SCISA State Championship Game Previews

The SCISA state championships are this week and there is an abundance of story lines to consider for the four title games that will be played at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on the campus of South Carolina State in Orangeburg.   There are newcomers to the party but there are also teams trying to repeat as well as others that are trying to avenge a loss in the championship a season ago. Two of the four games offer rematches from last season.   Here is the breakdown of all four games and the players that you should be on the lookout for over the course of the games on Friday and Saturday.   SCISA CLASS 4A   HEATHWOOD HALL (9-3) VS NORTHWOOD ACADEMY (10-1) FRIDAY, 7 PM   For the first time in nine years, the highest classification in the SCISA ranks will have a new champion. Heathwood Hall knocked off 8-time defending state champion Hammond on Friday and in the process snapped a 20-game losing streak to their crosstown rival. It puts the Highlanders in the state championship for the first time since 2009. And make no mistake, this was no fluke. [player_tooltip player_id='1821389' first='James' last='Richardson'] connected on the game-winning field goal with 1.5 seconds remaining for the 16-13 win over the Skyhawks in the semifinals. That avenged a 9-7 loss earlier in the season in which Hammond kicked a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds.   The Highlanders pitched a shutout in the second half to claim the victory. In fact, their defense has been stellar all season. They're allowing 11.5 points per game and had six games where they held their opponents in single digits. The most points they allowed in a game this season – a 39-20 loss to Northwood on October 31. They will need to reverse that outcome to have a chance in the rematch. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1672907' first='Heyward' last='Belser'] leads the defense with 116 tackles and 18 tackles for loss. But he has plenty of help. Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1024349' first='Julian' last='Hughes'] checks in with 71 tackles and LB Henry Morris has 60 stops. Then a host of defenders have between 48 and 32 tackles. That group includes LB [player_tooltip player_id='1822039' first='Christian' last='Hitchcock'], DB [player_tooltip player_id='1592011' first='Jackson' last='Noble'], DB [player_tooltip player_id='1824088' first='Liam' last='Edwards'], LB [player_tooltip player_id='1824987' first='John' last='Thompson'] and LB [player_tooltip player_id='1817611' first='Charlie' last='Taylor']. QB [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] is going to have to be at his best and he's been pretty good all season. The season has thrown for 2,206 yards and rushed for 478 yards and accounted for 26 total touchdowns. He threw for 297 yards in the earlier meeting with Northwood, but Heathwood Hall only rushed for 19 yards on eight attempts. Keon McKinley (51 catches, 701 yards and three touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='1822038' first='Jamonie' last='Batts'] (36-536-4) are his top targets.   Northwood is very balanced offensively and that showed the first time these two teams played. QB [player_tooltip player_id='640683' first='Kevin' last='Johnson'] threw for 153 yards and a touchdown with RB [player_tooltip player_id='1683039' first='Kaven' last='Ford'] (pictured) rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1821464' first='Jordin' last='Carter'] chipped in with 81 yards and two touchdowns on seven carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1824617' first='Jacair' last='Medlock'] was the leading receiver with three catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id='1734610' first='Aydan' last='Hogan'] had six receptions for 45 yards. Johnson has 2,149 yards and 19 touchdowns. Ford has added 1,115 yards rushing and 21 TDs. Defensive back Antwaun Henderson collected seven tackles and a tackle for loss while LB Cody McCleary added six tackles and a tackle for loss. [player_tooltip player_id='2048043' first='Drew' last='Wolfe'] is another receiver that can create havoc on a defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1824621' first='Michael' last='Polite'] is a solid third option in the backfield. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1741086' first='Dominic' last='Russell'] is the top tackler. Defensive lineman Hammer White has 5.5 sacks and DB [player_tooltip player_id='1824615' first='Bryce' last='Jenkins'] has five interceptions.   