Class A Semifinals Preview

It's Thanksgiving Day and the four teams remaining in the Class A playoffs have plenty to be thankful for this year. It's a special time to be able to practice on Thanksgiving morning and two of these teams will advance to next weekend's state championship games.   Cross was runner-up a season ago and Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Lamar and Lewisville have long pedigrees of success. All four teams have legitimate claims to advance. We bring it all down for you and here's what you need to know for this Friday's games.   CROSS (11-1) AT BAMBERG-EHRHARDT (13-0)   Something must be given in this matchup between two teams that were at the top of the Class A rankings all season. It's two high-powered, explosive offenses going against two defenses that are statistically two of the best in the state. The Trojans come in scoring at a clip of 36.8 per game while allowing just 5.75 points per game. The Red Raiders have been even a little better, scoring 53.8 points per outing and just giving up 5.76 per contest and less than 100 yards of total offense per game. The two teams will go about things a little differently.   Cross is going to turn to [player_tooltip player_id='1820227' first='Mah'Ky' last='Green'] running behind a bruising offensive line that includes four underclassmen and one senior. [player_tooltip player_id='1817617' first='Andrew' last='Hokett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1640695' first='Dakarai' last='President'], Augustas Davis and [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] join senior [player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett'] in paving the way. Green is averaging over 10 yards per carry and has 1,495 yards on the season with 16 rushing touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1422583' first='Khalil' last='Levine'] will get some carries to take the pressure off Green but he's the one the Trojans will count on against the stingy Bamberg-Ehrhardt defense. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1819661' first='Tyler' last='Harris'] doesn't run it much, but he can hurt you with the pass if teams focus too much on the running game. He has 17 passing TDs on the season with South Carolina tight end/safety commit [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] having nine TD catches.   The Red Raiders defense is going to load up the box and try to limit the running game and force Cross into second and third and long situations. Darian Sease and [player_tooltip player_id='1817744' first='Chris' last='Washington'] lead the group with 120 and 100 tackles, respectively. Sease is second on the team in interceptions with four. [player_tooltip player_id='1530765' first='Darius' last='Walker'] (80 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw'] (74 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, nine sacks) can create havoc along with Ahmad Busby (71 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan'] (60 tackles, five interceptions). Defensive linemen Daren Carter and [player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg'] will be right in the mix as well.   We will get more to Mcmillan later because he doubles as Bamberg-Ehrhardt's quarterback as well. This Red Raiders attack averages 576 yards per game and is extremely balanced – 289 yards rushing and 286 yards passing per game. McGraw just went over the 1,000-yard mark last week and MJ Cann is close with 914 yards on the season, but Cann is injured and unlikely to play. They both average over 13 yards per attempt. McMillan (760 yards) and Washington (485 yards) also both average over 10 yards per carry. [player_tooltip player_id='1819953' first='Pierre' last='Fuller'], Michael Manigualt, [player_tooltip player_id='1822459' first='Simeon' last='Bamberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody'] pave the way to that attack on the offensive line. Cross has several players going both ways with Bennett, Broughton and Grant being the leading tacklers. Jimmy Smith, [player_tooltip player_id='1818596' first='Jakobe' last='Jones'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1821809' first='Kerji' last='Polite'] are going to need to be extremely active as well.   Starting Lineups   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Bamberg-Ehrhardt offense</td><td>Cross defense</td><td>Cross offense</td><td>Bamberg-Ehrhardt defense</td></tr><tr><td>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan']</td><td>DE [player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett']</td><td>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1819661' first='Tyler' last='Harris']</td><td>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody']</td></tr><tr><td>FB Darian Sease</td><td>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1821809' first='Kerji' last='Polite']</td><td>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1820227' first='Mah'Ky' last='Green']</td><td>DL Daren Carter</td></tr><tr><td>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1196428' first='Jalen' last='McGraw']</td><td>DE [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton']</td><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey']</td><td>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</td></tr><tr><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans']</td><td>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1818596' first='Jakobe' last='Jones']</td><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1954544' first='Lashawn' last='Talley']</td><td>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody'] </td></tr><tr><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1036756' first='Jordan' last='Bovain']</td><td>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant']</td><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1821810' first='Jeremiah' last='Smith']</td><td>LB Darian Sease</td></tr><tr><td>WR Charles [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams']</td><td>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1422583' first='Khalil' last='Levine']</td><td>TE Jimmy Smith</td><td>LB Ahmad Busby</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1819953' first='Pierre' last='Fuller']</td><td>LB Jimmy Smith</td><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1817617' first='Andrew' last='Hokett']</td><td>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1530765' first='Darius' last='Walker']</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1822455' first='Michael' last='Manigault']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1640713' first='Jakari' last='Wright']</td><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1640695' first='Dakarai' last='President']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1822454' first='Rocky' last='Walker']</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1822459' first='Simeon' last='Bamberg']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1820227' first='Mah'Ky' last='Green']</td><td>OL Augustas Davis</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1817744' first='Chris' last='Washington']</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1817745' first='Saveon' last='Bamberg']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1954544' first='Lashawn' last='Talley']</td><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan']</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1822460' first='Jaden' last='Moody']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey']</td><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Matchup Within the Matchup: We've already mentioned McMillan and Ramsey, but this is shaping up to be one of the better postseason battles you will see. McMillan is 150-of-185 for 3,730 yards and 44 touchdowns, including six last week in the win over Carvers Bay. Charles [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams'] (pictured above 48 catches, 1,263 yards and 17 touchdowns) [player_tooltip player_id='1819949' first='Jason' last='Youmans'] (32-750-10), and [player_tooltip player_id='1036756' first='Jordan' last='Bovain'] (32-781-5) all can stretch the field on deep routes or take a short pass the distance. Ramsey plays free safety and has six interceptions this season and 19 the past two seasons. Teams have thrown away from him, but this Red Raiders offense is going to attack and hope they can neutralize the success of Ramsey and cornerbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1640713' first='Jakari' last='Wright'] and Green.   “There is a feeling we aren't going to lose this game,” McMillan said. “We're going to find a way, whatever it takes.”   Underclassman Impact: We've already discussed the Red Raiders dynamite passing attack and what it brings to the table. But one name we omitted was [player_tooltip player_id='1822454' first='Rocky' last='Walker'], a sophomore. He doesn't have the total numbers of the other three receivers but his stat line of 18 catches for 445 yards and eight touchdowns is impressive nonetheless. That's 24.7 yards per catch and obviously he makes the most of his receptions as nearly half of them went for touchdowns. He could end up having a big game if Cross is able to keep pace with the other three receivers.    LEWISVILLE (9-4) AT LAMAR (11-2)   Lamar comes into this semifinal game having not lost since losing to Central on September 5. That's a 10-game winning streak and the closest contest during that stretch was a 20-14 win over Lewisville in the final regular season game of the season. In that contest, [player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] ran for 113 yards and two touchdowns with [player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy'] adding 112 yards and a TD. The Silver Foxes defense limited the Lions to a negative six yards rushing in that contest and just 119 yards passing.   Lewisville rebounded from that loss and knocked off defending state champion Abbeville 29-28 in the second round. The Lions are averaging 34 points per game on offense and allowing 17.7. Lamar is averaging 40.1 points and allowing 14.6.   [player_tooltip player_id='1820262' first='Antonio' last='Price'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1267330' first='Jacorreun' last='Howze'] have formed a nice 1-2 punch out of the backfield, but Howze missed the third-round victory over CA Johnson. If he's unable to go, that will put added pressure on QB [player_tooltip player_id='1822769' first='Jalen' last='Culp'] to be more effective in the passing game. Culp has thrown for 728 yards and 10 touchdowns as the Lions have used five different players at quarterback this season. Price has 1,176 yards rushing and six players have between 10 and 13 catches on the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1639696' first='Malik' last='Harrison'] and Aiden Alexander anchor an experienced and powerful offensive line. Lamar will counter that offensive attack with defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1422623' first='DQ' last='Green'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1816096' first='Mont' last='Williams'] along with linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1817369' first='Travis' last='Durant']. [player_tooltip player_id='1822295' first='Jaylen' last='Morris'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817566' first='Nygel' last='Eaddy'] are a couple of ballhawks. [player_tooltip player_id='1817370' first='Nigerion' last='Quillen'] comes off the edge to add support in both the run and passing game.   Lamar will lean on Eaddy and Pierce lead a rushing attack that is the key to the Silver Foxes attack. Pierce will throw it enough to keep offenses honest and when he throws it, [player_tooltip player_id='1822293' first='Juju' last='Morris'], Kamil McCoy and Green are his primary targets. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1615102' first='Jay'Sean' last='Culp'], linebacker Trey Cannon and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1820260' first='Zy' last='Davis'] are the top tacklers for Lewisville. [player_tooltip player_id='1818588' first='Devaughn' last='Garcia'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1165159' first='Jordan' last='Strong'] each have three interceptions.   Starting Lineup   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>Lewisville Offense</td><td>Lewisville Defense</td></tr><tr><td>QB [player_tooltip player_id='1822769' first='Jalen' last='Culp']</td><td>DL [player_tooltip player_id='1820264' first='JB' last='Buchanan']</td></tr><tr><td>RB [player_tooltip player_id='1820262' first='Antonio' last='Price']</td><td>DL Derrel Guy</td></tr><tr><td>RB Cedric Spence</td><td>DL - Jacob Denio</td></tr><tr><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1165159' first='Jordan' last='Strong']</td><td>DL - [player_tooltip player_id='1615102' first='Jay'Sean' last='Culp']</td></tr><tr><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1817572' first='Jaylin' last='Douglas']</td><td>LB Trey Cannon</td></tr><tr><td>WR [player_tooltip player_id='1267330' first='Jacorreun' last='Howze']</td><td>LB [player_tooltip player_id='1822768' first='Ty'Mon' last='Hughes']</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1639696' first='Malik' last='Harrison']</td><td>LB Edan Gastons</td></tr><tr><td>OL Marke Hammond</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1818588' first='Devaughn' last='Garcia']</td></tr><tr><td>OL Aiden Alexander</td><td>DB Jaylin Shuler</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1822259' first='Thomas' last='Thompson']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1165159' first='Jordan' last='Strong']</td></tr><tr><td>OL [player_tooltip player_id='1817305' first='Keaton' last='Moore']</td><td>DB [player_tooltip player_id='1267330' first='Jacorreun' last='Howze']</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   Lamar did not provide a starting lineup to PRZ in time for publication   Matchup Within the Matchup: Lewisville is going to have to find a way to run the football and that will require Harrison, Alexander, Marke Hammond, [player_tooltip player_id='1822259' first='Thomas' last='Thompson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817305' first='Keaton' last='Moore'] to provide a pathway for Cedric Spence and Price room to run. Lamar defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1822292' first='Messiah' last='Simes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822289' first='Davaughn' last='Locust'] can cause problems upfront, and the trenches might be where this game is won.   Underclassman Impact: Lamar is solid in the run game with Eaddy and Pierce but don't discount what [player_tooltip player_id='1817362' first='TJ' last='Samuel'] brings to the table. The sophomore has 418 yards and seven touchdowns and could be a wild card on Friday. He is a great North-South runner, and he can turn the smallest crease into a large gain. He's averaging 8.2 yards per attempt.

It's Thanksgiving Day and the four teams remaining in the Class A playoffs have plenty to be thankful for this year. It's a special time to be able to practice on Thanksgiving morning and two of these teams will advance to next weekend's state championship games.