SCISA First Round Preview

The 2025 SCISA playoffs offer a lot of intrigue and story lines that we hope to capture here over the next few weeks leading up to their state championship games on November 21 and 22.   Can Hammond repeat again is Class 4A or will someone knock them off the throne? Can anyone match up with Pinewood Prep in Class 4A? Bethesda Academy is undefeated and outscored opponents 424-81 on the season. Who are the biggest challengers to beat the Blazers? Is Class A the most competitive bracket?   These questions and more will be answered over the next few weeks until the champions are crowned.   Here is our look at the 14 opening round games across the four classifications.   SCISA Class 4A   PORTER GAUD (4-6) AT LAURENCE MANNING (6-4)   These teams met in the season finale last Friday and the Swampcats pulled out a 22-21 victory. The Cyclones are going to want to run the ball, and they have a pretty good trio in getting that done with [player_tooltip player_id='1823298' first='Jackson' last='Shealy'], Amir Chisom and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1823296' first='Scott' last='Tibbals'] running the show. All three of those are over 450 yards on the season with Shealy topping the 1,000-yard mark with 1,023 yards and nine touchdowns. If Tibbals throws the ball, his primary target is going to be [player_tooltip player_id='1820726' first='Wilson' last='Yarborough'], who has 29 receptions for 300 yards and four of the six receiving touchdowns for Porter-Gaud. Chisolm leads the team with 90 tackles as well.   X-Factor: Porter-Gaud defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1820735' first='Huck' last='Nevin'] is one of the top interception guys in the state with six picks. He's a lockdown cover guy that has a knack for making plays. He also has 79 tackles on the season, so he comes up and supports the run well. If he is able to create a turnover or two, that will give the Cyclones a big chance to avenge the loss from last week and advance to face Northwood Academy in the semifinals.    BEN LIPPEN (3-7) AT HEATHWOOD HALL (7-3)   These teams played on Oct 10 with the Highlanders claiming a 28-6 victory. Heathwood Hall quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] rushed for 76 yards and four touchdowns on just 12 carries in the win. Linebacker Morris Henry finished with 15 tackles and two tackles for loss. [player_tooltip player_id='1592011' first='Jackson' last='Noble'] (pictured) also had an interception in the game that he returned 80 yards. If the Falcons are going to reverse the outcome from the first game, running back [player_tooltip player_id='1817082' first='Zion' last='Gaddist'] is going to be featured again. He ran for 204 yards and one touchdown in that game. That was nearly 40 percent of his total yardage on the season (550 yards). The winner of this game will play defending state champion Hammond in the semifinals.   X-Factor: Ben Lippen two-way standout [player_tooltip player_id='1165156' first='Drake' last='Porter'], will also need to be a huge factor in this game for the Falcons. The senior is a beast on the defensive side of the ball with 123 tackles and nine tackles for loss. He can be a game-changer on defense and that is something the Falcons will need to try and slow down Belk and company.   SCISA CLASS 3A   FIRST BAPTIST (1-9) AT WILSON HALL (9-1)   The Hurricanes limp into the playoffs by allowing 35 points per game while scoring at just a 12 points per game clip in the first season under coach Kevin Mapp. [player_tooltip player_id='1822277' first='Boone' last='Lowery'] will need a big game if First Baptist is to pull off the upset. Wilson Hall on the other hand is two points away from having a perfect regular season. These teams met just a week ago with the Barons earning a 35-14 victory. Shep Vincent scored on runs of 8, 35 and 5 yards, Cameron Wilsey added a 30-yard TD run and Ben McLaurin took one 99 yards to the house. Wilson Hall has over 2,500 rushing yards this season with McLaurin and [player_tooltip player_id='1430869' first='Milling' last='Galloway'] leading the way.   X-Factor: Wilson Hall sophomore Nehemiah Dinkins is one of the leading tacklers for the Barons and as he's making plays in the middle of the field, it allows the rest of the defense to get set. They've only allowed over 14 points twice this season and if Dinkins and crew play that same type of defense in the postseason, the Barons are going to be difficult to defeat.   TRINITY COLLEGIATE (5-5) AT HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN (5-5)   The Titans come into the playoffs with two of the best receiving duos any team will see. [player_tooltip player_id='1343533' first='Desmond' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1856861' first='Garrison' last='Copeland'] are both nearing the 1,000-yard mark for the season. Williams has 52 receptions for 893 yards and five touchdowns as the more possession receiver. Copeland is the big-play guy that stretches the field. The sophomore has 41 receptions for 921 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has a 92-yard catch to his credit this season. Trinity Collegiate has had 13 different players catch a pass this season and four of them are in double figures for catches. That gives quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1734471' first='Davidson' last='Lynch'] a lot of options as he has a 19 to 3 touchdown to interception ratio. The Eagles come into the contest on a three-game winning streak. They also have a prolific passing attack and have five receivers with double-digit receptions. [player_tooltip player_id='1822728' first='Joseph' last='Houpt'] is the go-to receiver with 60 catches for 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns. But [player_tooltip player_id='1822732' first='Jackson' last='Richardson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1822729' first='Sam' last='Strum'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824218' first='Thomas' last='Gehm'] can all make plays when needed.   