Class 2A Lower State Third Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two rounds down and two to go to produce a Class 2A Lower State survivor and a spot in the state championship the first weekend in December. Three of the four teams remaining finished in the top five in the final SC Prep Writers statewide poll - Central (No. 3), Philip Simmons (No. 4) and Hampton County (No. 5). Manning was just outside of the Top 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That should make for two competitive third round games this week. On paper, at least, it seems that way. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a deep dive into the two matchups and tell you about the players you need to know about.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>HAMPTON COUNTY (9-3) AT MANNING (9-3)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a match-up that's going to revolve around the two running backs. The Hurricanes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary']</strong> has been in a massive storm for the past several weeks. He has a counterpart in the Monarchs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592198' first='Jontavious' last='Canty']</strong> that has matched him nearly yard-for-yard in the playoffs. &nbsp;For example, this past Friday, Singletary ran for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the 28-10 win over Cheraw. Canty went for 233 yards and three touchdowns that included a 90-yard TD run in a 46-22 win over Timberland. Both players will see action on defense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But those numbers couldn't happen without the guys up front. Center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823001' first='Hunter' last='Lawson']</strong> is the only senior starter on the offensive line for Hampton County. &nbsp;But a trio of juniors in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1585670' first='Charles' last='Williams']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823009' first='Cautey' last='Taylor'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820603' first='Ty'Quavian' last='Jones']</strong> have bonded together to help the Hurricanes rush for 3,643 yards. Williams starts on the defensive line as well. Cantey can count on 6-foot-4, 280-pound junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820897' first='Isaiah' last='Hamilton'] </strong>and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823519' first='Jeremiah' last='Dingle']</strong> to lead the way. Hampton County QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1644574' first='Tarell' last='Grant']</strong> is averaging six passes per game and only threw it three times in the second round while they rushed for 279 yards on 46 attempts. Manning QB <strong>Lovell Stevenson</strong> is apt to throw it more often and he was 7-of-10 for 67 yards and a touchdown in the second round.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the numbers are about the same. The Hurricanes allow an average of 16.1 points per game while the Monarchs are allowing 18.9 points per game. Hampton County linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820423' first='Braydon' last='Blake']</strong> had 10 tackles last week and he's now up to 75 tackles and two caused fumbles on the season. Defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821711' first='Jayden' last='Frazier']</strong> has 11 tackles for loss and four sacks after collecting two sacks last week. Manning's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823520' first='Dontavious' last='Canty']</strong> had seven tackles and fumble recovery last week. Defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820895' first='CJ' last='Robinson']</strong> added an interception while linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809951' first='Ethan' last='Lowder']</strong> added a team-best 15 tackles. Everyone is going to have to be active in stopping the run and not get caught napping on the few times the Hurricanes will throw the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Offensive Lineman to Watch:</em></strong> Hampton County's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823003' first='Cleavon' last='Maxwell']</strong> is the youngest starter on the offensive line but that hasn't slowed him in becoming one of the most counted on. He's active, can get out and pull to lead a play when needed and he uses brute strength when engaged with a defender. We know the Hurricanes want to run the ball so you might expect Manning to put seven or eight defenders in the box to counter that. This should be a game won in the trenches but two electrifying backs going back and forth.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22617629/690f71cc830ef3f2d1aa34ad' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691be3dc3b382"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CENTRAL (10-1) AT PHILIP SIMMONS (10-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you want to talk about two teams that look similar on paper, these two are it. Central is scoring 39.9 points per game and allowing 12.6 points per outing. Philip Simmons on the other hand is scoring 38.8 points per game while allowing 11.8. Something must give in this one. Both teams lost in the third round last season – Central to Fairfield Central and Philip Simmons to Manning. The two teams go about their business in very different ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639669' first='Ashten' last='Wilson']</strong> (pictured) is over 1,000 yards rushing but has plenty of help in <strong>Jakari Holloman</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639753' first='Aiden' last='Short']</strong> out of the backfield. Those three have combined 41 touchdowns and over 2,200 yards between them. Add in quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen']</strong> and that number reaches just shy of 2,800 yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592629' first='Taveon' last='Moore']</strong> is the leading receiver with 28 receptions for 550 yards. Most of those guys play both ways. The offensive line is going to lean on offensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820524' first='Brandon' last='Rollins']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823094' first='Jared' last='Melton']</strong> to open up holes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Iron Horses are more apt to beat you by throwing it rather than running it. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821540' first='Hayes' last='Goddard']</strong> has thrown for 25 touchdowns and 2,375 yards. <strong>Ashton Kellerman</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822029' first='Patrick' last='Clarke']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271262' first='Alex' last='Tchoryk']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1167204' first='William' last='Hollifield']</strong> all have double figures in catches. They give Goddard plenty of options, but Kellerman is the leader with 65 catches for 1,212 yards and 12 touchdowns. When Philip Simmons does run it, <strong>Omonte Taylor</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817761' first='Jeremiah' last='Richardson'] </strong>along with Goddard do the most damage. Linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821538' first='Nash' last='King']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824241' first='Yosi' last='Mallett']</strong> led the charge at the line of scrimmage</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, expect Central to count on Holloman, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639763' first='Marques' last='Allen']</strong> and freshman linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1827516' first='Jaylen' last='Davis']</strong> to carry a heavy load. Philip Simmons will counter with linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592627' first='Ethan' last='Chisum']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817756' first='Nate' last='Elsey']</strong> along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816415' first='Diavante' last='Irving']</strong>, a defensive lineman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Specialist to Watch:</em></strong> If it comes down to special teams, Philip Simmons has the advantage in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592672' first='CJ' last='Falotico']</strong> in punting, kickoffs and extra points. The senior has been phenomenal this season, and he has the numbers to back it up. He's 51-of-56 on extra points and 11-of-16 on field goals with a long of 47 yards. He's averaging 35.8 yards per punt with seven of his total 20 punts being downed inside the 20-yard line. And maybe his most impressive stat is he has 57 touchbacks on 81 kickoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18284993/68eace137251f64946cf0fe1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691be3dc3b3bc"} /-->