Class 4A Upper State First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A quest for a state championship that began back in August for teams around the state has reached its final weeks as November has arrived, signaling the beginning of the SCHSL playoffs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 4A Upper State bracket will feature just four games in Round 1, as the top 4 seeds (Gaffney, Westside, South Pointe, T.L. Hanna) received first round-byes. That leaves eight other teams who will go to battle on Friday to try and advance one step closer to the ultimate goal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's dive into those four games and highlight player that could be difference makers and game changers in Round 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 12 GREENWOOD (4-6) AT NO. 5 INDIAN LAND (8-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood will head into Friday a confident bunch after a 47-21 win in the final week of the regular season. If it hopes to have any success, it'll need to be the running back duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820235' first='Martavious' last='Hamilton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823975' first='Jamere' last='Jackson']</strong> that carry the load on offense. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825223' first='Shamar' last='Sayles']</strong> will also need to play well to help with the rushing attack from Hamilton and Jackson. Defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822753' first='Jayden' last='Logan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820252' first='Malik' last='Stevens']</strong> (pictured above) will have to play a big role to slow down what can be a high-powered Indian Land offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Land linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422617' first='Jackson' last='Conner']</strong> will be at the forefront of stopping that ground attack. He'll be joined by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822500' first='Jackson' last='Headley']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820000' first='Liam' last='Stephen']</strong> who are the top two tackle for loss leaders this season. Offensively, it'll be a duo of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia']</strong> through the air and running back <strong>Kylan Foye</strong> on the ground that are focal points of the game. Kucia has accounted for 2,030 passing yards and 31 touchdowns, while Foye has rushed for 997 yards and eight touchhdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-FACTOR - </em></strong>Kucia will have a plethora of options to throw to in Friday's game, but none may be more important than junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2044503' first='Maxwell' last='Curry']</strong> who despite missing a game, posted 606 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was just 17 yards off the team lead of 623 yards, but his 21.6 yards per catch average did lead the team. Curry can explode at any given moment, and he'll be a tough matchup to stop when gametime rolls around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21942085/6aad39256f7b81337b2dc70cu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aeaa0b8b0d6a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 9 FOUNTAIN INN (6-4) AT NO. 8 CATAWBA RIDGE (6-4)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you're wanting to see two high-powered offenses, this may be the game for you. Fountain Inn comes in averaging 28.9 points per game, while Catawba Ridge is averaging 32.1 points per game. It will be two potent offenses with playmakers all over the field. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Fountain Inn, that starts with a dynamic duo of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603971' first='Bojack' last='Johnson']</strong> out of the backfield. Holiday has accounted for 2,471 total yards (1,567 passing, 904 rushing) and 29 touchdowns (17 passing, 12 rushing). Jackson is second on the team in both rushing yards (426) and rushing touchdowns (3). The offensive attack doesn't stop there, as seniors <strong>Ben Ruwe</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825003' first='EJ' last='Lundy']</strong> combined for nearly 900 receivng yards and seven touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catawba Ridge can showcase its firepower right back and that will start with junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821552' first='Will' last='Gambrill']</strong> throwing the ball all over the field. In the regular season, Gambrill threw for 2,517 yards with 23 touchdowns, but also 15 interceptions. He has two outstanding receivers in <strong>Colton McCauley</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821553' first='Calvin' last='Rocheleau']</strong> that can be true gamechangers. There is a world where the pass game is disrupted, but that's where junior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1647568' first='Boston' last='Halpin']</strong> can step up and become impactful. Halpin rushed for 549 yards with 13 touchdowns in the regular season, both of which were easily the highest on the team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>UNDERCLASSMEN IMPACT -</em></strong> Even with both defenses struggling at times this season, there are potential gamechangers for both sides. No one may be more of an impact player on defense, though, than Fountain Inn's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2102066' first='Kameron' last='Johnson']</strong> at linebacker. During the regular season, Johnson racked up an impressive 114 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. If he's able to force a turnover or two and help steal possession, he'll give his team an excellent chance to win