Class 3A Upper State Second Round Preview

The 3A playoffs pretty much went straight chalk in the Upstate in the first round, with one exception. Now, the intensity cranks up a little bit. The top four seeds will get challenged a little more, and the lower seeds are looking to make a deep run. Here's a look at all four games.   No. 8 Walhalla (6-5) at No. 1 Mountain View Prep (10-0)   The Razorbacks won an absolute thriller against St. Joseph's, coming away with a 36-35 victory. And the book is pretty simple on Walhalla. They're gonna run it - and then they're gonna run it some more. One trick pony? Maybe, but it's a heck of a trick. The Razorbacks ran for 377 yards in the first round win, largely behind massive human beings Connor Talley and [player_tooltip player_id='1249841' first='Garrett' last='Simpson'] up front. They were efficient when they had to throw it, with Jack Williams tossing a TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1452342' first='Darian' last='Simpkins']. [player_tooltip player_id='867240' first='Silas' last='Parish'] scored a rushing TD and averaged 8.3 yards per carry, while recording a team-high 14 tackles and a tackle for loss. [player_tooltip player_id='1592619' first='Kai' last='Nathan'] had 11 tackles, Riley Underwood had 10, and Dylan Cobb added 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.   Mountain View Prep, meanwhile, won a one-sided game against Carolina. The Stars didn't learn much, and didn't show much, as it was a short night for the starters. But we've seen what they've got already. [player_tooltip player_id='349806' first='Bryson' last='Drummond'] at QB, along with RB [player_tooltip player_id='473001' first='Jaylen' last='McGill'] and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1395046' first='KD' last='Hainsworth'], make up one of the most talented skill trios in the state. But MVP is much more than that. [player_tooltip player_id='1254197' first='TJ' last='Gassoway'] brings a change of pace in the backfield and is a standout lead blocker. The Stars are good up front on both sides of the ball, particularly with Allen Edmondson on the DL. [player_tooltip player_id='1253952' first='Eli' last='Smith'] is an elite LB, and [player_tooltip player_id='1253999' first='Shamon' last='Black'] is a lockdown DB and a dangerous return guy with elite sprinter speed. In short, the Stars have stars all over the place.   X-FACTOR: Ok, I'm cheating. [player_tooltip player_id='1360186' first='Landon' last='Robinson'] isn't an X-factor. He's THE factor, and he's the focus of Walhalla's offense. He's got more than 300 carries on the year, including an eye-popping 41 last week, when he rushed for 313 yards and three touchdowns. Robinson's fast, he almost never goes down at first contact, and he's got great vision. If Walhalla pulls off an upset, the running game - and Robinson - will be the reason why.    No. 5 Crescent at No. 4 Christ Church   The Tigers blasted Union County in the first round, and got some good performances by several guys to get it done. [player_tooltip player_id='391249' first='Darius' last='Latimer'] rushed for three touchdowns, including a 99-yarder, Mason Parks threw for two, and Kiante Parks caught a TD pass, rushed for another, and picked off a pass on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1578755' first='Isaac' last='Hoskins'] recorded an interception against the Yellow Jackets, and is a leader on the defensive side for Crescent.   Christ Church will counter with an impressive aerial attack, as QB [player_tooltip player_id='1013068' first='Tucker' last='Hendrix'] and WR [player_tooltip player_id='816751' first='Jude' last='Hall'] make up a fantastic combination. Hayes Lyman and Hampton Shields both played well at WR as well, and the Cavaliers got a boost in the running game behind [player_tooltip player_id='293593' first='Michael' last='Martin'], who had 150 yards and three touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1012695' first='Acie' last='Hatfield'] helps lead the Christ Church defense, along with [player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins'], Ford Glenn, and [player_tooltip player_id='1214975' first='Will' last='Marguet']. [player_tooltip player_id='1734501' first='George' last='Michael Stathakis'] is a problem to deal with up front for the Cavaliers on both sides of the ball.   X-FACTOR: [player_tooltip player_id='1395080' first='Amiri' last='Acker'] just kinds of flies around making plays for Crescent. He does a bunch for the Tigers, as a receiver, running the ball, on defense, and on special teams.    