X-Factor: Trinity Collegiate senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1639657' first='Walker' last='Willcox'] has some of the most dominating numbers in the state.  He has 166 tackles and 36 tackles for loss to go along with one fumble recovery. He plays in the middle and is very active in stopping the run but he can get out and cover the passing game on the edges. It's hard for teams to get much going in the middle of the field with Willcox there to shut things down.   NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN (3-7) AT PINEWOOD PREP (7-3)   Northside Christian must be good in the running game if they want to pull the upset. BJ Suits (882 yards and 11 touchdowns) and John Rogers (340 yards and five touchdowns) give the Crusaders the best option of doing that. The defending state champion Panthers come into the playoffs averaging 43 points per game. Quarterback Silas Brawner and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1821618' first='Jayden' last='Alexander'] and [player_tooltip player_id='896094' first='Lavoris' last='Lucas'] have been the catalyst for that offense all season. Brawner, a junior, has completed 63 percent of his passes for 2,593 yards and has 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Alexander is five yards away from topping the 1,000-yard mark on 47 catches for the season and has 13 TD receptions. Lucas is not far behind with 39 receptions for 772 yards and seven touchdowns. Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1259789' first='Will' last='Wilson'] plays very aggressively and leads the team with 68 tackles and 16 tackles for loss.   X-Factor: A lot of attention goes to Alexander and Lucas and rightfully so, but junior receiver Tre Green is apt to make plays in the passing game as well. He has 25 catches for 369 yards and eight touchdowns. If teams put all their focus on the two leading pass-catchers, Green is more than capable of making up the slack.      JOHN PAUL II (5-5) AT FLORENCE CHRISTIAN (7-2)   [player_tooltip player_id='1584084' first='Jadon' last='Inabinett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824219' first='Alan' last='Wolf'] form a nice 1-2 punch in the rushing attack for the Golden Warriors. They have 882 yards and 801 yards respectively  with a total of 20 touchdowns between them. The trio of linebacker Andrw Boyden, defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1821522' first='Sean' last='Phalen'] and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1821524' first='Taylor' last='Murphy'] lead a John Paul II defense that has allowed 30 points per game this season. Boydon has 512 yards rushing as well. The Eagles throw it just enough to keep the defense honest, but they have a lot of running backs that can take over at various times. Seven different players have a rushing touchdown, led by Andrew Miller with 11. He is the leading rusher with 660 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1821447' first='Brooks' last='Poston'] is next with 494 yards and seven scores. Junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1127312' first='Hayden' last='Schwab'] and senior defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1821871' first='Pierce' last='Boykin'] lead the way defensively and can cause trouble for a lot of offenses.     X-Factor: Florence Christian quarterback Riley Monton isn't asked to throw it much, but he is completing over 62 percent of his passes for 824 yards. But he does have five interceptions to just three touchdowns. He needs to protect the ball, make the throws when he needs to and make sure the tandem of Miller and Poston have enough room to run and the defense can't put eight players in the box to stop it.   SCISA CLASS 2A   HILTON HEAD PREP (2-8) AT CALHOUN ACADEMY (9-1)   Hilton Head Prep is averaging just over nine points a game so if the Dolphins hope to spring the upset, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1821021' first='Wyatt' last='Harmer'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='1821023' first='Davis' last='Cargill'] will have to be at their best. Hilton Head Prep has scored over 20 points in a game just twice this season. By the end of Friday night, the Cavaliers could have two players over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. Colt Layton is already there with over 1,200 yards and Cael Parler is at 869 yards. The two have combined for 37 total touchdowns with Layton having 22 of those. As a team, Calhoun Academy has 3,258 rushing yards and 745 passing yards. Linebacker Cooper Taylor leads a balanced defensive attack with 82 total tackles.   