Staff Picks: State Championship Games
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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,…
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Continue ReadingWell, 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 Dashun Reeder Dashun Reeder 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2024 State SC to shine. Well, Reeder is back, and though the quarterback is a different guy, Tucker Hendrix Tucker Hendrix 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Christ Church | 2025 State SC 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. Jackson Repp Jackson Repp 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Christ Church | 2025 State SC is back at receiver, and has had a huge season coming off last year’s great state title game. Cooper Hronchek and Jake Good Jake Good 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Church | 2024 State SC help anchor a stingy defense. The Flashes have plenty of talent. Malik Shippy Malik Shippy 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Johnsonville | 2024 State SC is dangerous with his arms and his legs at QB, Travis Wilson Travis Wilson 6'2" | 220 lbs | DL Johnsonville | 2024 State SC is a stout DE and a threat at WR, and Neal Martin Neal Martin 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Johnsonville | 2024 State SC 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 Zai Offord Zai Offord 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC wil get a chance to play on his future college field at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium. He and Jamarious Lockett Jamarious Lockett 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC will prove to be a difficult matchup and the War Eagles’ offensive line will keep quarterback Tyler Waller Tyler Waller 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Gray Collegiate | 2026 State SC protected and open holes for BJ Montgomery BJ Montgomery 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gray Collegiate | 2025 State SC .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 Aiden Manavian Aiden Manavian 5'11" | 175 lbs | QB Oceanside Collegiate | 2027 State SC , 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 Watson Young Watson Young 6'2" | 260 lbs | OL Daniel | 2024 State SC anchoring the line up front, the Lions have a balanced offense led by quarterback Kolton Chapman Kolton Chapman 6'2" | 200 lbs | QB Daniel | 2024 State SC (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 Amare Adams Amare Adams 6'4" | 305 lbs | DL South Florence | 2025 State SC and Dirrick Goodman Dirrick Goodman 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB South Florence | 2024 State SC and Terry Gordon Terry Gordon 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB South Florence | 2026 State SC and Quincy Rhodes Quincy Rhodes 5'11" | 155 lbs | DB South Florence | 2024 State SC and Terrance Moorer Terrance Moorer 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL South Florence | 2024 State SC 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. Justin Welch Justin Welch 6'1" | 155 lbs | K Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC 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 Ethan Offing last week and guided the comeback. He did throw three interceptions and his only TD was an 8-yarder to Boykin 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 Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC touchdown passes to Tiyon Fanning Tiyon Fanning 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2027 State SC and Austin Cunningham Austin Cunningham 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH White Knoll | 2024 State SC . Expect the same type of game with defense being at the forefront. Deon Winsley Deon Winsley 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC , Bryce Nutall and Raleigh Salters Raleigh Salters 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2026 State SC 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 Devin Geronomi Devin Geronomi 6'0" | 160 lbs | DB White Knoll | 2025 State SC , 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