Top Matchups To Watch For Weekend Of Champions

We've made it to the Weekend of Champions and it's time for the best of the best to put on a showcase for the state. We have 12 teams vying for six state championship trophies and here we're going to look at the matchups that could determine the winner or loser in a lot of these games.   In this space, we will look at key areas and key players that need to be successful to be the one hoisting their respective classifications trophy at the end of the game.   Let's get to it.   CLASS 2A, CLINTON (11-2) VS BARNWELL (13-1), THURSDAY 2:00 PM   Let's face it. A team doesn't run for 4,440 yards and nearly 60 touchdowns without the big guys up front. Clinton certainly fits that bill with three of the five starters on the offensive line being seniors. It starts with the talented center [player_tooltip player_id='241184' first='Rion' last='Gordon'] but he's far from the only one. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1360221' first='Cal' last='Pitts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1247389' first='Hunter' last='Lawson'] lock down the left side of the line with juniors Jared Honeycutt and [player_tooltip player_id='1165753' first='Tre' last='Aiken'] lining up on the right side. They've mauled and smashed enough defenders to ride into the state championship game with eight wins in a row and averaging 46.5 points per game during that stretch. If [player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook'], [player_tooltip player_id='1012830' first='Tushawan' last='Richardson'], DJ Clark and [player_tooltip player_id='1603772' first='Rhett' last='Gilliam'] can control possessions and move the chains, the Red Devils will be in good shape.   Barnwell will try to combat that rushing attack with a solid front seven. The Warhorses have not allowed more than 20 points in a game but twice this season and are allowing 10.3 points per game on average. The linebacker group of Logan Sturkie (60 tackles, six sacks) and Jeremiah Eady (52 tackles) are fast and physical. The front line is hard to move and makes a ton of tackles at the line of scrimmage. William Robinson (76 tackles) and Jaelin Carter (42 tackles) control the middle with Adrian Saxon and Henri Creech coming off the corners. Add in defensive backs Jordan Pepples and [player_tooltip player_id='1254065' first='Lex' last='Thomas'] to the mix and the Warhorses are more than capable of putting up a good run stoppage game.      CLASS A, ABBEVILLE (12-1) VS CROSS (12-2), THURSDAY 7:30 PM   This one could be billed as the team that never turns the ball over against the team that creates havoc and forces teams into mistakes. Abbeville has three rushers with over 900 yards of total offense and a passer nearing the 1,000-yard mark but the Panthers have suffered just three turnovers on the season – all fumbles. Demarcus Leach leads the attack as the quarterback, and he has 917 yards rushing to go along with 996 yards passing with 34 total touchdowns. Despite rarely ever coming off the field, Leach hasn't had a turnover this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1249809' first='Karson' last='Norman'] has 1,577 yards in offense with 18 TDs while [player_tooltip player_id='1700046' first='Darius' last='Riley'] has 1,147 yards and 16 touchdowns. Jaden Baylor has 288 receiving yards and five touchdowns without losing possession.   Cross on the other hand has forced 43 turnovers. The Trojans have the state's interception leader in [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'] with 13, including three last week in the state semifinals. [player_tooltip player_id='1360328' first='Preston' last='Fuller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones'] each have two interceptions with Lavell Joyner, [player_tooltip player_id='1172364' first='Mah'ky' last='Green'], Jakari Wright and [player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall'] adding one each. Jones leads the way with seven fumble recoveries with Ramsey adding three. [player_tooltip player_id='1639766' first='William' last='Grant'], [player_tooltip player_id='1422583' first='Khalil' last='Levine'], [player_tooltip player_id='1639807' first='Michael' last='Bennett'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] have two each with Fuller, Wright, Jimmy Smith and Jakobe Jones adding one each. Cross is averaging forcing three turnovers a game and if they can force Abbeville to give the ball up, that will play right into their hands.          