No. 6 Woodruff (9-1) at No. 3 Powdersville (8-3)   On paper, this one might be the best 3A game in the Upstate. The Wolverines aren't your ordinary 6-seed. They've lost one game, by two points, to the top seed in the Upstate. They're loaded, and it all starts with RB [player_tooltip player_id='1036753' first='Aiden' last='Gibson']. He's a big, physical guy who's got all the tools, including deceptive speed for his size. He'd still just as soon run over you, though. He's also a great receiver out of the backfield. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1253917' first='TJ' last='Morris'] has improved dramatically in his two years at the helm, and is an efficient passer with a big arm, throwing for more than 2,200 yards and 23 TDs. [player_tooltip player_id='1592034' first='Kori' last='Moates'] does a little bit of everything for Woodruff, with nearly 1,400 all-purpose yards. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1592408' first='Shaun' last='Graybill'], Tre Rodgers, and [player_tooltip player_id='1592621' first='Jordan' last='Hood'] are monsters, combining for 43 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.   Powdersville's three losses were the first three games of the year, to a pair of 4A playoff teams and 1A No. 1-ranked Abbeville. They've been on a run since then, finishing the region season undefeated and rolling past Broome in the first round. The Patriots flexed a little offensive muscle last week, as QB Keagan Reid threw for 194 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win. Powdersville's rushing attack was good as usual, as [player_tooltip player_id='1149042' first='Brandon' last='Waldrop'] churned out 163 yards on the ground and a touchdown on 26 carries. Defensively, Joshaun Knuckles has been a do-it-all guy for the Patriots. He finished the regular season with 38 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions, six pass deflections, and three touchdowns. He's also one of the Patriots' top receivers. Damarie Andrews and Brock Holliday also shine defensively for the Patriots.   X-FACTOR: [player_tooltip player_id='1279879' first='Davious' last='Wardell'] might be the best offensive linemen in a good group for Powdersville, and he's often the key to their offensive success up front. Wardell has good feet, he's physical, and he plays to the whistle and finishes blocks downfield.    No. 10 Palmetto at No. 2 Belton-Honea Path   [player_tooltip player_id='1715879' first='Kaleb' last='Ricketts'] has led the Mustangs this year, and the QB continued playing well in a round one upset win over Chapman. Ricketts threw for two TDs and ran for two more against the Panthers, giving Palmetto the only seeded upset in the first round. They got it done on the ground, as [player_tooltip player_id='1360138' first='Cooper' last='Robinson'] had 145 yards on the ground to go with Ricketts' 53. Xae Stokes and Kohen Wright both turned in impressive nights at WR, and the defense snagged three interceptions, led by Isaiah Hill.   BHP has been a different animal this season, and that continued with a dominant first round win over Southside Christian. The Bears offense continued to roll - [player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas'] threw for three touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson'] rushed for 192 yards, eclipsed the 6,000-yard mark for his career, and scored twice. [player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin'] had 78 receiving yards, caught a TD pass, and had four tackles and a pass deflection. Defense was the usual suspects for the Bears, too. [player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon'] had two tackles and two sacks, [player_tooltip player_id='1556058' first='Tye' last='Kelly'] (pictured) had five tackles, a tackle for loss, and two hurries, and [player_tooltip player_id='1372151' first='Jakyri' last='Anderson'] had three tackles and a hurry. The Bears piled on the points, it was a short night for the starters, and BHP showed why they're among the favorites for the 3A title.   X-FACTOR: BHP has game-changers all over the field, and Norikus Cowan is definitely one of them. He locks down receivers, he makes plays on the ball, he comes up in run support, he blocks kicks - he generally makes life miserable for offenses.

The 3A playoffs pretty much went straight chalk in the Upstate in the first round, with one exception. Now, the intensity cranks up a little bit. The top four seeds will get challenged a little more, and the lower seeds are looking to make a deep run. Here's a look at all four games.