Lineman to Watch: Heathwood Hall's [player_tooltip player_id='1822319' first='Brady' last='Murphy'] is a 6-foot-6, 250-pound mauler that plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage. On offense, he uses his size and power to overwhelm opponents and he's able to push them around on a lot of occasions. He's quick for his size and gets to the point of attack quickly and once he gets his momentum going, it's hard for the defensive player to be a factor. He also will plug the line on defense and let the Highlanders linebacker's feast.      SCISA CLASS 3A   WILSON HALL (11-1) VS PINEWOOD PREP (9-3) SATURDAY, 7:30 PM   This is a rematch of last season's Class 3A state championship game in which Pinewood Prep claimed a 24-21 victory. They played on October 3 of this season with Wilson Hall earning a small measure of revenge with a 28-21 win. The Barons won this year's game by limiting the Panthers to 55 yards on the ground. Ben McLaurin rushed for 128 yards with a touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id='1430869' first='Milling' last='Galloway'] scored twice, and [player_tooltip player_id='1821125' first='Ford' last='Wilder'] added another rushing touchdown as Wilson Hall rushed for 227 yards in that first meeting this season. Galloway led the defensive effort with 10 tackles and tackle for loss while Peyton Gilley seven tackles and a tackle for loss. Last week in the win over Hilton Head Christian, Nolan Gooch recorded 10 tackles, and [player_tooltip player_id='1821123' first='Andrew' last='Howle'] aided the defensive effort with a sack. Gilley had two interceptions and seven tackles. McLaurin was active on both sides of the ball with 276 yards rushing and four touchdowns and he added six tackles and an interception on defense.   Pinewood Prep QB [player_tooltip player_id='2045815' first='Silas' last='Brawner'] had a good game the first time these teams played this season with 249 yards passing and two touchdowns on 21-of-28 passing but the lack of a running game hurt. [player_tooltip player_id='1065555' first='Grayson' last='Salego'] was the leader with 10 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id='1821618' first='Jayden' last='Alexander'] was the top target with 115 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. [player_tooltip player_id='896094' first='Lavoris' last='Lucas'] added six receptions for 79 yards and a score. [player_tooltip player_id='1824319' first='Jacob' last='Sweet'] had nine tackles in the first meeting with [player_tooltip player_id='1824326' first='Mason' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1821609' first='Will' last='Watson'] each collecting seven stops. In the win over Florence Christian last week, Lucas ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a TD. Brawner is over 3,000 yards on the season with 40 touchdowns and nine interceptions. That will put extra pressure on the Barons secondary. [player_tooltip player_id='1821619' first='Heyward' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2045814' first='Tre' last='Green'] compliment Alexander and Lucas in the receiving game very well.   Lineman to Watch: Hayden Presley is going to be a factor on both sides of the ball for Pinewood Prep. The senior starts at right tackle on offense and defensive end on defense. He has great size and does a great job with leverage on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He uses his hands well and can control defenders at the point of attack. He comes off the edge quickly on defense and can disrupt things. He has 4.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.    SCISA CLASS 2A   PEE DEE ACADEMY (8-3) VS BETHESDA ACADEMY (11-0) SATURDAY, 12 PM   This is another rematch from last season in which Pee Dee Academy claimed a 52-14 victory to cap off an unbeaten season. And as fate would have it, these teams played on October 24 with Bethesda claiming a 49-0 victory. And this season, it's the Blazers who come into the game undefeated. Bethesda held PDA to just 71 yards of total offense in that contest in late October. Jordan Turner threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for two others in a game the Blazers dominated. Jamarri Young and Jeffrey Armstrong also had rushing touchdowns with Ralo Wesley catching two TD passes and Malachi Morris adding one. Nichlas Jackson led the defense charge in that game with 18 tackles and two tackles for loss. Isaiah Redmond chipped in with 15 tackles and three tackles for loss. Ka'mond Young added 12 tackles.   