Week 9 GSPD Matchups That Craft Playoff Brackets

We can call this Moving Week on the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.    Between at least three games set to determine No. 1 seeds for the playoffs, several others that will determine home postseason contests and a few more than will result in playoff berths, we're going to start trimming the list of teams still playing in November this week.   The players behind all of those teams are all set for something special as a result. Let's get to a bunch of them.   MARLBORO COUNTY (6-2, 2-1) AT LORIS (8-0, 3-0)   Last year: Loris via forfeit   At stake: The Lions will earn the No. 1 seed out of Region V-3A with a win over Marlboro County. Thanks to potential tie-breakers, it wouldn't even matter if Loris fell next week. However, the Bulldogs can force a potential three-way tie for the top of the region (alone with Dillon) by pulling off the upset.    Top players: MC - DL [player_tooltip player_id='905534' first='Jaden' last='Ashe'] (34 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss) DL [player_tooltip player_id='651061' first='Patrick' last='Williams'] (27 tackles, 10 tackles for loss) LB Myjae McCoy (59 tackles, forced fumble, six tackles for loss) LB [player_tooltip player_id='1821221' first='Layton' last='Chavis'] (58 tackles) QB [player_tooltip player_id='776240' first='Tre' last='Blakeney'] (855 passing yards, 514 rushing yards, 13 total touchdowns). L - QB [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] (1,544 passing yards, 29 touchdowns; 260 rushing yards, two touchdowns) ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1656668' first='Khalid' last='Sherman'] (361 rushing yards, four touchdowns; 391 receiving yards, six touchdowns) WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1592447' first='Jacobien' last='Lewis'] (412 yards, eight touchdowns; 27 tackles) ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1821016' first='Khalil' last='Sherman'] (five interceptions, 201 receiving yards) LB/DL [player_tooltip player_id='473018' first='Landon' last='Conner'] (33 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, pictured)   Wildcard: Marlboro County senior [player_tooltip player_id='1823833' first='Tremayne' last='Ashford'] lost a bit of his snap county when tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1592270' first='Troy' last='Hailey'] made his way over from Darlington. But Ashford has still shown some flashes at times this fall. He put up 129 receiving yards against North Myrtle Beach and has rushed for at least 50 yards in three different games. Tack on some spot duty on defense and special teams, and Ashford could be a difference maker in this one.    MYRTLE BEACH (6-2, 3-0) AT CAROLINA FOREST (7-1, 3-0)   Last year: Carolina Forest 52-38   At stake: The Seahawks and Panthers were in this same spot a year ago, with the winner between the two earning the de facto Region V-5A title. However, different this time around is that storm delays leave this as a Week 9 matchup where the title will be earned immediately after the conclusion of the game, regardless of next week's results.    Top players: MB - RB [player_tooltip player_id='1823730' first='Michael' last='Cohen'] (745 yards, five touchdowns) RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='1267229' first='Antonio' last='Brown'] (323 yards, 13 touchdowns; 58 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss) LB Justyn Green (53 tackles) QB Tanner Gaddy (1,441 yards, 16 touchdowns, three interceptions) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1603757' first='Amare' last='Brown'] (388 yards, five touchdowns). CF - RB [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] (1,257 yards, 14 touchdowns) QB [player_tooltip player_id='284135' first='Kamren' last='Long'] (1,278 yards, 19 touchdowns, three interceptions; 261 rushing yards, five touchdowns) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1820976' first='Nick' last='Zincone'] (673 yards, eight touchdowns) WR [player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell'] (313 yards, five touchdowns) DB [player_tooltip player_id='1596856' first='Jayden' last='Alston'] (43 tackles, seven interceptions)   Wildcard: Myrtle Beach defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1395042' first='Malachi' last='Gethers'] (35 tackles, 10.5 TFL) is going to be tested against the Panthers' offensive line unlike any other game this year. Carolina Forest has a tendency to lean on opposing defensive lines and/or blow the doors off games in a hurry.    OTHER GAMES TO WATCH   JOHNSONVILLE (6-1, 4-0) at CARVERS BAY (9-0, 5-0)   Last year: Carvers Bay 38-14   Top players: J - RB [player_tooltip player_id='1822707' first='Zaghe' last='Davis'] RB Jamere Ross WR [player_tooltip player_id='1824664' first='Takhari' last='Ross'] CB - RB [player_tooltip player_id='1820181' first='Kenard' last='Heyward'] RB/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1025821' first='Zyrion' last='Reed'] OL/DL [player_tooltip player_id='402516' first='Zyon' last='Guiles']    WACCAMAW (6-2, 2-1) at DILLON (5-3, 2-1)   Last year: Dillon 47-39   Top players: W - QB [player_tooltip player_id='473025' first='Andre' last='Grate'] RB/LB [player_tooltip player_id='473016' first='AJ' last='Grate'] DL Greg Hall D - WR Zaumarious Robertson QB [player_tooltip player_id='1595007' first='Khayel' last='Sam Fong-Talia'] LB [player_tooltip player_id='1267317' first='Daniel' last='Capehart']    WESTWOOD (6-2, 3-1) at WEST FLORENCE (3-5, 2-2)   Last year: West Florence 13-8    Top players: W - RB [player_tooltip player_id='1312448' first='Jovan' last='Howard'] RB [player_tooltip player_id='1603902' first='Angelo' last='Rios'] WR/DB [player_tooltip player_id='1580947' first='Jayden' last='Boyd'] WF - LB Romelo Patterson DL [player_tooltip player_id='617662' first='Jamie' last='Williamson'] DB [player_tooltip player_id='1823169' first='Derrick' last='Austin']    OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO COULD SHINE IN WEEK 9   [player_tooltip player_id='1578290' first='Rod' last='Cranford'] and Zion Mason DBs, Hartsville - Cranford, a safety, and Mason, a corner, have been arguably the most consistent players on the Red Foxes' defense this year. And while there have been some issues Hartsville needs to shore up against the likes of South Florence (Week 10) and any potential playoff opponents, Mason (42 tackles, INT, FR) and Cranford (54 tackles, INT) should be able to perform well against Lakewood. If the Gators start throwing in an effort to keep up with Hartsville's offense, he could add another turnover or two to his season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1734397' first='Trenton' last='Parker'] RB, Georgetown and [player_tooltip player_id='1734403' first='Luke' last='McCracken'] RB, Aynor - The Bulldogs and Aynor will settled out the last two spots in Region V-3A this week, and we already know these two run-heavy offenses are going to turn to their main events against each other. Parker (951 yards, seven touchdowns) has been handed the ball over and over again this fall, and it's not a shock to see him get 30 touches in a game. However, Aynor's own offensive sets - while slightly tinkered from past seasons - are still all about keep the ball on the ground and draining the clock. McCracken has been leading the charge there, as he's carried the ball 104 times for 477 yards and 11 touchdowns.    [player_tooltip player_id='1395098' first='AJ' last='Lee'] RB, Andrews - Speaking of tailbacks, few have been as much of a focal point for his respective offense as Lee. When he's firing on all cylinders, the Yellow Jackets' offense goes right along with him. Last week in a loss to Timberland, the reverse was also true. The Wolves did an excellent job of controlling the line of scrimmage, and as a result Lee finished the 21-7 loss with only 64 yards rushing. He'd rushed for north of 1,100 coming into it. Friday against Burke, the senior tailback should be able to get back on track before the regular-season finale at Philip Simmons on October 30.

We can call this Moving Week on the Grand Strand and Pee Dee.