Class 2A Lower State First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 2A Lower State playoffs don't have quite the wait-and-see approach of some of the other brackets that are firing up this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are only two first-round byes in the Lower State field, which means 12 other teams are going to hit the ground running. They'll have to debate what that means for rhythm and continuity, but of course that will only apply to the six winners. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first-round games in the bottom half of the state don't leave much to the imagination, either. We've got dominant defenses, high-powered passing attacks, committee run games and everything else in between.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday's action will only be the beginning, but it's looking like a strong start. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 9 MANNING (5-5) AT NO. 8 BATTERY CREEK (8-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's really no telling how this one is going to go. And the reason is that both squads walk into their first-round game with the ability to throw some serious haymakers. Most folks are starting to know about Dolphins senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2414196' first='Eddie' last='Heyward']</strong> after he reached 1,000 rushing yards during the regular season. What folks might not know is that he did it with long run after long run, including a 94-yard scamper back in September. Fellow ball carriers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825360' first='Elijah' last='Frazier']</strong> (more on him below) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816699' first='Michael' last='Williams']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823736' first='Nehamiah' last='Johnson']</strong> all all have some longer carries with their varying degrees of usage, with Williams and Frazier also doing it in the receiving game. Manning isn't bring a pillow to this fight, though, either. When quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249201' first='Lovell' last='Stevenson']</strong> steps into one, he and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820895' first='CJ' last='Robinson']</strong> can turn any passing play into a score, and Stevenson has no issue taking off on the run and letting his long stride chew up yards. Packaging those two with budding sophomore tailback Destin Thames has starting to help the offense get back to some consistency despite three brawls to end the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Unranked Player to Watch:</em></strong> Battery Creek junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825360' first='Elijah' last='Frazier']</strong> is starting to come into his own, and he's doing it a variety of ways. Coming out of the slot, he can cut across the middle or use his speed to stretch the field. As a wing back, he brings that same change of direction to the offense. And on the other side of the ball, he's a fearless defensive back with a handful of pass deflections and an interception already on his ledger this fall. In a game full of those aforementioned momentum shifts, he's going to have an opportunity to present one or two of his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22753367/6ae7e077677ea05f10c57d99u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea2c2b8534f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 12 WACCAMAW (4-6) AT NO. 5 MARLBORO COUNTY (9-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No matter what has happened since, we're having a hard time putting the 57-0 score from the first meeting of the season (back on October 2) out of our heads. Bulldogs quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='776240' first='Tre' last='Blakeney']</strong> threw for 155 and two touchdowns while rushing for another 61 yards and a score. Do-it-all type <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2163536' first='Tehvin' last='Easterling']</strong> ran for three touchdowns with only eight carries. And the Marlboro County defense was as dominant as it gets, forcing four fumbles, recovering five in total, and picking off three passes, with linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821221' first='Layton' last='Chavis']</strong> getting in on the action in both of those turnover categories. How do the Warriors avoid a repeat? Well, cutting down on those turnovers has got to be the first priority. And the best way to do that is to keep the ball on the ground and diversify the attack like they have in some of their most productive games. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2458486' first='Robbie' last='Carrington']</strong> (2028), [player_tooltip player_id='2458520' first='William' last='Dieter'] (2029), <strong>Jhustyn Funnye</strong> (2027), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2452076' first='Braxton' last='Haynes']</strong> (2028) and others will all finish with some carries against the Bulldogs. They don't need to be flashy. They simply need to stay out from behind the sticks. Carrington can throw a bit, but his - and this offense's - biggest strength is three yards and a cloud of dust.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> Warriors senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820188' first='RJ' last='Rogers']</strong> (pictured) can do a lot of different things in a football game. Waccamaw will need him to do all of it in this one. He's another one of the team's regular ball carriers, but he can also have a big impact in the return game, even if he isn't really considered a threat to take every kickoff or punt back to the house. Rogers is all about adding chunk plays in both regards. He can get around some corners, and a couple mid-range runs early take some of the pressure off this offense to produce every single play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18248323/6acb74260a227d8eb83d45f1u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea2c2b85385"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 13 SILVER BLUFF (4-6) AT NO. 4 STROM THURMOND (9-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bulldogs senior tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820957' first='Dorian' last='Jones']</strong> has been hoping for this opportunity for some time. Despite playing on the varsity for nearly all of his four years of high school ball, the chance to the be the guy for Silver Bluff didn't come until this fall. Now, he's got an opportunity to show what he can do against the defending state champs. Jones will have to do it with a super-young line in front of him. After mass graduations, the Bulldogs have juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820968' first='Willie' last='Hill']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824933' first='Dalton' last='Robinson']</strong> and sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824541' first='Alex' last='Kent']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825411' first='Braylon' last='Gary']</strong> trying to open holes for him. That won't be east against a stout Rebels' front seven. Strom Thurmond is allowing a meager 113 rushing yards per game and have allowed only seven rushing touchdowns behind quality seasons from linebackers <strong>Bryson Mims</strong> (64 tackles, five TFL), <strong>Gregory Moore</strong> (54, seven) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840704' first='Tristan' last='Simmons']</strong> (51, five). Don't ignore the impact of the length <strong>Kyree Polk</strong> brings to the edge of the line up front, either.