X-Factor: Calhoun Academy sophomore running back Joseph Lyons doesn't get the spotlight with Layton and Parler there but he's averaging 15.4 yards per carry and has 599 rushing yards on the season. He has nine touchdowns, just behind the 21 scores for Layton and 14 for Parler. Seven different players have rushing touchdowns and as a team they have 51.   ORANGEBURG PREP (7-3) AT PEE DEE ACADEMY (6-3)   On paper, this looks like the best first round matchup in SCISA. Orangeburg Prep has won four in a row coming in and Pee Dee Academy has won five of six to close the season. OP sophomore quarterback Cholly Williams is making the most of having a SEC-bound receiver in [player_tooltip player_id='1535039' first='Tilden' last='Riley'], who is committed to Vanderbilt. Williams has thrown for 1,662 yards with 22 touchdowns and just three interceptions. Tilden has 47 receptions for 1,003 yards and 17 touchdowns. Riley also has 60 tackles and two interceptions. Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1824627' first='Mac' last='Strickland'] has 137 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and three sacks. The Golden Eagles are the complete opposite and want to pound and ground the ball. Tristian Heckman is nearing the 1,000-mark on the ground and [player_tooltip player_id='1821640' first='Judson' last='Martin'] has 661 yards in a secondary role. Martin is the leading tackler with 64 stops and two fumble recoveries.   X-Factor: Heckman takes most of the snaps at quarterback but watch out when [player_tooltip player_id='1821644' first='Miles' last='Wiggins'] enters the game. The junior is 10-of-16 for 202 yards and six touchdowns with no interceptions. Wiggins can run it as well with 257 yards rushing on just 26 carries. Pee Dee Academy is probably going to have to play both quarterbacks and find a way to make a few plays in the passing game to keep the Indians honest on defense.   THOMAS SUMTER ACADEMY (4-7) AT BETHESDA ACADEMY (9-0)   Let's face the facts right away – the Generals want to throw the football all over the field. Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1821243' first='Jace' last='Williams'] has 2,481 yards passing and 20 touchdowns while backup [player_tooltip player_id='1824085' first='Clay' last='Team'] has 557 yards and six scores. [player_tooltip player_id='1824084' first='Sam' last='Petrauschke'] is over 1,000 yards receiving on the season and [player_tooltip player_id='1821796' first='Christian' last='Williams'] is closing in on that mark. [player_tooltip player_id='1824886' first='Zion' last='Williams'] is the leading rushing, and he has just over 200 yards on the season. Running or passing against Bethesda Academy is not easy. They are allowing an average of nine points per game and have four shutouts on the season. The linebacker group of Nicholas Jackson, Ka'mond Young and Isaiah Jones make it tough for opposing offenses. Add in Isaiah Redmond with five sacks and it shows why the Blazers have been so good defensively.   X-Factor: Bethesda Academy receiver Ralo Wesley should have"Playmaker" somewhere next to his name. The senior has caught 27 passes for 783 yards (that's a 29-yard average) but the fact that he's scored 17 of those receptions is mind boggling. He also has five rushing attempts, and he's scored on two of those. He is a threat to go the distance anytime he touches the ball and that's proven as he has 21 touchdowns on 39 touches between offense and special teams.    DILLON CHRISTIAN (3-6) AT GREENWOOD CHRISTIAN (8-2)   The Warriors split their final six games so they're playing better down the stretch than they did the first month of the season. Some of that must be the fact Dillon Christian has an eye-popping 92 tackles for loss. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1823396' first='Ethan' last='Moody'] (17 TFL), defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1822359' first='Wyatt' last='Locklear'] (15 TFL) and defensive lineman Lincoln Dial (15 TFL) lead that charge. If they're able to disrupt Greenwood Christian and make them play behind the sticks, this could be a close game. Six different players have scored a rushing touchdown for Dillon Christian this season with [player_tooltip player_id='1825112' first='Jordan' last='Blackmon'] leading the way with nine. Freshman running back [player_tooltip player_id='1825343' first='Leighton' last='Davis'] has carried the load for the Hawks this season. Add in the passing of junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1823287' first='Leland' last='Reed'] and it shows why Greenwood Christian has won six of seven to close the season. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1820716' first='Holden' last='Poole'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823283' first='Cooper' last='Johnson'] lead an experienced Hawks defense.   X-Factor: Greenwood Christian R Bracey leads the receiving corps with 780 yards on 41 receptions, but [player_tooltip player_id='1825117' first='Zachary' last='Ellis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1825113' first='Hayden' last='Moody'] are more than capable of making a big play as well. Blackmon likes to throw the ball downfield and that allows the trio of receivers to stretch the field and make plays in space. Bracey has eight receiving touchdowns and 10 total.   