Class A Lower State First Round Preview

At first glance, the Class A Lower State bracket appears to have two clear favorites in Lake View and Cross.   A closer look also shows other teams whose records may not reflect the high level of competition they faced during the season. This should make for not only more interesting than usual first-round matchups, but potentially dynamic second-round games.   Here's a look at Round One:   Green Sea-Floyds (1-9) at Cross (8-2)   The Region V-A champion Trojans enter the postseason with a six-game winning streak. Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl selection [player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones'] is a two-way nightmare for opponents. The 5-foot 9, 175-pound senior leads the team in rushing (1,306 yards, 25 touchdowns) and tackles (55). Sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1604028' first='Tyler' last='Harris'] is an effective passer in the pocket and has tall targets in 6-foot 5, 200-pound junior [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] and 6-foot 1, 177-pound senior [player_tooltip player_id='1360328' first='Preston' last='Fuller']. Like Jones, Ramsey is as productive on defense with eight of his team's 15 interceptions. He's played a role in the team collecting six shutouts and two straight to end the regular season. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] (53 tackles, five sacks) leads the defensive line and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant'] is a hard hitter at outside linebacker. Head coach Shawn Wright is not taking the Bears lightly despite their defense giving up an average of 41 points per game. Dy'lon White is 6-foot 3 and 320 pounds and pairs up with [player_tooltip player_id='1603727' first='Alex' last='Johnson'] upfront. Freshman quarterback Jack Shelley has height and runs when necessary and Judah Lee, Isaac Hewitt and Dakare Smith are the primary ball-carriers.   X-FACTOR: Senior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall'] may not have the size of his teammates upfront. He still makes his presence known on defense with 39 tackles and a sack. As seen against Bethune-Bowman, he can also drop back into coverage.    Ridgeland (6-4) at Scott's Branch (4-6)   The Jaguars rebounded from a 1-3 start to win five of their last six games. Weston Smith is a scrappy, elusive running back who stays low to the ground. Quarterback Taishaun Smith has a low number of passes, but his threat to run can keep teams honest. Semaj Hicks is a 6-foot 3, 170-pound wide receiver who has accounted for three of the Jaguars' five touchdowns. When not playing at halfback, Xavier Plowdeniz leads the team with 65 tackles. He's joined at linebacker by Michael Rodriguez, Devin Fields, and Ja'Angelo Forrest. Defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1639884' first='Cordell' last='Mclain'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1267316' first='Denardo' last='Henry'] provide an aggressive front for Ridgeland. The Eagles are led by quarterback Jaiven Conyers whose size and athleticism makes him a threat running and passing the football. Sophomores Quinton Jackson and Nyren Bowman are speedy targets at wide receiver and are key players on defense. Jackson had four interceptions to go with 42 tackles and Bowman is second on the team with 83 tackles and four sacks. The defensive line of Danny Ragin and Jeremiah Butler and linebacker Tyreek Taylor are aggressive tacklers who cover plenty of field space.      X-FACTOR: Wide receiver Christian Green is a 5-foot 11, 155-pound junior who provides a third option for Conyers to target with Jackson and Bowman. He also provides support in the secondary with three interceptions and 10 tackles.    Hannah-Pamplico (7-2) at Military Magnet (2-6)   The Raiders enter the post-season without leading running back [player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams'] (torn ACL). Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='922678' first='Wade' last='Poston'] will now take an expanded role in leading the offense. The tandem of Darius Williams and [player_tooltip player_id='1732664' first='Chris' last='Eldridge'] will manage the running back duties and will have an experienced offensive line with Mason Hanna, William Faulkenberry, Brandon Cox and Dewey Kimbrough. The Eagles two wins came over teams with a combined record of 1-19. Senior Tegan Evans is listed as a tight end but showed himself capable of playing on the defensive line.   X-FACTOR: With more of the offense in Poston's hands, wide receiver Tylin Jenkins could also see an increase in his production. The 6-foot 2, 162-pound senior has long arms, runs quick routes, and has a size advantage on most of the cornerbacks who defend him. He's also a formidable defender at defensive back.    Carvers Bay (4-6) at Denmark-Olar (3-6)   The Bears closed out the regular season with two straight dominating wins. Sophomore quarterback Christian Simmons is protected by a well-sized offensive line with tackle Robert Miller, guard Bakari Grice and center Rashad Williams-Sumpter. Carvers Bay has averaged 25 points per game but have allowed 23.5 points a contest. Kenard Heyward was the lone returning starter on defense and sees action on both sides of the football. The Vikings utilize several key players on both sides of the football. Top running back Robert Bovain is also one of the team's top players in pressuring the quarterback. Reginald Youmans is a leader upfront with Charleston Brown but will face a challenge with the Bears' size.   X-FACTOR: At 6-foot-5 and 295 pounds, Carvers Bay offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='402516' first='Zyon' last='Guiles'] is often the biggest player on the field. The list of school offers have grown since the summer as he's worked in the weight room to improve his strength, speed and conditioning. In addition to Guiles' line work, he also handles the team's kicking.    