Class A Quad 3 and 4 First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Momentum is up for grabs this week in the SCHSL's largest classification in terms of membership.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Debate has continued to rage throughout sports about the merits of a bye week to open the postseason. On the one hand, it's an opportunity to heal up some bumps and bruises to get as close to 100% as possible for a potential title run. On the other, it's a week off to potentially get rusty while next week's opponent gets things going in the right direction with a first-round victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nowhere in the state is that on display more than in Class A, which between its two divisions has 40 teams in the postseason but only four games on this week's schedule for round one in Quadrants 3 and 4. That means a lot of teams are hoping the theory about the benefits of the bye week will come true, while the winners of the following four games will look to carry those good vibes into at least one more Friday night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 18 ANDREWS (3-7) AT NO. 15 MARION (3-7)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of momentum, the lone matchup in Quads 3 and 4 in Division I features teams on fairly opposite ends of that spectrum. Marion started Region X-A play with consecutive wins over Mullins and Green Sea Floyds before back-to-back losses to Latta and Lake View, while Andrews has won three of its last five including a 28-27 win over Hannah-Pamplico in the regular-season finale. No. 2 seed Central awaits the winner of this one next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrews came into the season with plenty of returning talent at the skill positions but some question marks up front, but at this point all of those new starters on the lines have a full season under their belts. That's good news for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1827399' first='Avery' last='Durham'] and <strong>Colby Marlow</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1312753' first='Michael' last='Pembleton'] at the receiver spots, particularly against a Marion defense that, with do-it-all senior [player_tooltip player_id='1822042' first='Derion' last='Baccous'] leading the way, can get into the backfield and after the passer in a hurry. All of that pressure Baccous and linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1824195' first='Kameryn' last='Davis'] [player_tooltip player_id='1821489' first='Benjamin' last='Watford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1821491' first='Kaleb' last='Moore'] (pictured) can provide only opens things up for defensive backs like [player_tooltip player_id='1718520' first='Brennen' last='Wilson'] [player_tooltip player_id='1821488' first='Ka'Mari' last='Watson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1579223' first='Tyler' last='Nelson'] to make a play while the ball is in the air. [player_tooltip player_id='1844889' first='Dontavias' last='Dollard'] is the man to watch on both sides of the ball for Andrews, as he's a tone-setter on the offensive line and at middle linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor</em></strong>: Marion junior defensive back/wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1822045' first='Alex' last='Roberts'] came into the season perhaps as an unknown simply because of his more experienced and heralded teammates in the secondary, but he's made it clear this year that he can hurt offenses that think they can pick on him. Big momentum plays can swing a playoff game in a hurry, and Roberts has the potential to provide exactly that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 18 BETHUNE-BOWMAN (3-7) AT NO. 15 BAPTIST HILL (6-4)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Transitioning into Division II, we begin with another game featuring teams entering the postseason on opposite trajectories. Baptist Hill comes into this one with wins in three of its last four, while Bethune-Bowman took its lumps during a winless tour through a brutal Region VI-A. Second-seeded Lake View awaits the winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1691901' first='Maurice' last='Dawson'] does a bit of everything for Bethune-Bowman, and his abilities as a solid rushing threat who can also put it in the air can come in handy this week. Freshman <strong>Jy Keitt</strong> can handle his fair share of carries, too, and is a threat coming out of the backfield as a receiver and also on defense in the secondary. [player_tooltip player_id='1649870' first='Anthony' last='Hall'] racks up tackles, while [player_tooltip player_id='2163611' first='John' last='Mason'] and <strong>Brice Fleming</strong> do a good job of getting after the QB. [player_tooltip player_id='2106793' first='Jordan' last='Mack'] is also a threat in the secondary, which will be a key matchup to watch in this one. Baptist Hill quarterback <strong>Brayden Franklin</strong> has passed for 20 touchdowns against only five interceptions, and making the passing attack even more potent is a run game with no shortage of ball carriers. <strong>Jamarie Nesbitt</strong> leads the way in that department, Franklin also runs it well, as do seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1036773' first='Lamar' last='Singleton'] and <strong>Kyilann Gordon</strong> in addition to freshman <strong>Elijah Walker</strong>. There's also no shortage of receiving targets, with Gordon leading the way. <strong>Kevin Simmons</strong> is a prolific sack artist, and he and freshman <strong>Troy Stuckey</strong> can put Bethune-Bowman behind the sticks in a hurry if the Mohawks can't put bodies on them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Two-Way Player to Watch</em></strong>: This one has to be Baptist Hill senior wide receiver/defensive back <strong>Kyilann Gordon</strong> simply because of the heater he's on from last week. In the Bobcats' 64-6 win over Military Magnet, Gordon scored five touchdowns - one receiving, two on interception returns, one on a fumble return and one on a punt return. In all, he was credited with 420 all-purpose yards. Bethune-Bowman will be watching him very closely, as will we.