Class 1A Upper State First Round Preview

We have a loaded first round slate of games in the Class 1A Upper State bracket. There are some dynamic athletes for the teams as they look to make a run to the state championship over the next month.   Let's jump into the first round games:   NO. 5 CA JOHNSON (2-8) AT NO. 1 ABBEVILLE (8-1)   Kevionte Bates will lead the Jackets into the first round of the playoffs, and they will try to play ball control and keep it out of the hands of the best team in 1A. Jaylen Miller is a hard runner in between the tackles. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='1467850' first='Elijah' last='Harper'] and Jadaelen Harper, who had a muffed punt for a touchdown <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/what-we-saw-lewisville-21-ca-johnson-14/">against Lewisville back on October 4.</a>   [player_tooltip player_id='1249809' first='Karson' last='Norman'] is a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands for Abbeville. Exhibit A is his five touchdown performance against Dixie back on October 26. Jamearion Williams also makes things go for the Panthers. Keep an eye on University of South Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='1249802' first='Damarcus' last='Leach'].   X-FACTOR: [player_tooltip player_id='1700046' first='Darius' last='Riley'] can catch it out the backfield or keep it up the middle at running back – he has a good combination of speed and power. When he gets out in the open field, it could be a house call.    NO. 4 MCCORMICK (2-8) AT NO. 2 BLACKVILLE HILDA (8-2)    Markese Stevens (pictured above) will be key for McCormick as they look to pull a huge upset in the first round. He will want to keep things on the ground in the run game. Stevens will have Quantrell Hearst to throw to, as he has shown an ability in the past to catch the ball out of the backfield. Andre Bost is the leader up front defensively at linebacker along with Ty Wideman on the defensive line.    Everything for Blackville Hilda starts and ends with [player_tooltip player_id='605527' first='Jaquel' last='Holman'], who is averaging 140.1 yards per game at running back. He will have Samari Williams at quarterback as well as he is averaging 87.7 yards on the ground per game. On defense, Ricky Richberg who is averaging 10 tackles a game. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='1359157' first='Jabarius' last='Johnson'], who is averaging 8 tackles a game. Jamarien Kirkland has 2 sacks on the year.   X-FACTOR: [player_tooltip player_id='1036784' first='Kaiden' last='Aiken'] is a playmaker on both sides of the ball. If you need him to go up and make a catch at receiver, he can do it. We saw on his film against Williston-Elko where he read the option keeper well, made the tackle from his safety spot and forced a fumble in the process.    NO. 5 WHITMIRE (3-7) AT NO. 2 LAMAR (7-3)   [player_tooltip player_id='1253974' first='Kayshaun' last='Schumpert'] is one of the leaders for the Whitmire offense. He is averaging 93.1 rushing yards per game with six touchdowns on the year. He'll be accompanied by Xzye Stephens, who is averaging 53.3 yards per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1467816' first='Kingston' last='Green'] will be the main cog defensively as Green averages 7.6 tackles per game. Keep an eye on D'angelo Ruff, who has 5.6 tackles per game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] will be the focal point for the Silver Foxes' offense, averaging 44.2 rush yards per game. When the ball is in his hands, he can make things happen. The offensive line is led up front by ECU commit [player_tooltip player_id='762756' first='Kendall' last='Walton']. [player_tooltip player_id='1253894' first='Zoom' last='Jackson'] leads the team in touchdowns with 13 and 51.8 yards per game. Jackson also has 3 interceptions defensively. Speaking of the defense, Vernon Ervin leads the team in tackles with 11.6 per game. Keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='1615075' first='Lamont' last='Williams']. While he's only a freshman, he leads the team with 4 sacks.   X-FACTOR: [player_tooltip player_id='1462573' first='Alvion' last='Ward'] can play all over the field on both offense and defense. He made a hustle play on an interception to knock the ball free and get it back to the Silver Foxes. He'll also line up at running back and can hit the afterburners for a big play.    