SCISA CLASS A   LEE ACADEMY (2-7) AT COLLETON PREP (7-2)   The War Hawks have five players with over 100 yards rushing this season but it's dual-threat quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1823256' first='Cale' last='Owens'] that leads the pack. The junior has thrown for 1,661 yards and 17 touchdowns while adding 1,020 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns. Receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1816158' first='Thomas' last='Corbett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820691' first='Hartman' last='Fisk'] have combined for 64 catches for 1,027 yards and 10 touchdowns to give Owens a couple of big-time targets. Corbett is averaging 21 yards per catch.   X-Factor: Colleton Prep running back [player_tooltip player_id='1820689' first='Tanner' last='Wolf'] might be the unsung hero of the offense. He's averaging 7.8 yards per carry and has scored 10 touchdowns to help divert some of the attention that Owens rightfully garners each game. Wolf has two 100-yard games this season and if he gets loose for a third, the War Hawks will be advancing to the state semifinals.   BEAUFORT ACADEMY (6-4) AT DORCHESTER ACADEMY (8-1)   Beaufort Academy two-way star Nych Underwood had over 1,400 yards rushing, 23 tackles and two interceptions through the first nine games this season. The fact that he averaged almost 10 yards every time he touched the ball speaks volumes for what the senior brings to the table. Quarterback Nic Shuford has thrown for over 850 yards and rushed for over 525 with his favorite target being senior receiver Devin Fripp (19 catches, 455 yards and six touchdowns). The Raiders will look for running back [player_tooltip player_id='1278664' first='John' last='Whetsell'] and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1824336' first='John' last='Quattlebaum'] to lead the offense. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1821638' first='Warren' last='Judy'] and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1824342' first='Reed' last='Almers'] will try to be up to the challenge defensively for Dorchester Academy. The Raiders only loss came in the regular season finale against Williamsburg Academy so they are looking to rebound and set up a rematch down the road.   X-Factor: Beaufort Academy defensive back Keeler Dineen has nearly double the number of tackles as the next person on the total tackles list. He's also tied for the team-lead with two interceptions. He's only a sophomore and is only going to get better, bigger and stronger and that's not going to bode well for opposing offenses.   PATRICK HENRY ACADEMY (2-8) AT WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY (8-1)   The Patriots will have to turn to defensive stalwarts Luke Sobey (96 tackles, 10 tackles for loss) and Kai Sobey (53 tackles, three tackles for loss) if they want to pull the upset. Patrick Henry snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 26-6 victory over Andrew Jackson Academy to close the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1824329' first='Grant' last='Small'] has 1,582 of the 2,535 rushing yards the Stallions have produced this season. Small has also scored 24 of the 31 rushing TD's. But he's not the only offense Williamsburg Academy has. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1824327' first='Micah' last='Balder'] has accounted for 841 yards passing and additional 456 yards rushing and a total of 13 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1821631' first='Eli' last='Brown'] added 440 rushing yards and four scores. Lineback [player_tooltip player_id='1821625' first='Charlie' last='Caulder'] leads the Stallions with 13 tackles for loss.   X-Factor: Williamsburg Academy defensive back Garrett Wilson has 27 tackles, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries on the season. The sophomore always seems to be around the football and in position to make a play. He's very instinctive and could play a major factor against a Patriots team that has struggled to throw the ball this season.   CAROLINA ACADEMY (5-5) AT THOMAS HEYWARD ACADEMY (3-5)   This is a rematch from October 24 when the Bobcats earned a 30-27 victory. But they must go on the road this time. Luke Cook scored two rushing touchdowns in that game and Chandler Prosser scored with less than three minutes to play to give Carolina Academy the victory. The Bobcats led that game 24-6 before falling behind in the second half. Walker McCutcheon ran for a TD and threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Lane Edwards to pace the Thoams Heyward attack. [player_tooltip player_id='1824607' first='Joshua' last='Gibson'] added two TD runs for the Rebels.   X-Factor: Thomas Heyward Academy athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1618012' first='Tony' last='O'Banner'] is 5-foot-11, 212 pounds and is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the ball. The senior linebacker and running back has an offer from Liberty and it's easy to see why. He is instinctive and moves well with and without the ball. He might be better suited for running back than linebacker on the next level, but he is going to fit into some college nicely.

The 2025 SCISA playoffs offer a lot of intrigue and story lines that we hope to capture here over the next few weeks leading up to their state championship games on November 21 and 22.