Class 5A Division I Upper State Third Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 4 BYRNES (8-3) AT NO. 1 DUTCH FORK (9-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Feels like old times, right? There were years in the recent past when you'd search a bracket, find the line where these teams would likely meet, fill it in, and work backward from there. It hasn't been that easy this time around, not even for the three-time defending champs, but here we are. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels reached the third round with a bye in the first round and an absolute defensive clinic in the second. Byrnes stifled Rock Hill in the second round, particularly up front. The defensive line led the way with five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and negative-10 rush yards allowed. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797155' first='Justice' last='Hopkins']</strong> had half those sacks with 2.5. They got an unconventional touchdown, too, as Kelshard Harris, inserted on offense in Byrnes' short-yardage set, scooped up a Rebels' fumble and rumbled 60 yards for a score. But it's not just the guys up front. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820013' first='Tyler' last='Clark']</strong> is an absolute menace at LB. <strong>Nas Angram</strong> had a pair of sacks himself, recovered a fumble, and played well in the secondary. Offensively for the Rebels, there's no secret. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604062' first='Jacobi' last='Fuller']</strong> will lead the way out of the backfield, running behind a veteran offensive line. But they have the capability of being explosive as well, behind big-play guy <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271241' first='Chanin' last='Harris']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork is, well, they're Dutch Fork. They've been here. They know what's coming, and they're uniquely equipped to handle the pressure. But they've also been through a little bit of a different season. They survived one-score wins over Ridge View and Irmo, and lost to Oceanside Collegiate. But they've adapted along the way. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts']</strong> is a full year ahead of schedule as a starting QB, and he's played well. He threw for 248 yards and two touchdowns in a second round win, and he takes care of the ball, with a 14/3 TD/INT ratio. He's also run it well, joining <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821111' first='Quintin' last='Wilson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818103' first='Kyle' last='Henry']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821109' first='Sheldon' last='Shine']</strong> as Silver Foxes who have more than 300 rushing yards on the year. Defense has been the key for the entirety of Dutch Fork's historic run, and this year is no exception. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth']</strong> help lead the way for a stingy unit who have improved as the year has progressed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LINEMAN TO WATCH:</em></strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo']</strong> C, Dutch Fork - Lorenzo is following up being the best freshman OL in the state last year with being arguably the state's best center the season. He's big and strong and quick. You automatically understand all of that. But he's got great reach, great feet, and outstanding technique. He's got the flexibility and endurance of a state champion wrestler (which he also is), and he's just an absolute nightmare to deal with up front.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18488636/6918a4bfa716d2aed3be72db' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6919e9ab6b964"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 3 RIDGE VIEW (8-3) AT NO. 2 DORMAN (9-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When these two schools tangle at this stage of the season, it's typically elite pre-season basketball. That's going to have to wait, because they're two of the best teams in Division I, and there's a ton at stake for both of them this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View has a pounding ground game and a stingy defense, allowing just 14 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1149057' first='Spencer' last='Bobian'] does a lot of the heavy lifting for the Blazers, with more than 1,200 yards on the ground. He's big and strong and hard to tackle, and the Ridge View offense runs through him. Aiden Keeffe provides a great change of pace, with [player_tooltip player_id='1350429' first='Ashton' last='Chapman'] going most of the way at QB for the Blazers. [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1819595' first='Jourdin' last='Mack'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1818714' first='Carter' last='Coleman'] are all hovering around the 400 yard mark in receiving and are capable of taking the top off a defense. The Blazers have 79 tackles for loss and 18 sacks defensively, and Drew Madison is among the leaders in both, with nine stops for a loss and four sacks on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dorman has, well, see above. A pounding ground game and a stingy defense. The Cavaliers rely offensively on [player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'], who's run for just shy of 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1816266' first='Isaac' last='Tate'] will get a ton of carries as well, and while they're similar in style, they're different enough to keep defenses on their toes. [player_tooltip player_id='340230' first='Meek' last='Slydell'] has thrown for more than 1,400 yards, and does a phenomenal job of taking what the defense gives him, and of taking care of the ball. He's got one interception on the season. Defensively, it all starts up front. [player_tooltip player_id='1639739' first='Christian' last='Waring'] is healthy and has returned to the lineup, and he makes a lot of things easier for the Cavaliers. [player_tooltip player_id='1702151' first='James' last='Porter'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1664615' first='Zavion' last='Meadows'] are also standouts up front, guys who enable [player_tooltip player_id='402497' first='Kentavion' last='Anderson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1592369' first='Jordan' last='Darby'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1818140' first='Antwone' last='Tarrence'] to run around and make plays. Add in a ball-hawking secondary led by [player_tooltip player_id='1708614' first='Jabez' last='Thomas'] and his nine interceptions, and its easy to see why the Cavaliers hang their hats on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SPECIALIST TO WATCH:</em></strong> <strong>Carter Nash</strong> RB/PR, Dorman - Just a freshman, Nash has already made a name for himself for the Cavaliers. He's gotten regular carries in big spots, and Dorman's lining him up to return punts as well. He had a 48-yarder in the second-round win over Blythewood, and has been close to breaking a couple more though the season. With his explosiveness, it might just be a matter of time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/25830682/6919b9b577420c484f9b6885' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691aa3c13fc7e"} /-->