the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/27205277/6ae754780c2f29677fcffd6fu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aeaac8302999"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 10 LEXINGTON (6-4) AT NO. 7 FORT MILL (8-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much like the previous game preview, both the Lexington (28.8 ppg) and Fort Mill (34.1) offenses can put up points in a hurry. They do it a bit differently, though, something to keep an eye on throughout the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lexington's regular season was a very balanced attack, as it averaged 152.9 passing yards per game and 150.9 rushing yards per game. The passing attack is led by sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker']</strong> who threw for 1,489 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The ground game, though, is where a majority of the scoring comes from. Lexington scored 25 rushing touchdowns on the regular, 16 of which came from the duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1191778' first='Shannon' last='Lytes']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2210788' first='Noah' last='Dunn']</strong> who each had eight. Don't forget about the defense either, as the senior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820739' first='Cross' last='George']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818656' first='Charlie' last='Oates']</strong> are excellent at their linebacker positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fort Mill used a bit more of a passing attack, as it averaged 217.9 passing yards per game. Most of those came from junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2075873' first='Harper' last='Love']</strong> who finished the regular season with 2,100 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and nine interceptions. With a 53.5% completion percentage, there is a chance that he comes out slow, and the run game becomes the focal point. If that happens, junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266099' first='Broden' last='Mitcheson']</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2069899' first='Aiden' last='O'Hara']</strong> are more than equipped to handle that. Mitcheson and Ohara combined for 1,390 yards (92.1% of team total) and 21 touchdowns (95.4% of team total). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>THE MATCHUP WITHIN THE GAME - </em></strong>One of the most important things to keep an eye on in this one will be the Lexington passing attack against an outstanding defense. Fort Mill allowed just 15.4 points per game and had four players with multiple interceptions. Junior defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1648649' first='Jerrell' last='Douglas']</strong> and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823025' first='Deveian' last='Southward']</strong> were tied for the team lead with four each, while <strong>Aiden Welch</strong> had three and <strong>Keegan Heisler</strong> had two. If the secondary shows up and causes havoc, Fort Mill will be positioned well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 11 CHAPIN (5-5) AT NO. 6 HILLCREST (4-6)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams will enter Friday on completely different trajectories. Chapin has lost four of its last five games after beginning the season 4-1, while Hillcrest is winners of three straight after going 1-6 through its first seven games. That momentum is certainly something that could carry over for both sides but if it doesn't, let's look at some of the playmakers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Chapin, running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2210109' first='Charlie' last='Howell']</strong> will be the one to get the ball rolling. Howell rushed for 1,017 yards with 10 touchdowns, as well as collecting 17 catches for 126 yards. When it's not Howell making things go, it'll be quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824394' first='Tyler' last='Black']</strong> controlling the game. Black threw for 1,583 yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. He had two receivers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825267' first='Anderson' last='Stutts']</strong> and <strong>Connor Finney</strong> that are big-time playmakers and each hauled in five touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hillcrest offense will go as far as junior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1051192' first='Nydarrian' last='Allen']</strong> takes it. Allen rushed for 858 yards and nine touchdowns, both of which were by far the most on the team. The offense will have another element if quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604046' first='Jackson' last='Free']</strong> can get going and find his favorite targets <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149053' first='Luke' last='McCourry']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1724433' first='Kadyn' last='Stevenson']</strong> throughout the game. Of the 1,475 passing yards and 11 touchdowns from Free, the duo of McCourry and Stevenson combined for 950 of the yards and seven of the 11 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-FACTOR -</em></strong> 108 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, seven hurries, four sacks, four passes defended, one fumble recovery and one interception. Those are the numbers that Chapin's senior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1811070' first='Parker' last='Collins']</strong> posted this season. Collins is the true definition of a game wrecker, and it will be of utter importance that the Hillcrest offense do everything in its power to not let Collins affect the game like he is capable of.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16501407/6ac55b92627299bca270c6abu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aeac8e37aa31"} /-->