CLASS 5A DIVISION I, DUTCH FORK (12-0) VS SUMMERVILLE (13-0), FRIDAY 2:00 PM   The battle between the Silver Foxes and Green Wave will be the only matchup of the weekend between two undefeated teams. Dutch Fork has done it on both sides of the ball, but this defensive squad might go down as one of the best in the program's history. Dutch Fork is making its 12th title game appearance under Tom Knotts, and they have eight championship trophies already in the case. Thanks to a defense that has pitched a school-record six shutouts and allowed just 73 points on the season, there is a reason for optimism on the Silver Foxes sideline. That unit is led by South Carolina signee [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] at linebacker, but he has plenty of help around him. [player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters'] and Jarvis Jackson help Smith at linebacker with [player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1463245' first='Luciano' last='Cesario'], Michael Steed and Daniel Williams forming a wall up front. Add in Georgia Tech signee [player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions'] in the secondary along with [player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1254033' first='Derek' last='Smith'] shows why Dutch Fork has been so successful this season.   Summerville has been an offensive juggernaut all season. In the 12 games they completed (one was halted at halftime), the Green Wave averaged 45.5 points and only scored less than 35 points one time. It starts with [player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings'] (2,329 yards, 30 TDs and one interception). But in recent weeks, sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] has come on strong and been a heavy piece of the offense. He's run for 1,877 yards and 24 touchdowns and is getting better by the week. Cummings has added 536 yards as Summerville has rushed for 3,228 yards this season. Jaiden Kelly-Murray has been the top wide receiver with 75 catches for 1,050 yards and 11 touchdowns. Carson Guinn (25-362-4) and [player_tooltip player_id='402496' first='Kemori' last='Deweese'] are both becoming a bigger part of the passing game with the loss of [player_tooltip player_id='1249768' first='Keshon' last='Washington'] to injury late in the regular season.    CLASS 4A, WESTSIDE (13-0) VS SOUTH FLORENCE (11-3), FRIDAY 7:30 PM   A little over a year ago, South Florence held a two-score lead over Westside in the fourth quarter, but the Rams had QB [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods'] on their sideline. Woods engineered two fourth quarter drives and threw the game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds remaining to give Westside the 34-32 victory. Now these two teams will meet again, and the Bruins will need to find a way to slow down Woods and company. The South Carolina signee might be better than he was a season ago. Woods has thrown for 3,048 yards and 37 touchdowns with just three interceptions. He's added 231 yards rushing. [player_tooltip player_id='1157819' first='Sharode' last='Richardson'] had two rushing scores in the championship game last season and he's back with 1,111 yards rushing and 18 scores. But the receiving corps was revamped in the offseason with two transfers, [player_tooltip player_id='272708' first='Chamarryus' last='Bomar'] (45 catches for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='272705' first='Armoni' last='Weaver'] (21 receptions, 420 yards in just eight games), becoming Woods top targets. Dreson Evans, De'masya Dawson and Richardson also are key contributors in a passing game that is hard to stop. The Rams are averaging over 48 points per game and their lowest point total of the season was 30 in the season opener.   What does South Florence try to do to combat those numbers? Well, they need pressure on Woods and have the secondary play lights out. The Bruins had four sacks in the semifinal win over North Augusta and if [player_tooltip player_id='1267265' first='Amare' last='Reaves'], [player_tooltip player_id='402485' first='Cameron' last='James'], [player_tooltip player_id='1157897' first='Cameron' last='Coe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='809742' first='Amare' last='Adams'] bring that type of pressure, it would bode well. Adams, a Clemson signee, has the best chance to rattle Woods and needs to be a huge presence in both the run and passing game. Reaves, Avan Rosado and [player_tooltip player_id='1743671' first='Gerkiem' last='Hall'] (team-best four interceptions) must play well, keep receivers in front of them and basically limit the yards after catch to a minimal number. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1592462' first='Willie' last='Kennedy'] (108 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'] (84 tackles) need to continue to do what they've done all season.    