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Extending the Last Hurrah:</em></strong> Silver Bluff senior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820961' first='Vincent' last='Aiken']</strong> will have little choice but to be on point for this one. If he can make some crucial stops early in the game, it might add some significant adrenaline to the players around him. That will be crucial, as he's the undisputed leader of a defense and one of the rare Bulldogs on defense who came into this season with significant experience. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21677588/6adc437e9769ad92e364fdc3u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea2c2b853aa"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 14 ACADEMIC MAGNET (4-6) AT NO. 3 PHILIP SIMMONS (7-3)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By any metric, the Iron Horses have to be considered heavy favorites in this one after ripping off seven straight wins to close the regular season and the Raptors come into this one on a five-game skid. But if there's reason to not right off Academic Magnet just yet, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821469' first='Owen' last='George']</strong> is that reason. The dual-threat quarterback has rushed for 1,474 yards and 19 touchdowns and thrown for another 532 yards and three scores. That accounts for more than half of the Raptors' scoring this year. Philip Simmons knows this, which is why they're going to make sure someone else beats them. More than likely, that will include some combination of tailbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816700' first='Samba' last='Diallo']</strong> (384 yards, seven touchdowns) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1811126' first='Cole' last='Ivey']</strong> (357 yards, four touchdowns) and receiver <strong>Bryce Lee</strong> (321 yards, two touchdowns). If more faces done produce early, Iron Horses defenders <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816415' first='Diavante' last='Irving']</strong> (134 tackles, 18 tackles for loss), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816414' first='Layson' last='Stockton']</strong> (80 tackles) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817756' first='Nate' last='Elsey']</strong> (59 tackles in six games after returning from injury) are going to feast. Taking down ball carriers is sort of what they do.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> Academic Magnet is going to need to create a turnover or two to keep this one within striking distance, and we're looking firmly at senior corner <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821470' first='Anson' last='Harrison']</strong> to make that happen. He's got three interceptions this year and six in his career. All three of his picks this fall came before region play started, which means teams have adjusted and are clearly avoiding him. But he's going to draw a matchup against one of the state's best receivers. If he's able to create something special, it could be a rhythm buster for the Raptors. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 11 EAST CLARENDON (4-6) AT NO. 6 WOODLAND (8-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2419490' first='Jeremie' last='Jean']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1869156' first='Javion' last='Hall']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664573' first='George' last='Perry']</strong> to quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603798' first='Jervaze' last='Salley']</strong> to offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819772' first='Jakobi' last='Doctor']</strong> and wrapping around all of them, Woodland's roster is jammed with seniors who have been part of some other playoff teams and know what it takes to advance. That's not to say that East Clarendon is going to need its seniors to have a big game in Dorchester County on Friday. But it's clear this set of Wolverines has put a defined emphasis on some younger players as the core of the future. Two-way skill player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106756' first='Skyler' last='Cornelius']</strong> leads the list, and it appears he's finally starting to fully recover from an ankle injury that hampered him earlier in the year. Defensive back and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819757' first='Jamal' last='Prince']</strong> is right there with him in terms of production. And quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1819758' first='Gavin' last='White'] is starting to get used to having his favorite targets on the field instead of on the sideline amid a rushing attack led by a pair of seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='1819755' first='Picasso' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817962' first='Shamar' last='Graham'] - when Cornelius isn't more of the focus. East Clarendon is going to have little choice but to put up some points against a Woodland squad that is averaging better than 45 of them in each of its last three games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Unranked Player to Watch:</em></strong> East Clarendon sophomore defensive lineman <strong>Avery Porter</strong> is going to be busy against the other Wolverines. Porter has some game-wrecking ability, and Woodland is almost assuredly going to double-team him early and often to slow him down. But he leads East Clarendon in tackles for loss and sacks for a reason. He brings some explosiveness to the trenches and if he finds a crease he could easily force a fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23725567/6ae7951fa22306682f247259u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea2c2b853ce"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 10 LAKE MARION (5-4) AT NO. 7 ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON (8-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the winner of this one heading to No. 2 seeded Saluda in the second round, this one is not only about winning, but creating some momentum in the process. Lake Marion is going to try to do with behind sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817981' first='Dante' last='Wright']</strong> - who has shown some flashes of brilliance from time to time this year - and classmate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106780' first='Daylen' last='Ferguson']</strong> at tailback. A big play from senior receiver Quincy Robinson or combo defender or senior linebacker Semaj Smalls would go a long way, too. That's because O-W has the type of roster built for big scores in short amount of time. The Bruins dropped at least 40 points on six different opponents this fall. Junior quarterback <strong>Brendan Peoples</strong> has run more than he has in the past, and his now three-years of starting experience should equate to a steadying force for the offense. He's got a trio of seniors who pitch in on the rushing attack, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822635' first='Tyrene' last='Tyler']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820128' first='Elijah' last='Davis']</strong> and <strong>Zyquan Williams</strong> each sharing the workload to keep the others fresh and able to help out in other ways. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassman to Watch:</em></strong> O-W sophomore lineman [player_tooltip player_id='2137612' first='Kamaury' last='Little'] isn't all that far removed from suiting up for the other team in this game. After making the all-state honorable mention team last fall as a freshman, Little made the short hop over to the Bruins and is looking like he hasn't missed a beat. He's already got some solid DII interest in his back pocket and with size that can't be faked, that should only increase with time. Against his old team, he can make a statement by simply doing what his frame and footwork allow him to do. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/29568935/6a96f5c021130f16fb3488f7u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aea2c2b853ee"} /-->