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/24991698/6aced244316ff195504b8f13u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae9e61e60123"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 19 LEWISVILLE (3-7) AT NO. 14 DENMARK-OLAR (5-5)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A trip to third-seeded Cross awaits the winner of this matchup of clashing styles. Denmark-Olar, shut out in back-to-back weeks to finish off the regular season, will look to get the power run game going, while Lewisville, winners of three straight before a loss to Fairfield Central in the regular-season finale, features a balanced offense with loads of scoring ability on the outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That Denmark-Olar rushing attack means a healthy dose of [player_tooltip player_id='1824848' first='Nyheem' last='Brimfield'] <strong>Jamari McMillan</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1817630' first='Travine' last='Felder'] coming out of the backfield, which should draw the full attention of Lewisville defenders like linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1823987' first='Jayden' last='Simpson'] LB/DL <strong>Avery Feaster</strong> and safety [player_tooltip player_id='1674012' first='Jax' last='MacAlpine'] to try to make stops in the backfield. Six different Lions have at least one interception, but opportunities likely won't be plentiful in this one. Lewisville quarterback <strong>Matthew Cousar</strong> has 1,333 yard with 10 touchdowns, and <strong>Cedric Spence</strong> leads a receiver group with no shortage of options. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='2468227' first='AJ' last='Price'] is only 16 yards shy of 1,000, and to cross that threshold he'll have to avoid being stopped by Brimfield, [player_tooltip player_id='1821778' first='Dilan' last='Hammonds'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817626' first='Cornelius' last='Hammond'] behind the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Unranked Player Set to Shine</em></strong>: It's likely going to take everything [player_tooltip player_id='1824848' first='Nyheem' last='Brimfield'] has in order for Denmark-Olar to win, and luckily for the Vikings he's the kind of guy who gives everything he has every time out. The junior has rushed for 583 yards and seven touchdowns, and on defense he has 29 tackles for loss with seven sacks. Now's his chance to make that kind of impact in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23371641/6ae09f083723f47e9700a909u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae9e61e60163"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NO. 22 DIXIE (4-6) at NO. 11 HARDEEVILLE (6-3)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vying for a trip to face sixth-seeded Johnsonville are Dixie and Hardeeville programs with solid showings in their respective regions. Dixie is riding the wave from back-to-back wins over Calhoun Falls and Ware Shoals into the postseason, while Hardeeville's lone blemish in Region VII-A was a seven-point loss last week to Hampton County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dixie won't throw it a ton, but the Hardeeville secondary will still have to respect the potential for <strong>Tate Chadwick</strong> to loft one over the top to [player_tooltip player_id='1823497' first='Will' last='Carter'] or another one of the Hornets' home-run threats. TJ Washington finished the regular season as the leading rusher, with [player_tooltip player_id='1824807' first='AJ' last='Yeargin'] and the freshman duo of <strong>Alontae Lyday</strong> and <strong>Lane Waters</strong> also chipping in quality carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1824509' first='Ericsson' last='Gray'] leads the Dixie defense, and he has plenty of help when it comes to getting into the opposing backfield. He and the Hornets will have their eyes set on Hardeeville leading rusher [player_tooltip player_id='2458653' first='Joniathan' last='Greene'] and dual threats like <strong>Emiliano Santiago</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='2456608' first='Kyrell' last='Jamison'] in the backfield. Greene and [player_tooltip player_id='2401248' first='Travon' last='Harris'] lead the defense in tackles for loss, with Harris leading the team in sacks by a slight margin over <strong>Damian Gillyard</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor</em></strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='2456608' first='Kyrell' last='Jamison'] nearly willed Hardeeville to a win over Hampton County last week, so if anyone's going to put the team on his back and carry the Hurricanes to a playoff win it's going to be him. He led the team in passing and rushing last week and also caught a pass, and we fully expect Hardeeville to do everything it can to make sure he touches the ball as frequently as possible in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23206808/6ae5762b2a67bb8c25a274adu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ae9e61e60189"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->