Class 4A Lower State First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the Class 4A Lower State playoffs kick off, it could be the beginning of an absolute bloodbath of a postseason in perhaps the state's most competitive division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The street fights begin Friday night with one rematch and three fresh matchups that provide plenty of intrigue, while top seeds Hilton Head, Lugoff-Elgin, North Augusta and South Florence get to sit back and watch for another week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Some tremendous offensive talents will be on display in round 1, but they'll run up against some dominant defenses, and something has to give. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Style points no longer matter. Rankings are irrelevant. It's time to survive and advance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a closer look at the four games on tap in round 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 9 DREHER (7-3) AT NO. 8 WILSON (6-4)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since a September slump, the Tigers have been locked in, finishing a perfect October with an 18-13 upset of South Florence on the road in Week 11. Every contest during the four-game win streak has been decided by 12 points or fewer, so Wilson has plenty of experience in tight games and is riding the momentum of Friday's big win on a game-winning touchdown pass from 2030 QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2341375' first='Na'Bryson' last='Elliot']</strong> to 2029 WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2341379' first='Mark' last='Law']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilson's run defense has been outstanding all season — the Tigers were the only team to shut down Hampton County RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717939' first='Nigil' last='Fripp']</strong> holding him to 3.8 yards per carry (he averages 9.3 for the season) — so Dreher's running back duo of 2030 <strong>Ashton Felder</strong> and 2029 <strong>Yanis West</strong> could find tough sledding on the ground against a defensive front led by 2028 DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1856928' first='JaBron' last='McFadden']</strong> and 2029 LB <strong>Quiyon Bryant</strong>. Both Felder and West are solid receivers out of the backfield, though, providing check-down options for senior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1515057' first='Aiden' last='Fitzgerald']</strong> when favorite target 2028 WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2467348' first='Terry' last='Cantlow']</strong> can't get open.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dreher's defensive front is strong, as well, featuring 2028 DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2177594' first='Marcus' last='Davis']</strong> and 2029 DL <strong>Nigel McLamore</strong>, as well as 2027 LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823548' first='Joseph' last='Pohlmann']</strong>. The Blue Devils' defense has had some difficulty defending the pass at times this season, and the secondary will be tested again Friday. The Tigers have used two quarterbacks often this season, mixing in a series here and there for senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822810' first='Rasean' last='Wilson']</strong> to complement Elliot, and both have the capability to do damage with their arm or their legs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Regardless of who is under center, the Tigers have a strong receiving corps led by senior speedster <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820290' first='Kayden' last='Bethea']</strong> and the versatile sophomore Law, and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2222398' first='Amaure' last='Austin']</strong> and 2029 RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106765' first='Zyier' last='Lyde']</strong> have the benefit of running behind a powerful offensive line. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820300' first='Kaleb' last='Carroll']</strong> is the leader up front along with a trio of juniors — <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819145' first='Ahmad' last='Pagan'] [player_tooltip player_id='1821703' first='Censeir' last='Cooper']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821698' first='Jordan' last='Owens']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> Perhaps the game's most critical matchup is Fitzgerald and Dreher's passing game against Wilson's secondary. Fitzgerald is a prototypical pocket-passer with a big arm, but he can also do damage with his legs when a play breaks down. The Tigers will need typically strong play from 2027 S <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1640595' first='Da'von' last='Bowman']</strong> and 2029 DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2370987' first='Joseph' last='Wilson']</strong>, the most likely culprits to add to Fitzgerald's minuscule interception total.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19699648/6ae68d1fff2c2812649bf992u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae8a360832b9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 12 NORTH MYRTLE BEACH (6-4) AT NO. 5 LUCY BECKHAM (7-3)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It feels a bit like two ships will pass in the night Friday in Mount Pleasant. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chiefs have lost four straight after a 6-0 start and limped into the playoffs ahead of rival Myrtle Beach despite a 55-21 loss to the Seahawks in Week 11, while the Bengals roar into November having won four straight on the strength of a punishing ground game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After being blanked 14-0 by Hilton Head, Lucy Beckham rolled through the remainder of its region slate in style, scoring 47 or more points in its next four games and outscoring opponents 204-64. The driving force has been the one-two punch of 2027 RB <strong>Henry Hankins</strong> and 2030 RB <strong>Walon Walker</strong> - both of whom are stacking up 100-yard games despite sharing the load. Georgia commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1667798' first='Ty' last='Johnson']</strong> is the best-known of the big boys up front who make it possible, but he is surrounded by talent, including 2028 C <strong>David Nutter</strong> and 2029 G <strong>Jake Fredericks</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Slowing down a red-hot rushing attack will be a tough task for the Bengals' front led by 2027 DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822564' first='Dustin' last='Clement']</strong> and 2028 NG <strong>Jeremiah Whyte.</strong> They'll need a lot of help from the linebacking corps led by senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820054' first='Jimmy' last='McCullough']</strong> and junior <strong>Cam Jordan</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals don't look to the air often, but 2029 QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106764' first='Alex' last='Clamp']</strong> can make a defensive back pay for letting his eyes drift into the backfield, and he has a reliable target in 2027 WR <strong>Boden Zeifert</strong> — though Zeifert will have a tough time getting much space against a Chiefs secondary that is the strength of the defense. Senior DBs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1673915' first='Reo' last='Stevenson']</strong> (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822557' first='Bannon' last='Hill']</strong> can lock down one side of the field, and both are ball hawks who can flip the momentum in an instant.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On offense, the Chiefs lean heavily on senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824442' first='Jayden' last='Wilson']</strong> and the ground game, though NMB's sophomore quarterback duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823442' first='Mason' last='Walker']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816395' first='Evan' last='Barrett']</strong> are both capable of making plays with their arms or their legs. They might need to get the passing game going against a Lucy Beckham defense that has been stingy against the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals' linebacking corps is especially strong with junior [player_tooltip player_id='2098787' first='Jake' last='Grantham'] leading the team in tackles while senior [player_tooltip player_id='2045834' first='Dewey' last='Bull'] is coming off a monster game against Colleton County. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If it comes down to a field goal at the end, both teams have capable kickers in North Myrtle Beach's [player_tooltip player_id='1817711' first='Nico' last='Miller'] and Lucy Beckham's <strong>Billy Thurber.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The X-Factor:</em></strong> If there's one player who could single-handedly flip this game on its head, it might be versatile senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1673915' first='Reo' last='Stevenson']</strong> from North Myrtle Beach. Not only is Stevenson a lockdown corner with five picks, including a pick-six, this season, but he's also a lethal kick returner. The Chiefs routinely start with excellent field position because Stevenson averages 40 yards per return, and he's taken two to the house — the type of play that can fuel a playoff upset. And don't be surprised if he jumps in at receiver, too. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19899299/6a973433c30c5a0db24c9173u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae8a360832e9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 10 MAY RIVER (6-4) AT NO. 7 CONWAY (5-5)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Must-win mode is nothing new for the Sharks and the Tigers, both of whom have had their backs against the wall for a while. A pair of lopsided losses put the Sharks in a tough spot, needing to win their final two games to have a shot at slipping into the playoffs, and they rose to the challenge with wins over Beaufort and Bluffton. A three-game skid that included losses in their first two region contests left the Tigers needing three straight wins to close out the regular season, and they too were up to the task.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Something has to give Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both offenses look to run the ball first, so this could be one of the first final scores to come across Friday night, as Conway consistently feeds bell cow back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1331923' first='Gabriel' last='Williams']</strong> and May River counts on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1763191' first='Tony' last='Cooper']</strong> to carry much of the load. With that said, Tigers' QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820949' first='Makhai' last='Canty']</strong> and Sharks' QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1763286' first='Luc' last='Tran']</strong> are both run-first quarterbacks who can do damage through the air if they pick their spots wisely.