Class 3A, Lower State Second Round Preview

The second round of the Class 3A Lower State playoffs features four potentially competitive games and some teams in position to earn a rare third-round appearance.   NO. 8 HANAHAN (6-5) at NO. 1 LORIS (9-1)   The Lions are coming off a bye week following a regular season in which they set a school record for victories and won the Region V-3A title. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] has thrown for 1,298 yards and 16 touchdowns with only one interception. Quantez Dyson is a top target with 17 receptions for 382 yards and five touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1592447' first='Jacobien' last='Lewis'] has a team-high seven touchdowns. Sophomore running back Mekel Stephens leads the ground game with 642 yards and 13 rushing touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha'] adds depth to the backfield with seven touchdowns each. Defensively, linebackers Javon Johnson and [player_tooltip player_id='464897' first='Avery' last='Todd'] each have 70 tackles and  Landon Cromer can line up both on the line and on the outside to disrupt offenses. The Hawks defeated Silver Bluff 35-10 in the opening round for their third straight victory. The quarterback tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1615084' first='Tripp' last='Gallus'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1165104' first='Julius' last='Hippenstiel'] provided a 1-2 punch on the ground and in the air. Gallus threw for 151 yards and a touchdown and Hippenstiel rushed for three scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1359150' first='Dru' last='Goldsmith'] was a primary target for Gallus with seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown against the Bulldogs and running back Michael Waring finished with 129 rushing yards and a score. The defense has held opponents to 10.3 points per game during the winning streak. Defensive tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1522432' first='Kalani' last='Roberts'] will look to pressure Loris' Gerald while lining up against an experienced offensive line with tackle Mark Miller, guard [player_tooltip player_id='797156' first='Logan' last='Coleman'] and center Jamirous Wilson. Linebackers Joshua Amara and Travis Neal are aggressive tacklers who will try to provide support against the run and pass.   X-FACTOR: A two-way player, Loris' [player_tooltip player_id='1656668' first='Khalid' last='Sherman'] is not afraid to put his 5-foot 11, 172-pound frame against bigger players. As a free safety, he aggressively seeks out tackles and often tries to be the first player at the scene. He's credited with a 102-yard interception return for a touchdown and is the team's third leading rusher with 461 yards and seven touchdowns.    NO. 5 ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON (8-3) at NO. 4 KEENAN (7-4)   A pair of teams having one of their strongest seasons in recent memory. The Bruins scored 35 straight points to rally from a 16-0 deficit to Aynor to advance to the second round. Quarterback Brendon Peoples threw two touchdowns and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1126113' first='Jordan' last='Avinger'] rushed for one and set up two others. O-W's offensive line is led by Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl selection [player_tooltip player_id='1360170' first='David' last='Blanchard']. He will square off against a Raiders' team with defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1734638' first='Tyreik' last='Davenport-Smith'] who can bring pressure to the backfield. They also have active linebackers in [player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon'] and Ty'quez Taylor. On offense, running back [player_tooltip player_id='1422608' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal'] surpassed 1,000 yards in the 58-8 rout of North Charleston in which he rushed for three touchdowns. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington'] threw two touchdowns to Nykeim McNeal.   X-FACTOR:  The defense helped turned things around for Orangeburg-Wilkinson against Aynor. Making an impact was linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1548861' first='Derrick' last='Neals'], whose interception return for a touchdown put the finishing touches on the win over Aynor. He keeps a constant eye on the football and makes quick decisions when he looks to make a stop.    NO 3. NEWBERRY (7-3) at NO. 6 DILLON (9-2)   Since settling on [player_tooltip player_id='1267234' first='Kenton' last='Caldwell'] (pictured) at quarterback, the Bulldogs' offense has averaged 43.6 points per game during their five-game winning streak. Against Georgetown, it was the supporting cast which dominated the action in the 48-0 victory. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='473022' first='BJ' last='Jones'] scored three touchdowns and amassed 125 total yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1672927' first='Ty' last='Abrams'] also rushed for two touchdowns and [player_tooltip player_id='1113710' first='CJ' last='Earl'] also scored receiving and on a punt return and the defense got an interception from [player_tooltip player_id='1254060' first='Isaiah' last='Glymph'] and had a goal line stand to prevent Georgetown's lone scoring opportunity. The Wildcats also won their fifth straight game to open the post-season in a 42-7 win over Battery Creek. Defensive back Dan Graves returned an interception 92 yards for a touchdown to get the scoring going for Dillon. Daniel Capeheart had two touchdown runs and Trayvon Blue and [player_tooltip player_id='346196' first='Jamarion' last='Fling'] both had rushing scores. The defense has allowed an average of 14.1 points a contest led by a physical front with end Ta'Marein Rogers and Azavion Deberry.   X-FACTOR: Athlete  [player_tooltip player_id='1165163' first='Zamaurious' last='Robertson'] provides an elusive outside threat for the Wildcats. He helped set up a couple of scores against Battery Creek. The 6-foot 1, 175-pound junior is elusive on short passes and his speed keeps defenses honest on deep throws.    NO. 7 WACCAMAX (6-4) at NO. 2 OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE (7-3)   The Warriors played their first game since Oct. 25 last Friday in a 43-23 win over Swansea. It was historic in being the first home playoff win in school and first post-season win since 2014. The twins, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473025' first='Andre' last='Grate'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='473016' first='AJ' last='Grate'], combined on three straight touchdowns, and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1344769' first='Zaireon' last='Skinner'] scored rushing and had an 82-yard kickoff return. Junior linebacker Junior outside linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='756588' first='William' last='Geddis'] will look to lead the defense against a Landsharks' offense which has averaged 48.5 points a game during their five-game winning streak. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] had another strong post-season performance against Fox Creek with three touchdown passes and James O'Connor rushed for two scores. Senior defensive back Nathan Sturm came up big with a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown and a blocked punt that turned into a 14-yard score. The Landsharks have posted shutouts in 11 of the last 12 quarterbacks played this season.   X-FACTOR: Junior athlete Terance Johnson had two touchdowns receptions in his post-season debut. The 6-foot 2, 190-pound Johnson has developed into a major offensive weapon whether at running back, wide receiver or running kicks.

The second round of the Class 3A Lower State playoffs features four potentially competitive games and some teams in position to earn a rare third-round appearance.