Class 4A Upper State First Round Preview

If you're a fan of offense, we've got offense.   Between Daniel, South Pointe, Westside and Wren, scoreboards around the state should be lit up on Friday night.   Here is what to expect and who to watch in the first round.   NO. 16 LAKEWOOD (2-8) AT NO. 1 WESTSIDE (9-0)   The Gators haven't had quite the season that they had hoped for. They do have bright spots on defense such as [player_tooltip player_id='1359126' first='Tyler' last='Washington-Broomfield'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1578926' first='Cedric' last='Cisse']. With a good frame of 6'5" and 210 pounds, Broomfield can move exceptionally well for his size and will be in on nearly every tackle for Lakewood. Cisse is a certified ballhawk, collecting four interceptions on the season, as well as forcing two fumbles. Forcing turnovers against a high-powered Westside offense could be critical for Lakewood. Speaking of Westside, [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] has been the player we all thought he was going to be. He's led the offense to an eye-popping 49.5 points per game and will look to continue that dominance in the playoffs. Westside has weapons all over the field that will put-up eye-popping numbers. Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1157819' first='Sharode' last='Richardson'] (771 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns) and senior wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='272708' first='Chamarryus' last='Bomar'] (846 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns) will have their way and make plays throughout the game. Senior receiver De'masya Dawson is second on the team with four receiving touchdowns and could be in line for a big night as well.   X-FACTOR: Junior defensive lineman Kwon Simpkins leads Westside in sacks with three in just six games played. His ability to not only pressure the quarterback but stop the run game in short yardage situations will give Westside more possessions and more opportunities to score.    NO. 9 EMERALD (5-5) AT NO. 8 AC FLORA (7-3)   These two teams are near polar opposites of each other. AC Flora averages a touch over 239 passing yards per game, while Emerald averages 214 yards on the ground. The AC Flora passing attack is led by junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] (2,358 yards, 24 touchdowns) with nearly half of those passing yards going to [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'] (1,025 yards, nine touchdowns). [player_tooltip player_id='1592244' first='Brandon' last='Mack'] adds 84.2 yards per game on the ground. The balanced attack from Emerald running backs Christopher Dean (581, six touchdowns) KD Abney (439, four touchdowns) and Key Holloway (386, four touchdowns) will be a test for AC Flora linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1550897' first='Hugh' last='Manning'] (100 tackles, 20 tackles for loss) and [player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis'] (100 tackles, seven tackles for loss)   X-FACTOR: AC Flora sophomore defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1422589' first='Peyton' last='Bishop'] will be a key disruptor for the Emerald run game. Bishop (10 tackles for loss) paired with Davis and Manning makes quite the trio on defense. With Bishop roaming the middle of the field and making the defensive calls, AC Flora will be successful in stopping a good Emerald ground attack.    NO. 12 PICKENS (5-5) AT NO. 5 CAMDEN (7-3)   The Blue Flame are feeling good, as they outscored their opponents 108-0 over the final two weeks of the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1359200' first='Carter' last='McCollum'] (1,455 rushing yards) leads a ground attack that averages 208.4 yards per game. On the other side for Camden, senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson'] leads the Bulldogs in rushing yards (839 yards, three touchdowns) and he has a running back in [player_tooltip player_id='1513514' first='Navier' last='Boykin'] (413, nine touchdowns) who has a nose for the endzone. Camden could also give sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1354590' first='Greyson' last='Rimpf'] (558 yards, four touchdowns) some looks if the game were to get out of hand. For Pickens, its sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1581467' first='Brooks' last='Dow'] averages 111.2 yards per game between passing and rushing yards. Dow doesn't throw much, but when he does, his favorite target is sophomore receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1708840' first='David' last='Bolden'] (229 yards)   X-FACTOR: [player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] for Camden will be an impact player. Much like the Blue Flame, the Bulldogs don't throw the ball much, but when they do, Drakeford is the playmaker at receiver as he has caught 43 passes for 629 yards and seven touchdowns. Drakeford can also throw the ball, as he has two passing touchdowns on the year.    