Class 2A Lower State Second Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not often that four games align so closely with each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, the eight teams still playing in the second round of the Class 2A Lower State playoffs make it painfully obvious that the primary goals aren't all that dissimilar. And it's their ground games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tailbacks, quarterbacks and receivers who are taking off and running with it have made significant strides throughout 2026. Some of them are getting big carries; others are more in the spot-duty category. We've got seniors down to freshmen doing their thing, and one of them didn't even get his first varsity snaps until October. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regardless, from controlling the clock to keep the other team's top-notch running backs off the field to simply making the opponent earn it, we're in store for four different games that could all take on the same M.O. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 9 MANNING (6-5) AT NO. 1 DILLON (8-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For anyone who thinks it is a foregone conclusion the top overall seed is simply going to blow out another squad that is a heavy seedings underdog, we present to you the October 16 meeting between these two teams. Manning took a 14-10 lead into halftime after quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2249201' first='Lovell' last='Stevenson']</strong> found some cracks in the Wildcats defense to ease some pressure off the running game, and then that side of things ended up putting up 204 yards on the ground. Dillon needed a torrid second-half tear, getting two rushing touchdowns each from back-up tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825295' first='Geno' last='Lester']</strong> (he had three total in the game) and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1881788' first='Nibras' last='Harrison']</strong> and another 125 yards on the ground from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823085' first='Noah' last='Singletary']</strong> on just 12 carries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dillon obviously won that battle, going for 385 total on the ground compared to Manning's 204. But the old cliche about establishing the run will very much be the name of the game the second time around, too. Stevenson <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1811132' first='Daniel' last='Robinson']</strong> and sophomore <strong>Destin Thames</strong> will all be expected to contribute there. And so will the next player…</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> Manning junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2098785' first='Isaiah' last='Baxter']</strong> is in many ways one of the biggest glue guys on the entire Monarchs roster. When he's in pads, it means there's a no-doubt first option at tailback, sure, but it also means that he's able to take some of the pressure off his teammates needing to fill in for him in the backfield. He's missed some time lately, but it would make sense for him to get the start Friday at Dillon and counter act some of the grinding style the Wildcats possess that ofter benefits them in the late stages of games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27022540/6ac18659e57d6a6b9b432869u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af0ba3c319cb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 5 MARLBORO COUNTY (10-1) AT NO. 4 STROM THURMOND (10-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You can eliminate any debate about the biggest point of emphasis in this game. It's 100 percent how the Bulldogs' high-powered run game will be able to navigate on the ground against one of the state's top rush defenses. On one hand, you have a Marlboro County run game that has adjusted extremely well in the face of in-season attrition. Normal tailbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2163536' first='Tehvin' last='Easterling']</strong> (ankle) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816916' first='Khrishawn' last='Smith']</strong> (illness) haven't been at 100 percent, and Marlboro County was forced to employ linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818233' first='Jamorie' last='Williams']</strong> (pictured) in the offensive backfield some to make up for it here and there. Williams had 123 yards and all three touchdowns in the regular-season finale, a 21-14 win against Manning. He then added another score in the first-round win over Waccamaw, although Smith (818 yards, 10 touchdowns this year) was back and effective. He needed just eight carries to go for 74 yards and three touchdowns. Easterling (699 yards, 14 touchdowns) is still under the TBD tag for this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And let's not act like quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='776240' first='Tre' last='Blakeney']</strong> (722 yards, 12 touchdowns) isn't going to run it a good bit, too. Strom Thurmond, though, has proved it can handle some dynamic running games. The Rebels' defense held North Augusta and Abbeville to a combined seven points of offense during the early part of the season. They can have performances like that because of the number of players who are consistently involved. It's not simply top tacklers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422601' first='Wytrayvious' last='Dugar']</strong> and <strong>Bryson Mims</strong> racking up stops. <strong>Greg Moore</strong> <strong>Triston Simmons</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824925' first='Taylor' last='Collins']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1671490' first='Jaivaughn' last='Bellamy']</strong> and others are all names you'll consistently hear called over the PA system. The collective effort is why Strom Thurmond has been so elite against the run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Underclassman Influence:</em></strong> There's no telling what the Marlboro County offense looks like without freshman receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2401000' first='Carson' last='Roberts']</strong> and everything he's been able to do this year. No, his tallies on his receptions (30) or yards (668) aren't going to blow anyone away. But considering that those 30 catches netted 10 touchdowns, they should. Roberts has speed to spare, and while opposing teams have clearly made him a priority, he's still putting up solid numbers more often than not. That includes five receptions for 95 yards against Waccamaw in the opening round. All it takes is one missed coverage for Roberts to make the mistake really hurt. