Class 5A , Division I Semifinals Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three of the remaining four teams in the Class 5A, Division I playoffs are undefeated and seemed pigeon-holed to be in this position since about midseason. The other is no surprise and comes in with a 9-2 overall record with one of the losses to the team they will be facing in the Upper State final.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These four programs have rich histories and expect to be playing deep into the postseason. We will look at some of the players that got them this far and some that could have a huge impact on the outcome of Friday night's outcome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 SUMTER (12-0) at NO. 1 SUMMERVILLE (12-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game might come down to which team plays the best defense. We all know the offenses can score at unbelievable high rates – Sumter averages 48.4 points per game and Summerville counters with 44.9 points per game. The Gamecocks haven't scored less than 34 points in a single game this season while the Green Wave have scored at least 26 points in every game that completed the entire four quarters.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quick look at the quarterbacks might give a slight edge to Summerville. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings']</strong> is a three-starter at quarterback, has thrown for 2,226 yards and 28 touchdowns with just one interception. Sumter sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson']</strong> is in his first-year as a starter and is more of a runner than passer at this stage. Richardson is 53-of-86 on the season with 1,148 yards and 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. He only attempted three passes in last week's 34-17 win over James Island. But Richardson rushed for 1,055 yards and 11 touchdowns. Cummings has 508 yards and 13 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks have three players with over 1,000 yards rushing and have a school record of 4,231 yards on the ground this season. <strong>Kam Fortune</strong> (1,276 yards, 18 touchdowns) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> (1,272 yards, 29 touchdowns) might be the best 1-2 punch in the state. Summerville sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] </strong>(1,714 yards, 22 touchdowns) has over half of the Green Waves 3,009 yards this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, things are just as evenly matched as the offensive side of things. Sumter is allowing 17.75 points per game with Summerville allowing 20.3 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks duo of linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359132' first='Jeremiah' last='Burson']</strong> (118 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four interceptions) and defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison'] </strong>(104 tackles, 23 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks) are as good as any in the state. Safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876560' first='Tymaries' last='Thompson-DuRant'] </strong>(99 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss) and linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664563' first='Nayshaun' last='Brown'] </strong>(57 tackles, three tackles for loss) create problems and can make plays on their own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The biggest key for us will be for everyone to do their job. Our coaches have a great game plan for Summerville and all we have to do is execute,” Addison said. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summerville has an impressive defensive front with defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359137' first='Yasir' last='Smith']</strong> and defensive tackle <strong>Nicholas Lincoln</strong> creating havoc. Linebacker <strong>JT Willams</strong> is an emerging leader and is one of the emotional leaders. Secondary players <strong>Jacqueez Walker</strong> and <strong>Ryhan White</strong> will have to be honest in defending the pass, but they will also be counted on the provide run support. Walker had a pick-six last week in the 49-20 victory over Ridge View.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Matchup Within The Matchup: </em></strong>It's not a direct matchup but whichever wide receiver can be most successful could play a huge factor in the outcome. As mentioned earlier, Sumter doesn't throw it often, but when they do, <strong>Chris Bentley</strong> is a big play waiting to happen. Bentley has just 18 catches this season but has turned those into seven touchdowns and 544 receiving yards (30.2 yards per catch). <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray']</strong>, a sophomore that is likely to play at wide receiver and defensive back, has 71 catches for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns. He has a total of 1,368 all-purpose yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen Impact: </em>Davon Bowman</strong> might be asked to do a lot of things against the Summerville multi-talented offensive attack. The Gamecocks sophomore strong safety has 55 tackles, which is fifth on the team, and four tackles for loss. More importantly, Bowman has four of the Gamecocks 17 interceptions. He also has six pass breakups, a forced fumble and a blocked kick. He will be one of the keys in slowing down Cummings and trying to limit the damage Kelly-Murray and Williams can provide most teams. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19699648/66ef2cf214281e5030b2df9d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674f9c481e38c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 2 SPARTANBURG (9-2) at NO. &nbsp;DUTCH FORK (11-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one is a rematch from August 30, when Dutch Fork limited the Vikings to 130 yards of total offense in a 24-7 victory. The Silver Foxes are allowing just 6.6 points per game and that 17-point victory was the second smallest margin of victory on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartanburg will have to rely on the throwing of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592374' first='Trey' last='Burke']</strong> and the receiving of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice']</strong> and <strong>Zeke Bell-Boyd</strong> to make plays when needed. The Vikings have been solid defensively, allowing 14.7 points per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith']</strong> is as good as you will find in the state and fellow linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249806' first='Peyton' last='Jones']</strong> and defensive back <strong>Quincey Haywood</strong> have played at a high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork has a couple of linebackers that are ranked as two of the best in their position. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith']</strong> (81 tackles) and junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> (70 tackles) make a ton of plays and cover sideline-to-sideline. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions']</strong> has played against some of the best wide receive talent in the state and has given up very little in production all season. Senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson']</strong> is 27 yards shy of 1,000 yards and is the Silver Foxes third leading receiver with 34 catches for 441 yards. Anderson has 22 total touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> has been consistent and has quietly thrown for 2,455 yards and 20 touchdowns with just four interceptions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360308' first='Boykin' last='Bickley']</strong> (49 catches, 847 yards) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']</strong> (43 catches, 581 yards) are the top receiving targets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork won the Class 5A state title last season while Spartanburg was eliminated in the second round. That experience and the win from earlier this year gives the Silver Foxes the edge according to Smith, a South Carolina commit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's just another game for us. We've played in a lot of big games, and we just try to treat it as the next game on the schedule,” Smith said. “Don't overthink it and things will turn out all-right.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Matchup Within The Matchup: </em></strong>If Spartanburg hopes to change its fortune, they must find a way to move the ball with more consistency. The Vikings only had 11 yards net rushing on 19 attempts and the Dutch Fork defense ended with eight tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch']</strong> was held to just 19 yards on eight carries. Center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278414' first='John' last='Hammond']</strong> will play a huge role against a Dutch Fork defensive front that might not receive the accolades of some other units but typically control the line of scrimmage to allow the linebackers and secondary to do what they do best. The senior trio of <strong>Michael Steed</strong>, <strong>Daniel Williams</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574071' first='Carl' last='Fulmer']</strong> control the middle and that allows junior defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker']</strong> (pictured) to roam free to make plays. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassmen Impact: </em></strong>It's rare to see an underclassman in the starting lineup for Dutch Fork during the Tom Knotts tenure, so the fact he's placed 14-year-old freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo']</strong> in the middle of the offensive line speaks volumes. Lorenzo does not shy away from contact and can create huge running lanes for Anderson and Offing. He's as good at pass blocking as he is at run blocking. He might be a huge key against an experienced Vikings front. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18488636/674b5bb6e429f45766241f3a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-674f9c481e3d9"} /-->