Class 5A Lower State Second Round Preview

Ian Guerin November 8, 2021 @ 05:00 PM

The Class 4A Lower State No. 1 seeds each made relatively quick work of their first-round opponents, as Dutch Fork, Sumter, Goose Creek and Fort Dorchester all won by double digits. So, too, however, did three of the four other teams still in play for the state championship from this side of the bracket. The 64 combined wins these eight teams have put up this season have mostly fit into that blowout category. These squads have overpowered opponents more often than not with offensive firepower, yes, but also defenses that can destroy opposing offenses. That’s what we believe will determine the final four in the Lower State. No. 2 Cane Bay (9-2) at No. 1 Dutch Fork (9-0) For everything Cane Bay succeeded in doing last week against Ashley Ridge, winning in double overtime and advancing to the second round, the Cobras now get to come back to reality. Dutch Fork won’t be unsettled by the Cobras’ version of the Wing T, even as well as TJ Wright and Jayvion Johnson and Jaylen Boudreaux run it. The Silver Foxes will counter with the likes of [player_tooltip player_id="214159" first="Cj" last="Wicker"], John Buetow and Chander Perry, three members of a dangerous front seven who don’t allow much to get behind them and are frequently blowing up plays in the backfield before they can gain any traction. No. 3 Stratford (4-4) at No. 1 Sumter (9-1) Speaking of defenses, Sumter is among the best in all of Class 5A for a reason. Led by [player_tooltip player_id="89303" first="Jabari" last="Tiller"] (seven sacks), [player_tooltip player_id="146354" first="Monteque" last="Rhames"] (six) and Tajon Roach (five), its hard to believe that the Gamecocks lost their best defensive player in [player_tooltip player_id="59473" first="Davin" last="Jackson"] over the summer. Sumter has allowed just 9.8 points per game this year. Stratford has dropped 81 points in its last two games, but they came against Berkeley and West Ashley, two squads not exactly known for their own defenses. Quarterback Jalen Barry has a great showing against West Ashley, throwing for 280 yards and scoring five touchdowns, but he wasn’t facing this type of pressure. No. 2 Lexington (8-2) at No. 1 Goose Creek (7-3) Goose Creek can put up some points. Tailback [player_tooltip player_id="61071" first="Demetri" last="Simmons"], quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="91143" first="Drew" last="Moore"] and receiver [player_tooltip player_id="91188" first="Khyon" last="Smith"] have operated with plenty of time and have helped the Gators average five touchdowns a game this year. Lexington, though, has a nifty trick up its sleeve. Perry Woolbright’s defense has forced 25 turnovers in 10 games this year, including four last Friday to open the playoffs against Conway. What’s more, those interceptions and fumble recoveries have come via nine different players. From Blake Smith to Hagin Whetstone to Reese Waites to Anthony Plotkin to a handful of others, the next turnover is always a potential result on every play. No. 3 Chapin (8-3) at No. 1 Fort Dorchester (10-0) On Sunday night, Fort Dorchester defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id="89318" first="Demetrius" last="Watson"] verbally committed to South Carolina. He’s the latest Patriot standout to take a step toward the Power 5 ranks, and he’s another reason why Fort Dorchester’s defense is so darn good. He and [player_tooltip player_id="89313" first="Devin" last="Geddis"] have been a formidable duo on the line. Chapin’s job, then, is to find a way to keep them from blowing up the Eagles’ high-power offense. Chapin needs to find a way to get the ball out of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="139289" first="Jayden" last="Bradford"]’s hands quickly - allowing [player_tooltip player_id="89315" first="Bennett" last="Galloway"] and [player_tooltip player_id="59482" first="Zavier" last="Short"] (pictured) to make plays in open space. If not, it could be another celebration for Fort Dorchester’s defensive standouts.