Class A Quad 1 and 2 First Round Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When the South Carolina High School League decided to split Class A, the smallest classification in the state, into two divisions, we knew there would be some imbalance. We have 40 of the 57 teams in the playoffs but most of those teams received a bye with only 8 teams in Quadrants 1 and 2 seeing action this week between the two divisions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are some intriguing matchups for certain. Which of these teams have the potential to grab some momentum and potentially pull the upset in the next round of the playoffs?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There's a lot to be figured out and this Friday starts the five-week march to crowning state champions on December 4 and 5 in Orangeburg.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's get to it, shall we?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 17 BARNWELL (2-8) at No. 16 EDISTO (2-8)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a couple of 2-8 teams looking to extend the season for at least another week. <strong>Josiah Gibson</strong> will have to play the best football of the season at the quarterback spot for the War Horses. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816133' first='Carl' last='Hines']</strong> is going to be a factor in the trenches, and he was recently named to the All-Region team. <strong>Rayshaun Purnell</strong> is coming off a season finale that saw him register 11 tackles and two tackles for loss for Barnwell. Edisto will counter with <strong>Jaeson Garvin</strong> at quarterback and offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820281' first='Brooklyn' last='Randolph']</strong> on both sides of the line of scrimmage. <strong>Amir Gilyard</strong> is the top running back and will have to be the catalyst if the Cougars are to advance. Whoever runs the ball the best should have the advantage in this one. This is a Class A, Division I game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor</em></strong>: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822357' first='Torye' last='Pickens']</strong> is going to have to be a huge factor if the War Horses are to be successful. He just went over the 1,000-yard mark in the season finale and he's the second leading tackler. Pickens also leads the team with two interceptions. The more he is involved, the better chance Barnwell will have to keep the ball on offense and be successful.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22583699/6ad4e3200d04a8ffa215eba5u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aebc60f3b0b5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 17 RIDGE SPRING-MONETTA (4-6) at No. 16 GREEN SEA FLOYDS (4-6)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822579' first='De'Arie' last='Kinard']</strong> has been a problem for opposing offenses all season long and he's going to have to continue that trend if the Trojans are going to be successful. He will also help at running back as well. Ridge Spring-Monetta is young, and <strong>Jamarcus Boskett</strong> is one of the young players that will be counted on to make plays at receiver and defensive back. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1648648' first='Kymani' last='Denny']</strong> and <strong>Wesley Scott</strong> are the top two pass catchers and can make big plays in the short passing game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816380' first='Aaron' last='Fowler']</strong> is a two-way threat with 1,175 passing yards and 738 yards rushing with 18 total touchdowns for Green Sea Floyds. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821843' first='Judah' last='Lee']</strong> (pictured above) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817618' first='Demestris' last='Phillips']</strong> are the top two pass catchers and have nearly 50 receptions between them. Lee is also the second leading rusher. This is a Class A, Division II game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>X-Factor: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818944' first='Zyviaire' last='Denny']</strong> has been outstanding under center for the Trojans. He is over the 2,000-yard mark on the season and is playing with confidence even though Ridge Spring-Monetta has lost three in a row coming into the playoffs. He's also going to contribute on defense, and this is the time of year where you keep your best players on the field as much as possible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26549729/6ae3f25dfe3a7a0da21783bau0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aebc60f3b0e2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 20 CLEAR DOT CHARTER (4-6) at No. 13 BRANCHVILLE (5-5)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This a rematch that Branchville won 42-20 on September 4. When the Bats are good, the defense is playing at a high level. That means <strong>OJ Gladney</strong> is going to have to be a difference-maker. He leads Clear Dot Charter with 48 tackles and is tied with <strong>Chad Kea</strong> for the most interceptions with three. Kea is also instrumental on offense with 1.350 yards passing and 673 yards rushing. The Yellow Jackets will counter with athlete <strong>Henry Phalan</strong>, who does a lot of things on both sides of the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824897' first='Isaiah' last='Bruce']</strong> will be a key at running back and linebacker and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819939' first='Hunter' last='Reed']</strong> will be counted on in the trenches. This is a Class A, Division II contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1953815' first='Malachi' last='Jackson']</strong> has had a couple of outstanding seasons at Clear Dot Charter. The junior is over 2,000 yards rushing in his career and has 1,257 yards coming into this one. He's run for 10 touchdowns and thrown for two additional scores in a limited role at quarterback. He's a solid 6-foot, 170 pounds and rarely steps foot off the field. He has over 70 career tackles as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22814591/6ad393b46b5e77a19fefa817u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aebc60f3b105"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>No. 21 WHITMIRE (3-7) AT No. 12 LEE CENTRAL (6-4)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467816' first='Kingston' last='Green']</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825127' first='Ayden' last='Hopp']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821739' first='Ashton' last='Alexander']</strong> are going to have to be key if Whitmore is going to be able to slow the Lee Central offense. All three play linebacker, and each have over 60 tackles on the season. Alexander and [player_tooltip player_id='1823406' first='Brayden' last='Rita'] each have four interceptions. Green and Hopp paced the running game, but senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825124' first='Kaden' last='Malpass']</strong> will need to protect the ball and make all the right reads from his quarterback spot. Lee Central will lean on sophomore <strong>Zion Hannibal</strong> for an offense that averages 24 points per game. Defensively, DB <strong>Tyquaze Belle</strong> and defensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2452762' first='Jacob' last='Montgomery']</strong> and <strong>Darius Toney</strong> can be disruptive on the defensive side of things. This is a Class A, Division II game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>X-Factor:</em></strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825125' first='Jordan' last='Ammons']</strong> is a 6-foot-2, 245-pound sophomore that starts on both sides of the ball for Whitmire. He has 45 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in the first nine games. He also starts at right tackle on the offensive line and more than holds his own against older, more experienced players. Ammons can add weight to his frame and will be a mainstay in the trenches for the next two seasons for the Wolverines. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26990888/6aba53644c37bd9891d3a865u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6aebc60f3b129"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->