CLASS 3A, BELTON-HONEA PATH (13-1) VS OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE (10-3), SATURDAY 12:00 PM   When you start talking about spreading the wealth around, that's exactly what Oceanside Collegiate quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] does. The sophomore has a school-record 38 touchdown passes this season with three wide receivers accounting for most of those numbers. [player_tooltip player_id='809757' first='Will' last='Virgilio'] has 65 receptions for 1,030 yards and 10 touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1578702' first='Peyton' last='Shaw'] is next with 50 catches for 849 yards and 10 scores. Terrance Johnson didn't score until the fifth game of the season, but he also has 10 TD receptions to go along with 36 catches for 608 yards. You also can't forget about [player_tooltip player_id='1180863' first='Gavin' last='Gaspar'] and his 24 grabs for 330 yards and four scores. If Manavian can find time and distribute it all over the field like this, it will bode well for Oceanside Collegiate.   That type of offensive firepower will be difficult to keep up with, but Belton-Honea Path will use a monster pass rush and a talented secondary to try and offset the efforts of the Landsharks. The Bears have 34 sacks and 12 interceptions on the season. [player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon'] leads the defensive front with 10 sacks, but he has plenty of help. Ty Rainey is next with five sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='1556058' first='Tye' last='Kelly'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1603850' first='Kamarion' last='Glenn'] each have four sacks while [player_tooltip player_id='1372151' first='Jakyri' last='Anderson'] and Keylan Dixon check in with three apiece. Four defensive backs have multiple picks this season with Kelsey Miles leading the pack with four. Kelly has added three interceptions to go along with his four sacks. Anderson and Colby Bates each have two interceptions. That group is also responsible for the 34 passes defended on the season. If BHP limits the passing yards, advantage quickly goes into their favor.    CLASS 5A DIVISION II, NORTHWESTERN (13-0) VS IRMO (12-1), SATURDAY 6:00 PM   This game will feature the two quarterbacks for the Shrine Bowl to be played next week and they each bring a different element to the table as far as to how they've been successful. It might come down to who has the ball last between the Trojans [player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'] and the [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'], the Yellow Jackets signal-caller. Polk has thrown for 3,284 yards and 42 touchdowns while Brand has thrown for 2,449 yards and rushed for an additional 1,861 yards with a total of 53 touchdowns accounted for. Northwestern is averaging 50 points per game and have scored less than 35 points just once. Irmo has scored less than 35 points twice.     What needs to happen to slow those two down? Northwestern will need huge games from Jonathan Spurgeon, Tamarion Watkins, and Jayden Baxter in the secondary. They must find a way to slow Irmo wide receivers [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] (88 catches, 1,205 yards, 9 TDs) and [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'] (52 catches, 885 yards, 8 TDs). Up front, [player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'] (15 tackles for loss), [player_tooltip player_id='1360210' first='Mason' last='Grier'] (20 tackles for loss), Dmitri Putnam (10.5 tackles for loss) and Danija McMullen (10 tackles for loss) need to try to apply pressure on Brand and not let him get out of the pocket and run. If Brand does run, that's where [player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey'] (team-best 49.5 tackles) will likely come into play from his linebacker spot.   Matthew Blocker, [player_tooltip player_id='1604012' first='Jamar' last='Grissett'] and Darius Goodson will be asked to slow the Northwestern receivers that include [player_tooltip player_id='753896' first='Jayden' last='Nichols'] (68 receptions, 957 yards, 10 TDs), [player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance'] (61-962-14), TaDarrian Knox (37-510-9) and Daniel Caldwell (35-473-9). The three Irmo defensive backs have nine of the team's 11 picks this season. Polk doesn't run like Brand does so it will be crucial for defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] (18.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss) to keep pressure applied. Ethan Gamble and [player_tooltip player_id='1734510' first='Major' last='Taylor'] will also need to try to keep Polk from getting comfortable.

We've made it to the Weekend of Champions and it's time for the best of the best to put on a showcase for the state. We have 12 teams vying for six state championship trophies and here we're going to look at the matchups that could determine the winner or loser in a lot of these games.