Pee Dee Academy trailed in the semifinal game 33-22 with just over four minutes remaining but the Eagles scored twice in a six second span to stamp their ticket to the championship. [player_tooltip player_id='1824345' first='Tristan' last='Heckman'] scored, the Eagles recovered the onside kick and the next play, Heckman scored his fourth rushing TD of the game to give PDA the improbable 34-33 win. The senior had 259 yards on 29 carries, and a kickoff return for a touchdown as the Eagles rushed for 340 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1821640' first='Judson' last='Martin'] added 80 yards on 16 carries. Martin, Heckman, [player_tooltip player_id='861530' first='Ryan' last='Small'], [player_tooltip player_id='1824346' first='Brayden' last='Lewis'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1824347' first='Chandler' last='James'] have been good on defense all season. [player_tooltip player_id='1824606' first='Gage' last='Elliott'] andLewis come off the edge quickly and can pressure the quarterback. Martin has 818 yards rushing and leads the team with 80 tackles. Heckman is the rushing leader with 1,361 yards and 16 touchdowns.   Lineman to Watch: Pee Dee Academy wants to run the football and no better person to run behind other than [player_tooltip player_id='1821641' first='Cole' last='Pursley'], the Golden Eagles huge 6-foot-3, 290-pound lineman. He clears a path for the running game to get behind and he's quick enough to get out and pull ahead in front of a counter play. He will play defense in short yardage situations but his impact in this game is going to be on the offensive line and if PDA can move the ball this time against the Blazers.    SCISA CLASS 1A   COLLETON PREP (9-2) VS WILLIAMSBURG ACADEMY (10-1) SATURDAY 3:30 PM   Williamsburg Academy is making its fifth straight championship game appearance, and they would like nothing better than to erase the loss to Thomas Heyward from memory. To do that, they're going to need to knock off a Colleton Prep team making the finals for the first time in a while. The Stallions offense revolves around the running of [player_tooltip player_id='1824329' first='Grant' last='Small'], who has 1,940 yards and 25 touchdowns on the season. The junior is coming off a 272-yard performance and a touchdown in the semifinals. The rushing attack netted 374 yards and opened things for [player_tooltip player_id='1824327' first='Micah' last='Balder'] to throw two TD passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1821625' first='Charlie' last='Caulder']. Balder and [player_tooltip player_id='1821631' first='Eli' last='Brown'] scored rushing TD's as well. The defense allowed 20 points in the semifinal victory, but [player_tooltip player_id='1824330' first='Michael' last='Ard'] had nine tackles. Ard is the team's leading tackler with 122 on the season. Lane Patrick recovered a fumble and Balder, [player_tooltip player_id='1821630' first='Gamble' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824328' first='Jay' last='Kellahan'] all collected interceptions. Kellahan also blocked an extra point. Williamsburg Academy has 14 interceptions on the season with [player_tooltip player_id='1821626' first='Hall' last='Dukes'] leading the way with five and Gamble right behind him with four. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1817347' first='Caden' last='Morris'] factors in as a receiver and defensive back.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823256' first='Cale' last='Owens'] scored two rushing touchdowns and threw for another in leading the War Hawks to a 22-16 over Dorchester Academy, a team that beat them a couple of weeks before. [player_tooltip player_id='1820689' first='Tanner' last='Wolf'] paced the ground game with 90 yards on 18 carries. Owens threw for 155 yards and his favorite target was [player_tooltip player_id='1816158' first='Thomas' last='Corbett'], who caught six passes for 104 yards and a TD. Owens has accounted for 36 touchdowns this season – 18 rushing and 18 passing. The offensive line is going to lean on [player_tooltip player_id='1820695' first='Aden' last='Willis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1820694' first='Fripp' last='Smoak'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820690' first='Steven' last='Crosby'] to pave the way for the Colleton County offense. Willis, Smoak, Wolf, [player_tooltip player_id='1823257' first='Grayson' last='Catterton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820693' first='Austin' last='Murdaugh'] are going to be tasked with slowing Small and company.      Lineman to Watch: Williamsburg Academy offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1821624' first='Marlin' last='Morris'] plays both ways and handles the right tackle position on the offense. He helps lead the way for Small to be within 60 yards of 2,000 yards on the season. He can attack straight ahead but he's also quick and nimble enough to pull and lead a counter play. If Morris and company have their way up front, Small and Balder could have a big day on offense and bring a title back to Williamsburg.

The SCISA state championships are this week and there is an abundance of story lines to consider for the four title games that will be played at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium on the campus of South Carolina State in Orangeburg.