 4A   Westside (13-1) vs. South Florence (14-0)   Staff pick: South Florence (5-2)   Why the Bruins will win: “Only in this type of game is a team that has rattled off 13 straight wins while averaging 48-plus points per game can be considered any sort of an underdog. But everything that South Florence has done this year proves that this team wasn't a one-hit wonder with LaNorris Sellers. The Bruins have one of the state's best defenses statistically, but that doesn't tell the entire story. With [player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='996915' first='Dirrick' last='Goodman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='208353' first='Quincy' last='Rhodes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1142600' first='Terrance' last='Moorer'] and everyone else, South has systematically made every opposing offense play well under its season expectations. Hartsville managed only 21 points, West Florence and Myrtle Beach were shut out, Richland Northeast could only score 20 points and Irmo was held to 21. Some of those figures can be attributed to South shortening the game, but with as many big runs as it has had in recent weeks, it reflects even more on this dominant defense.” - Ian Guerin   CLASS 5A   Dutch Fork (9-5) vs. White Knoll (14-0)   Staff pick: Dutch Fork (5-2)   Why the Silver Foxes will win: “We said it here last week - history tells us not to bet against Tom Knotts in the playoffs. Things looked bleak in the Upper State finals until the Silver Foxes scored 10 points in the final 1:17 to defeat JL Mann 31-30. [player_tooltip player_id='464892' first='Justin' last='Welch'] kicked the 39-yard game winner with three seconds remaining. Now Dutch Fork is in its eighth straight championship game appearance and tenth in the last 11 years. QB Jonathan Hunt had to take over for an injured [player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] last week and guided the comeback. He did throw three interceptions and his only TD was an 8-yarder to [player_tooltip player_id='1360308' first='Boykin' last='Bickley'] with 1:17 remaining. Trent Lodge ran for two second half scores as well. When the Silver Foxes faced White Knoll on October 6, the Timberwolves hung on for a 17-14 victory thanks to two [player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe'] touchdown passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448995' first='Austin' last='Cunningham']. Expect the same type of game with defense being at the forefront. [player_tooltip player_id='1142713' first='Deon' last='Winsley'], Bryce Nutall and [player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters'] will have the challenge to limit the Timberwolves again. White Knoll held the Silver Foxes to just 35 rushing yards in the first game and [player_tooltip player_id='1012621' first='Devin' last='Geronomi'], Conner Burgess and Mondo Domenech will try to match that output." - Chris Dearing   INDIVIDUAL STAFF MEMBERS' PICKS   Jed Blackwell:    5A: Dutch Fork   4A: Westside   3A: Daniel   2A: Gray Collegiate   A: Christ Church   Chris Dearing   5A: Dutch Fork   4A: South Florence   3A: Daniel   2A: Gray Collegiate   A: Christ Church    Thomas Grant:    5A: Dutch Fork   4A: South Florence   3A: Daniel   2A: Gray Collegiate   A: Christ Church   Ian Guerin   5A: White Knoll    4A: South Florence    3A: Daniel   2A: Gray Collegiate    A: Christ Church   Scott Keeler:   5A: Dutch Fork   4A: Westside   3A: Daniel   2A: Gray Collegiate   A: Christ Church    Wes Kerr:    5A: White Knoll   4A: South Florence   3A: Daniel   2A: Gray Collegiate   A: Christ Church    Brandon Stockdale   5A: Dutch Fork   4A: South Florence   3A: Daniel   2A: Oceanside Collegiate    A: Christ Church

Well, we had so much doing this a week ago we decided to re-up our staff picks for the state championship games.