Bethune-Bowman (1-9) at Bamberg-Ehrhardt (6-2)   The Red Raiders can beat you both passing and running the football. On the ground, players like Demetrius Odom can pick up the tough yards and Marcus Odom is an effective pass-catcher out of the backfield. It's an experienced  offensive line with [player_tooltip player_id='1157986' first='Javaris' last='Logan'], Eric Stevens, Tristian Jenkins, and Brennan Glover. Logan is the team leader on a defense that's allowed eight points a game. In the team's two losses, they have allowed over 20 points. The Mohawks' lone win snapped a 24-game losing streak in region play and earned them a playoff berth. The offense is dominated by youth with freshman quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1691963' first='Jaedon' last='Bell'] and sophomore running back Jaquan Raysor and wide receivers Anthony Hall and [player_tooltip player_id='1691901' first='Maurice' last='Dawson'].   X-Factor: A North Carolina Central commit and Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl selection, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby'] is the team's ignition on offense. He has a quick, strong release which enables him to throw deep accurate passes. Crosby is also elusive enough to extend plays and find the open receiver under pressure. Early in the season, his young receivers had difficulty keeping up with his passes. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1214316' first='Charles' last='Anthony Williams'] will need to continue to come through for the Red Raiders to make another deep run.    Johnsonville (4-6) at Branchville (8-2)   The Flashes seek a ‘three-peat' in state title game appearances and their first state title since 1993. With the graduation of quarterback Mark Shippy and running back Travis Wilson, Johnsonville's offense has lacked the explosiveness of recent years. Quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1304767' first='Larkin' last='Powell'] and Takhari Ross have combined for 470 passing yards, five touchdowns and six interceptions. Ja'Mere Ross leads the team with 318 rushing yards and four touchdowns, followed by Jay McFadden with 301 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior linebacker Keith Davis racks up the tackles with 124, followed by junior Bricen Howell with 88. Defensive back Skylar Montgomery gets his hands on the football with eight pass breakups. This is the second all-time meeting between the two teams. The Yellow Jackets are one win away from posting their most wins since reviving football in 2008. The senior backfield of Ashton Preast and Caleb Smith run behind an experienced offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='1360001' first='Khasean' last='Saldano'] and Josh Wimberly. Quarterback Seth Shaw uses his mobility to extend plays for wide receivers Daniel Jennings and Mason McCormick. On defense, linebacker Copeland Hayden is the team's “field general” who gets his teammates in the right position. This is the second all-time meeting between the two schools. The first was also in the playoffs in 2021, a 42-41 win by the Flashes   X-FACTOR: At 5-foot 11 and 185 pounds, Caleb Smith provides the Yellow Jackets with quickness and toughness on both sides of the football. He shares the workload with Ashton Preast and also contributes at outside linebacker.    Baptist Hill (6-3) at Latta (5-5)   The Bobcats look to rebound from a 36-0 loss to Cross in the regular-season finale. Senior quarterback Johnquez Henderson has thrown for 1,027 yards and 13 touchdowns and 5-foot 4, 187-pound junior Martrell Wright has accounted for 10 touchdowns. Running backs Ki'Lyn Gordon and [player_tooltip player_id='1254034' first='Romaine' last='Grant'] have each rushed for five touchdowns. The defensive line is physical and possesses size at the ends with 6-foot 3, 187-pound senior Tay'Von Mann-Geddis (95 tackles, 14 sacks) and 6-foot 3, 217-pound junior [player_tooltip player_id='1592544' first='Jamarie' last='Haynes'] (101 tackles, six sacks). Despite graduating 15 seniors, the Vikings still managed to place third in Region VI-A. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1013065' first='Amir' last='Rogers'] is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl selection. He and Xy'mari Bethea present problems with their length and athleticism. Jacoby German and Enriquez Purnell more than hold their own on the defensive line and Kyree Williams and Logan Byrd are returning starters on the offensive line. Running back Makinley Wallace had four touchdowns in the regular season win over Johnsonville.    Hardeeville (3-7) at Lake View (8-1)   A one-point loss to Class 2A Mullins is the only blemish on the Gators' record this season. The offense is averaging 33.4 points per game. Senior quarterback Kason Herlong guides the offense behind an effective offensive line with Chris McGill, Lance Floyd and Farrion Seymore. The defense has posted three shutouts and held opponents to 7.7 points per game. Landon King is part of an aggressive linebacking corps with Keawe Jackson and [player_tooltip player_id='1732669' first='Seth' last='Deese']. The defensive line with Zydrrious Inman and Ashton Locklear are fierce pass rushers who also help contain the run. The Hurricanes closed out the regular season with two straight wins after a seven-game losing streak. Sophomore quarterback Emiliano Santiago has thrown just four touchdowns in eight games, two each to wide receivers Camari Brown and Dylan Pryor. Brown is also the leading tackler at defensive back   X-FACTOR: Whether is slipping through small openings or bouncing off tackles for a long run, senior [player_tooltip player_id='1321060' first='Tyrell' last='Foxworth'] is a difficult tailback to contain. Along with elusiveness and durability, the 5-foot 9, 180-pound senior has the speed to break a long run. He's also a receiving threat both out of the backfield and lined up at wideout.

At first glance, the Class A Lower State bracket appears to have two clear favorites in Lake View and Cross.