Class 1A Lower State Playoff Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Did you feel that fresh breeze of cold air today? It's playoff time in the Lowcountry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And the battle for Class 1A supremacy is as wide open as ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's preview the matchups for the Lower State bracket starting Friday night.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 St. John's (3-7) at #1 Johnsonville (6-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Flashes finished on top of Region VII-1A despite the Week 10 loss to Hemingway, and they should start strong in the postseason on Friday night with some motivation too. Veteran quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997242' first='Malik' last='Shippy']</strong> is an agile and athletic quarterback who can be tough to hold down, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997329' first='Neal' last='Martin'] </strong>has become a powerful anchor at running back at 5-11 and 215 pounds. The Islanders will need a productive game on both sides from hard-nosed running back and linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='413888' first='Josh' last='Brown'] </strong>alongside versatile defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1336760' first='Tra'Sean' last='White']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Lake View (6-3) at #2 Whale Branch (7-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After a tough loss to Region VII-1A champion Bamberg-Ehrhardt a week prior, Jerry Hatcher's Whale Branch Warriors will stay at home to face a solid Lake View squad. Senior <strong>KJ Chisholm </strong>leads the squad on both sides as a hybrid quarterback/wideout and a lockdown defensive back. <strong>Bradford Thompson</strong> and his Warrior line will look to bounce back against a Gators offense featuring a quick and agile back in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321060' first='Tyrell' last='Foxworth']</strong> and versatile 6-foot-5 tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012841' first='Daniel' last='Ray']</strong> who can open up the run game and provide height as a target downfield.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 Branchville (4-5) at #1 Lamar (7-3)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Winners of six straight heading into the postseason, the Lamar Silver Foxes will host Branchville to begin their 1A playoff run. The Silver Foxes have won with their defense this year led by quick and reliable linebacker <strong>Freddy Cruz </strong>and powerful defensive end <strong>Nazir Stevenson </strong>who paces the team with 11 tackles for loss. Sophomore sensation <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce'] </strong>has been outstanding at quarterback and has yet to commit an interception this year, but Branchville's 310-pound <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360001' first='Khasean' last='Saldano']</strong> will look to change that by putting pressure on the Lamar signal-caller.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Carvers Bay (4-6) at #2 Baptist Hill (4-6)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Always a tough team to knock out in the postseason, Baptist Hill will get the luxury of starting off at home against Carvers Bay. The Bobcats run a high-octane passing attack led by senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340393' first='Harold' last='Gathers']</strong> who isn't afraid of slinging the ball downfield to athletic targets <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254034' first='Romaine' last='Grant'] </strong>and <strong>Jaden Douglas</strong> among others. Carvers Bay has what it takes to pull off the road victory if the two-way line of <strong>Bakari Grice </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402516' first='Zyon' last='Guiles'] </strong>can produce and give time for senior <strong>Kenneth Bateman </strong>to work in the pocket.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 Hannah-Pamplico (3-7) at #1 Bamberg-Ehrhardt (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Raiders were in top form on Friday to capture the Region VII-1A title at Whale Branch, and the good times should continue at home this week. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997288' first='Nick' last='Folk']</strong> is an electric runner with excellent vision and power, and two-way star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142485' first='Jamie' last='Downing']</strong>'s burst in the backfield or at linebacker is difficult to contain. Hannah-Pamplico will need dynamic defensive end <strong>Jaquann Bryant </strong>to step up on the line while center <strong>Brandon Cox</strong> provides strong blocking, which could prove tough against Bamberg's tremendous nose guard <strong>Yzorion Washington</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Military Magnet (3-7) at #2 East Clarendon (4-5)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's the biggest moment yet for quarterback <strong>Rod Shaw</strong> and his East Clarendon Wolverines to open the postseason. Sophomore <strong>Jaylon Barron </strong>has been outstanding on the offensive line this year and could be the difference to open things up for Shaw to find production alongside hard-nosed senior back <strong>Jyre Fulton</strong>. The Wolverines have been tough to face on defense thanks to standout 275-pound defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1140501' first='Xavier' last='Smith']</strong>, giving a challenge to reliable Military Magnet tight end <strong>Tegan Evans </strong>to open space for speedy backs <strong>Jaylen Waters </strong>and <strong>Jamile Ancrum</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#4 Hemingway (2-7) at #1 Cross (9-1)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maybe one of the biggest dark horses in all of Class 1A, the Cross Trojans come into the playoffs with nine straight wins and a defense that has pulled off an incredible five straight shutouts. The Trojans should be relentless again on Friday with beastly junior linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360328' first='Preston' last='Fuller'] </strong>alongside budding sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant']</strong> all with nine or more tackles for loss. It will take a special effort from an always hard-working Hemingway offensive line led by athletic two-way junior <strong>Xavier Washington</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>#3 Allendale-Fairfax (4-6) at #2 Latta (9-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Just a one-score loss to Lamar separating them from a perfect regular season, the Latta Vikings will bring an excellent defense with them into the Class 1A playoffs. <strong>Eli Jones' </strong>hunger and hustle on defense combined with the elite strength and tackling of 215-pound <strong>Micheal McKenzie</strong> has made this tough to beat. And the offense can wear opponents down with the tough running of 1,400-yard back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996926' first='Jamarion' last='Jones']</strong>, making it essential for dominant two-way Allendale lineman <strong>Zyshonne Rollins </strong>and running back <strong>Terry Wright </strong>to get going early on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->