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tran is coming off the best passing game of his career, going 13-of-18 for 243 yards and three touchdowns in a 33-19 win over Bluffton in Week 11, and he's begun to develop a consistent rapport with receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1763246' first='Justin' last='Head']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820468' first='Jordan' last='Wise']</strong>. Likewise, Canty can make defenses pay for overcommitting to the run, and he has some capable receivers in <strong>Taraj Green</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2416182' first='Diezel' last='Smith']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ultimately, though, this one is likely to be decided in the trenches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1764536' first='Ethan' last='Hames']</strong> leads a strong offensive line for May River, while center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816980' first='Dakota' last='Burnette']</strong> anchors the offensive line that has opened the holes for Williams' record-breaking season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whichever defense can hold its own the best in the trenches is likely to survive and advance. For Conway, it starts with nose tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1823553' first='Sakai' last='McLendon'], but the Tigers' entire front seven will need to be on top of its game to slow down the ground game fueled by Cooper and Tran. The strength of the Sharks' defense is the linebacking corps led by [player_tooltip player_id='1763272' first='Michael' last='Poole'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1763266' first='Brayden' last='Harris'], but May River will need its defensive line to play one of its best games of the season to have any hopes of bottling up Williams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The X-Factor:</em></strong> While ground and pound will be the theme of the night, it could be the sneaky passing games that make all the difference. If either team can hit a big pass or two down the field, it could open up the running game and flip the script. Tran is coming off his best passing game of his career, in large part because of the emergence throughout the season of Wise and Head, a pair of dangerous weapons who have added a new dimension to the Sharks' offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23005298/6ac502e327457f9612f342acu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae8a360832fc"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 11 SOUTH AIKEN (6-4) AT NO. 6 IRMO (7-3)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After three losses in their first six games, there were some worries around the state about the Yellow Jackets, but any indication of Irmo's fall-off has since subsided with four straight impressive wins, including back to back shutouts to close the regular season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first of those four straight wins came against the Thoroughbreds, as Irmo handled South Aiken 38-14 on the road on Oct. 9 with the aid of six turnovers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo's defense has pitched four shutouts on the season, no surprise considering the wealth of talent the Yellow Jackets have on that side of the ball. The senior trio of <strong>CJ Currence [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings']</strong> has combined for 55 tackles for loss, and Bryant and Jennings have 30 sacks between them. Irmo has 21 takeaways on the season, including three picks apiece for <strong>Antoine Pierce</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604012' first='Jamar' last='Grissett']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>All of that adds up to some tough sledding for South Aiken's offense, which has shown great balance all season but couldn't muster much in the first meeting. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1704301' first='Tommy' last='Burns'] III</strong> had one of his more difficult games, throwing a pair of interceptions, and running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1654810' first='Drelyn' last='Brown']</strong> managed only 43 rushing yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things will have to be dramatically different this time around for the T-breds to pull off the upset, not only on offense, but on defense as well. South Aiken needs pass rushers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172344' first='Ray' last='Harris']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615072' first='Levar' last='Gilchrist']</strong> and game-wrecker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822589' first='Connor' last='Hamilton']</strong> to play out of their minds to slow down Irmo's powerful offense. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1856841' first='Britton' last='Davis']</strong> is a surgeon who has compiled 22 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819339' first='Xzayviaun' last='Chew']</strong> can do damage on the ground for an Irmo team that averages 41.5 points per game. Phillips has some dangerous weapons, as WRs <strong>Demarion Arrington</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1820287' first='Ethan' last='Singletary'] each have at least five touchdown receptions this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>The X-Factor:</em></strong> If the Thoroughbreds want to flip the script and have a chance to win this game, it might fall on their excellent secondary to do something out of this world. Davis has thrown only seven picks all season, but South Aiken's DBs have been uncharitable, racking up 10 interceptions and 30 pass breakups, and if <strong>Jadon Moore</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1820077' first='Bralyn' last='Bodie'] and Co. can come up with some big plays to earn their offense more possessions, perhaps they can stay in the fight and have a chance at the end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19636634/6ab2f7288a0c36f24d8fae6cu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae8a3608330e"} /-->