NO. 3 CALHOUN COUNTY (3-7) AT NO. 3 LEE CENTRAL (6-4)   [player_tooltip player_id='1220232' first='Christopher' last='Glover'] had two touchdowns for the Calhoun County Saints last week in their regular season finale win over Wagener Salley. They'll be riding some momentum after back-to-back wins last week and against Ridge Spring-Monetta the week before that. Devonty Mcdaniel is also a guy who can come up and make plays in the run game.   Keep an eye on quarterback Jaquarius Davis for Lee Central and fullback Shadrach Williams, who is tough to bring down once he gets a head of steam.   NO. 4 MCBEE (4-5) AT NO. 1 HUNTER-KINARD TYLER (8-1)   Jasson Brockington is the leader of the pack for the McBee Panthers offensively, averaging 95 yards per game along with 10 touchdowns. Jakari Holloman is second on the team in rush yards, with an average of 68 yards per game. Holloman is also active on the defensive side with 12.7 tackles per game. Tylique Joines is second on the team with 9.3 tackles per game – he also has 3 sacks on the year. Hayden Griggs has two sacks. DJ Harper has five touchdowns on the year, including a scoop and score against Great Falls two weeks ago. Bryson Davis is the leader at receiver with 21 yards per game.   HKT is led by [player_tooltip player_id='1575290' first='Stetson' last='Stack'], who had three touchdowns in a rout of Ridge Spring-Monetta<a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/11/what-we-saw-hunter-kinard-tyler-60-ridge-spring-monetta-8/"> two weeks ago.</a> Jamari Wright also had a touchdown run and will be key for them. Keep an eye on linebacker/receiver Aiden Stroman, with two touchdowns of 67 and a 58 yard reception from quarterback Ahmir Creer two weeks ago. John Ross is a key player in the secondary.   NO. 5 WILLISTON-ELKO (4-6) AT NO. 2 DIXIE (7-2)   Joc'Quise Washington averages 20.8 rushing yards per game for Williston-Elko, and he'll be accompanied by Markell Brown. Quaide Overton will be the leader at receiver when the Blue Devils opt to throw the ball. Kadin Wright averages 9 tackles per game with Justice Israel and Jaylen Braxton next up respectively. Braxton leads the team in sacks with 3 on the season.   The connection between Jaren Byers and Brandon Nance will be key for Dixie as they begin their postseason run.   NO. 6 CALHOUN FALLS (1-8) AT NO. 1 LEWISVILLE (9-1)   The Lions are riding a six-game winning streak heading into the playoffs and are peaking at the right time. [player_tooltip player_id='1249747' first='Zach' last='Rogers'] is at quarterback and safety and is one of the top leaders on the team. He can sling it around and throw it to guys like RiQuarius Harris and [player_tooltip player_id='1165159' first='Jordan' last='Strong'], who are speedsters on the outside.   X-FACTOR: Ty'Mon Hughes can fly around and make plays against the opposing offense. He forced a fumble on the opening drive against Lamar two weeks ago and had an interception to close things out. If he can make those kinds of plays consistently, the Lions will be a tough out in the first few rounds.    NO. 4 RIDGE SPRING-MONETTA (5-5) AT NO. 3 WARE SHOALS (4-5)   This could be one of the more slug fests of the entire Upper State 1A bracket in the first round, because both teams can affect things defensively.    [player_tooltip player_id='1578768' first='Jarvis' last='Bush'] was active with seven solo tackles and 2.5 tackles for a loss in their regular season finale against Hunter Kinard Tyler. D'toris Lott had five tackles. [player_tooltip player_id='1592558' first='Jabarius' last='Brunson'] will be a leader for HKT defensively, as he had six tackles in last week's win. Keep an eye on Braylon Smith, who had 4 tackles last week.   For Ware Shoals, Josh Wimbush, Austin Culbertson and [player_tooltip player_id='1267314' first='Elijah' last='Brown'] will be key for the Hornets defensively up front. Leading Ware Shoals in tackles is [player_tooltip player_id='1639784' first='Trent' last='Dyal'] and Brayden McFadden, who each have 7 ½ tackles on the year, with Christian Monroe right behind him with six tackles.

We have a loaded first round slate of games in the Class 1A Upper State bracket. There are some dynamic athletes for the teams as they look to make a run to the state championship over the next month.