Around the State: Defensive Linemen To Watch in Second Round

With the second round of playoff action set for this Friday, our focus moves to the trenches. As the temperatures plummet and the margin for error decreases, teams that can win the line of scrimmage find themselves likely to be playing come December.   The Palmetto State has produced standout front four defenders for years and this fall is no exception. Here are 10 defensive linemen across the state of South Carolina who will need to show out this weekend if they want their seasons to continue.   [player_tooltip player_id='816739' first='Rayfield' last='Bell'] | Wagener-Salley   Bell and the Wagener-Salley defense held Dixie 24 points below its season average and limited the Hornets to just 118 rushing yards in a 14-9 upset win last Friday in the 1A opening round. Now, the War Eagles face an even taller challenge as they prepare to battle Region II-A champion Lamar. The Silver Foxes have won eight straight games and have been held under 40 points just once during its current winning streak. Bell will have to deal with one of the premiere 1A linemen in the state in Lamar's [player_tooltip player_id='1267226' first='Devaughn' last='Locust'], who's a force on the interior.   [player_tooltip player_id='1395042' first='Malachi' last='Gethers'] | Myrtle Beach   Gethers produced an outstanding regular season, registering 55 tackles, 17 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and two forced fumbles as Myrtle Beach earned a top-four seed in the 5A Division II Lower State bracket. The Seahawks will face West Florence in their playoff opener and will need Gethers to perform well against [player_tooltip player_id='1675030' first='Tayden' last='Singletary'], the Knights' 6-foot-5, 360-pound offensive linemen. Myrtle Beach outlasted West Florence in a 42-38 thiller back in August.    [player_tooltip player_id='595706' first='Darrell' last='Harrison'] | Northwestern   Harrison (pictured) helped the Trojans secure a Region III-5A championship and a first round bye in the playoffs. If Harrison can avoid a slow start, as Northwestern will be playing just its second game in four weeks, he could have a big night in the Trojans' rematch against Catawba Ridge. Expect the Copperheads to rely on [player_tooltip player_id='1650419' first='Aaron' last='Jones'] to try and neutralize Harrison during the second-round matchup.   [player_tooltip player_id='1639890' first='Josiah' last='King'] | Ashley Ridge   King and the Swamp Foxes should be well-rested after earning a bye in the opening round of the 5A Division I playoffs. Ashley Ridge now turns its attention to a Summerville squad that exploded for 65 points last Friday against West Ashley. King will need to help contain [player_tooltip player_id='1432172' first='Cameron' last='Grayson'], who rushed for four touchdowns in the first round behind the efforts of [player_tooltip player_id='1271589' first='Christian' last='Hewett'] and the Green Wave offensive line. Summerville will be looking to avenge the regular-season meeting, when Ashley Ridge handed the Green Wave its worst loss in four years.    [player_tooltip player_id='1734475' first='Jaden' last='Lofay'] | Summerville   Lofay is a key member of a Green Wave defense that has allowed just one opponent all season to surpass 30 points. That opponent was Ashley Ridge, which beat Summerville 42-19 back on October 17th.  In order to slow down the Swamp Foxes, Lofay and his teammates will have to overcome Ashley Ridge's veteran offensive line, led by [player_tooltip player_id='1110005' first='Cody' last='Peterson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1395060' first='Mason' last='Driggers'] on the interior.   [player_tooltip player_id='1270438' first='Connor' last='McFadden'] | Catawba Ridge   McFadden helped Catawba Ridge hold Fort Mill to its lowest point total of the season in a 13-3 win in the 5A Division II opening round. The Copperheads now face one of the hottest offenses in the state, as top-seeded Northwestern enters Friday's game averaging 55.8 points per game over its last six contests. Expect an intriguing matchup between the Copperhead front four and the Trojans' offensive line, which is anchored by [player_tooltip player_id='1394980' first='Chris' last='Coleman'] at center.    [player_tooltip player_id='1214944' first='Davion' last='McKinnis'] | North Augusta   A North-South selection, McKinnis helped North Augusta hold Midland Valley scoreless for three quarters in the first round of the 4A playoffs last weekend. The Yellow Jackets had surrendered 29 points to the Mustangs one week earlier, but McKinnis and the defense held Midland Valley off the scoreboard while North Augusta scored the game's first 44 points. There could be fireworks if McKinnis lines up over [player_tooltip player_id='1734574' first='Kennedy' last='Harmon'], Gilbert's left guard.    [player_tooltip player_id='1659150' first='Jermaine' last='Miller'] | Seneca   Miller recorded 14.5 tackles for loss during the regular season and helped lead the Bobcats to their first 10-win season since 2015. In order for Seneca to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years, Miller and the Bobcat defense will have to slow down an AC Flora offense that hasn't been held under 40 points since September. [player_tooltip player_id='1639708' first='Brett' last='Epps'] leads the Falcon offensive line and has provided stellar protection for [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'], AC Flora's senior quarterback.    [player_tooltip player_id='1734626' first='Ethan' last='O'Bryan'] | Wren   O'Bryan has been a steady presence on Wren's defensive line as the Hurricanes look to advance past the second round of the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Standing in their way is Westside, the only Region I-AAAA opponent to beat Wren in the last two seasons. Westside is led up front by [player_tooltip player_id='402504' first='Parker' last='McMillen'], a Dorman transfer who has the Rams eyeing a third consecutive state championship appearance.    [player_tooltip player_id='1639742' first='Ahmad' last='Scott'] | Greenwood   Scott, a Shrine Bowl selection, leads a Greenwood defense that has held six of its opponents to 14 points or less this season. The Eagles clinched a top-four seed in the 5A Division II Upper State bracket and open the playoffs against Gaffney. Scott will have to be solid in run supports, as [player_tooltip player_id='212409' first='Scottland' last='Dover'] and the rest of Gaffney's offensive line paved the way for 232 yards on the ground and four rushing touchdowns last Friday against Eastside.

With the second round of playoff action set for this Friday, our focus moves to the trenches. As the temperatures plummet and the margin for error decreases, teams that can win the line of scrimmage find themselves likely to be playing come December.