NO. 13 LANCASTER (4-6) AT NO. 4 WREN (7-2)   Lancaster did not have the season it wanted with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown'] at the helm. Brown finished with 1,212 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Lancaster had another 1,000-yard rusher in Dee Mobley (1,434 yards, ten touchdowns). Wren has an offense that averages 44 points per game, and it starts with a run game that averages 259.7 yards per game. That run game is highlighted by running back [player_tooltip player_id='1253994' first='Reese' last='Price'] (1,046 yards, 15 touchdowns) and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1158040' first='Colten' last='Bagwell'] (639 yards, nine touchdowns). Bagwell also has 13 passing touchdowns, with five of those coming to his top target, sophomore receiver [player_tooltip player_id='663984' first='Carson' last='Bryant']. Lancaster defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1157815' first='Kevin' last='Peay'] (also a mainstay on the offensive line) and Demarlow Jackson will look to slow down the Hurricane ground attack.   X-FACTOR: The previously mentioned Bruins defensive lineman Peay will have a major impact on this game. If he is able to wreak havoc on the defensive line and open up holes on the offensive line like we all know he can, Lancaster will be able to hang around in this game and potentially pull off the upset.    NO. 11 FOUNTAIN INN (6-4) AT NO. 6 GREER (6-4)   Fountain Inn is led by its dual threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday'] (1112 passing yards, 1016 rushing yards, 22 total touchdowns). The Fury also have sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1603971' first='Bojack' last='Johnson'] (795 yards, 11 touchdowns) who is able to break off a long run at any given moment in the moment. For Greer, it started 0-3, before winning six out seven games to end the season. They are led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='600452' first='Kaden' last='Rowland'] (1100 yards, six touchdowns) and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1551027' first='Nick' last='Holmes'] (1115, 16 touchdowns). These are two teams that will look to control the game defensively, especially Fountain Inn, who has a couple of guys like senior defensive back Cru Hall (84 tackles, four tackles for loss) and sophomore defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1581469' first='Colby' last='Flood'] (70 tackles, five pass break ups). Tison Garrett (37 tackles, seven sacks) is also someone to keep an eye on for Fountain Inn. The Greer secondary is a strong suit, with [player_tooltip player_id='1734657' first='Noel' last='Sitton'] (four interceptions) being the leader.   X-FACTOR: Fountain Inn defensive lineman Xeviel Gonzalez can flip this game at any moment. Gonzalez (six sacks, eight tackles for loss) can make a difference on the defensive line, as well as special teams as he has three blocked kicks. A blocked kick can make all the difference in what will be a closely contested game.    NO. 14 BLUE RIDGE (4-6) AT NO. 3 SOUTH POINTE (8-2)   The Fighting Tigers from Blue Ridge have quite the uphill battle against a dominant South Pointe team. The key to beating a powerhouse like South Pointe is keeping the ball away from them, and Blue Ridge has the team to do that. Senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='833941' first='KB' last='Henderson'] (1072 yards, 11 touchdowns) and junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1738823' first='Gavin' last='Forrester'] (841 yards, 11 touchdowns) lead a running attack that averages 245.6 yards per game. The two losses for South Pointe were a 26-25 heartbreaker against Spartanburg and a 28-14 loss against rival Northwestern. Quarterback Cam McMillon (2117 yards, 24 touchdowns) will be spreading the wealth to guys such as [player_tooltip player_id='930586' first='Dailan' last='Duncan'] (659 yards, seven touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1249764' first='Jordan' last='Collins'] (480 yards, nine touchdowns). A sneaky receiver averaging over 23 yards per catch is sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1476906' first='Kadin' last='Vassel']. Blue Ridge defensive backs Ty'keylan Campbell (54 tackles, two interceptions) and [player_tooltip player_id='1819617' first='Jakorey' last='Dodd'] (two interceptions) will have a tough task ahead of them in stopping the air attack of the Stallions. South Pointe features a defense that has a team total of 129 tackles for loss and 53 sacks. They have three guys with 18 or more tackles for loss. Those three guys are [player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown'] (28) [player_tooltip player_id='284136' first='Miles' last='Wilson'] (20) and [player_tooltip player_id='379013' first='Seth' last='Tillman'] (18)   X-FACTOR: Another key aspect of beating a dominant team like South Pointe is making a play on special teams. Along with playing cornerback, Dodd returns kicks and punts for Blue Ridge. He averages 19.8 yards per kick return and 16.4 yards per punt return. He is more than capable of breaking off a long return and getting what will be much needed momentum for his team.    