Class A Third Round Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The remaining field&nbsp; in the Class A Lower State playoffs include four teams with championship-worthy credentials.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Each team enters Friday's games looking to extend long winning streaks. The two games are also “rubber matches” as the teams have split their only two past matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With a combined record of 37-7, Hannan-Pamplico, Cross, Bamberg-Ehrhardt and Lake View are undeniably the four teams playing their best football in the Lower State. Here's a look to see how each will earn their way to the state semifinals next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 HANNAH-PAMPLICO (9-2) AT NO. 1 CROSS (10-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders have had a smooth transition so far from injured running back <strong>Ja'marcus Williams</strong>. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='922678' first='Wade' last='Poston']</strong> has taken over the bulk of the team's offense. He had three touchdowns, two passing, in the 46-6 win over Denmark-Olar. <strong>Chris Etheridge</strong> also stepped up at running back with two rushing touchdowns last week. As linebackers, Etheridge and <strong>Jaquann Bryant</strong> play a factor for a defense has held each of its last three opponents to only six points. <strong>Demarion Sparks</strong> and <strong>Davis Kimbrough </strong>lead the team with 90-plus tackles at linebacker and <strong>Sparks</strong> and fellow senior defensive back <strong>Tyler Jenkins</strong> have combined for seven of the Raiders' 15 interceptions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans are riding a streak of four straight scoreless games and lead the state with seven shutouts. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant'] </strong>and <strong>Jaylin Broughton </strong>can line up on and off the line of scrimmage to create disruption. The duo also are leading the way in pressuring the quarterback as Cross has 24 sacks as a team. Defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] </strong>is a pick machine with nine interceptions. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones']</strong> (pictured) makes plays on both sides of the football as the team's leading rusher (1,645 rushing yards, 29 touchdowns) and junior lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett']</strong> provides a hard-hitting player on the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Matchup Within The Matchup:</em></strong>&nbsp; The trenches will not be for the squeamish as the side which prevails will own an advantage in the game. Cross has put together an offensive line which has developed continuity as the season progressed with tackles&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall']</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett']</strong>, guards&nbsp;<strong>Dakari President</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Orin Schultz</strong>, and center&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton']</strong>. They will look to protect quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1604028' first='Tyler' last='Harris'] from the Raiders' blitzing linebackers and open lanes for Jones against a defensive line which should include <strong>Dewey Kimbrough</strong>, <strong>Mason Hanna</strong> and <strong>Will Faulkenberry</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen Impact:</em></strong> Cross sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604028' first='Tyler' last='Harris']</strong> will have his hands full against an aggressive Hannah-Pamplico defense which can pressure quarterbacks into mistakes. For the season, he's completed 54.5 percent of his passes for 1,245 yards and 16 touchdowns. He most likely will attempt to make throws in the pocket against an attacking Raiders' defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19514914/67416acab733975b8a4b3982' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67469a3ae7372"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 1 BAMBERG-ERHARDT (8-2) AT LAKE VIEW (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A pair of top seeds known for their stifling defenses. The Red Raiders have held opponents to 12.6 points per game and posted three shutouts this season. The Wild Gators have the same number of shutouts and have allowed an even lower nine points per game. Bamberg-Ehrhardt quarterback Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby']</strong> came off the bench in the second half to throw for 259 yards and two touchdowns in the 36-20 win over Baptist Hill. <strong>Brian McMillan</strong> put forth another strong performance as a starter with 130 passing yards and two touchdowns and a 70-yard kickoff and punt return for touchdowns. It also helps to have a physical offensive line with Touchstone selection <strong><u>[player_tooltip player_id='1157986' first='Javaris' last='Logan']&nbsp;</u>, Eric Stevens</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Tristian Jenkins,</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Brennan Glover</strong> opening holes for <strong>Demetrius Odom</strong>. Logan and Jenkins also lead the front line on defense, backed up by experience at linebacker with <strong>Robert Jamison</strong> and defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann']</strong>, <strong>Jaden Millhouse</strong> and <strong>Jalen Willis</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wild Gators had a close call in the 21-14 win over defending Lower State champion Johnsonville. In avenging last year's playoff loss, Lake View came back after Johnsonville returned a fumble 80 yards for a touchdown. It then answered behind three rushing touchdowns by senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321060' first='Tyrell' last='Foxworth']</strong>, the last one occurring with 2:14 left in the game. Quarterback <strong>Kason Herlong</strong> is a three-year starter who will not be flustered by the moment. The play and leadership of linebackers <strong>Landon King</strong> and <strong>Dawson Hunt</strong> have eased concerns about other inexperienced areas on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Matchup Within The Matchup:</em></strong>&nbsp;A healthy Crosby means opportunities for his wide receivers to make plays. After an inconsistent performance in a loss to Barnwell, this group with young players like sophomore <strong>Jason Youmans</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214316' first='Charles' last='Anthony Williams']</strong> have continued to show improvement. They face a Wild Gators' secondary which is equally but filled with hungry defensive backs like <strong>Caleb Myers</strong> and <strong>Keawe Jackson</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen Impact:</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1214316' first='Charles' last='Anthony Williams'] is also a factor on special teams. In a contest which could end up low scoring, any type of production from a kickoff return could turn the game in the Red Raiders' favor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15067932/656ac7506e82720a0c87dcf5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67469a3ae73d7"} /-->