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27042313/6ad4b3c46b5e77a19ff8989du0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af0ba3c31a16"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 6 WOODLAND (9-2) AT NO. 3 PHILIP SIMMONS (8-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our second regular-season rematch of the Lower State second-round games has all the makings of pure electricity. The Iron Horses won 32-29 back on October 2, and that game was every bit of a eye-opening debut for one freshman. Tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2470191' first='James' last='Shultz']</strong> made his first varsity game one to remember for everyone. He ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the narrow win. And Philip Simmons has continued to feed him the ball. The next fewest yards he's had in any game since then was the 139 he had against Battery Creek to close out the regular season. And his 890 yards and 15 scores in six games means Woodland might want to be better prepared this time around; granted, it helps actually having film on him. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wolverines are still going to use defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2419490' first='Jeremie' last='Jean']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664573' first='George' last='Perry']</strong> to keep tabs on quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821540' first='Hayes' last='Goddard']</strong> and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822035' first='Ashton' last='Kellermann']</strong> throughout the night. Those two warrant all the attention they've garnered after nearly two full seasons of dominating production. But with Shultz now looking like a seasoned veteran, it's a much more difficult task. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Staying on the Field:</em></strong> The Wolverines love to rotate ball carriers like crazy. Salley and fellow senior <strong>TJ Leary</strong> both get their runs, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817899' first='Kaiyan' last='Thompson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2165113' first='Khalin' last='Bryant']</strong> may ultimate be of a bigger need. The two sophomores finished with just shy of 1,000 yards on the ground during the regular season and either of them easily could flirt with that figure as a feature back. Woodland will ride a hot hand, but the two of them keep pushing each other for touches and have continued to earn them, even when one of the others is producing. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26546396/6ae75ecb557c90f1df5452d4u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af0ba3c31a4e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NO. 7 ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON (9-2) AT NO. 2 SALUDA (8-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And because the ground game theme wasn't already prevalent in Round 2, we are going to sprinkle in one last really good example. A year after Orangeburg-Wilkinson was throwing the ball an average of 21 times per game, the Bruins and quarterback <strong>Brendan Peoples</strong> have given everyone a different look this season. We were on hand to see the next example of it Friday, when Peoples and senior tailback <strong>Tyrene Taylor</strong> combined for 291 yards and three rushing touchdowns in a win against Lake Marion to advance. O-W used a heavy package with multiple extra offensive linemen to pull it off, and you better believe they'll do so again some against Saluda, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tigers quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1909406' first='Avery' last='Coyle']</strong> (2,109 yards, 29 touchdowns) has been electric in his first year with the program, and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1802495' first='Darryl' last='Hill']</strong> is on the cusp of a 1,000-yard season. Package that with Prep RedZone Player of the Year semifinalist <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823625' first='Tristan' last='Daniels']</strong> (1,381 yards, 23 touchdowns rushing) and Orangeburg-Wilkinson is almost assuredly going to try to control the clock. The Bruins won't want to get into a shootout on the road against a team that's had a week off to recover from the bumps and bruises of the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> The Bruins are going to need senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820128' first='Elijah' last='Davis']</strong> to do all the things he does well in this one. From starting at corner to being the second-best receiver on the roster in terms of catches, yards and scoring to flipping the field on returns, Davis has been dangerous in spurts. Saluda's going to try to throw the ball a good bit, meaning the first priority is Davis' defensive capabilities, but the other stuff may end up being just as important. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20502050/6aef63c67f1d8ab12f0edb70u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6af0ba3c31a80"} /-->