NO 10. RICHLAND NORTHEAST (7-3) AT NO. 7 SENECA (8-2)   Richland Northeast is reeling heading into the playoffs, as they have lost three of their last four games, with the regular season finale being a 56-6 blowout at the hands of South Pointe. We are all aware of what NC State commit [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] can do at quarterback (1846 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 824 rushing yards, pictured), but he will need his supporting cast to help him. The Cavaliers have receivers [player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] (870 yards, 14.3 yards per catch) and [player_tooltip player_id='1603911' first='Isaiah' last='Small'] (524 yards, 11.6 yards per catch). Junior receiver Dillon Hughey is another name to watch as he is second on the team in receiving yards per game with 69.8 yards. Seneca has dominated almost everyone this season, as seven of its eight wins are by 15 or more points. They are averaging 36.5 points per game and allowing just 16.8. They are led by junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1165153' first='Gavin' last='Thoma'] (1,199 passing yards, 15 touchdowns) and rely heavily on the run game, headlined by Amari Verner (1,323 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1158147' first='Payson' last='Jones'] (582 yards, 11 touchdowns). The defense will be tasked with slowing down Wilson from Richland Northeast, and Seneca linebacker Jermaine Miller (16 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles) will be instrumental in doing so. Jude Owens (73 tackles, four tackles for loss) and [player_tooltip player_id='1253936' first='Rafael' last='Little'] (55 tackles, 5 tackles for loss)   X-FACTOR: Seneca has an outstanding way of forcing the Richland Northeast run game outside the hashes, and that will be because of junior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1360008' first='Avery' last='Butler'] (48 tackles, nine tackles for loss, three sacks). Butler's ability to stuff plays up the middle and bounce them outside towards the rest of the Seneca defense could prove troublesome for RNE. Expect Butler to keep a close watch on Wilson in the backfield for the entirety of the game.    NO. 15 DREHER (3-6) AT NO. 2 DANIEL (9-1)   The Blue Devils from Dreher have lost three of their last four games and will need to play their best game of the season to knock off a dominant Daniel team. That starts with senior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1575390' first='Willie' last='Smith'] (1067 yards, 18 touchdowns) as well as Luka Cruz (333 yards, five touchdowns). [player_tooltip player_id='275970' first='Tyler' last='Teasdell'] will be a threat in the passing game (304 yards, two touchdowns) as well as the kick return game (300 return yards). Daniel has a dominant offense that averages over 47 points per game and features guys such as quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='309825' first='Grayson' last='Clary'] (2215, 34 touchdowns) and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1360192' first='Jason' last='Bish'] (628 yards, eight touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1603787' first='Elijah' last='Lipsey'] (480 yards, six touchdowns). Dreher leading tackler [player_tooltip player_id='1575390' first='Willie' last='Smith'] (78) and leading interception man Cameron Gilmore (5) will look to slow down a potent offensive attack. Daniel will have [player_tooltip player_id='1157945' first='Spencer' last='Conn'] (94 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss) and [player_tooltip player_id='1592019' first='Dexter' last='Johnson'] (19 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks) looking to disrupt the game on defense for Daniel.   X-FACTOR: Freshman receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1467841' first='Trey' last='Wimbley'] averages the most yards per catch on the team at 22.4 and he is bound to take the top off of the defense at any point. If he and Clary start connecting early on, Daniel will cruise straight on into the second round.

If you're a fan of offense, we've got offense.