Pairings set for SCISA football state playoffs

Sumter – The pairings for the SCISA football state playoffs in each of its five classifications are set with the first round beginning on Friday.

Hammond is the prohibitive favorite in AAAA as it seeks its eighth consecutive state title. The Skyhawks will be trying to maintain their run as the only state champions in the 3-year history of AAAA.

Hammond is 9-0 on the season and will open at home against Cardinal Newman. The teams closed out the regular season against each other with the Skyhawks winning 52-21.

The  other first-round matchups will have Ben Lippen at Augusta Christian School, Heathwood Hall at Porter-Gaud and Laurence Manning Academy at Northwood.

Augusta Christian and Ben Lippen will also be meeting for the second week in a row. ACS won the regular-season finale 20-6. Porter-Gaud beat Heathwood 44-0 in the regular season, while Northwood beat LMA 42-6.

Hilton Head Christian Academy will be going after its second straight AAA championship and its fourth overall title in five years. The Eagles will play host to Florence Christian School with the other three games having John Paul II at Wilson Hall, Trinity Collegiate at Pinewood Prep and First Baptist at Northside Christian.

There are no rematches from the regular season in these four games.

Bethesda Academy will be trying to defend the AA state title. It will open at home against Orangeburg Prep while the other three games will have Spartanburg Christian Academy at Pee Dee, St. John’s Christian at Greenwood Christian and Hilton Head Prep at Calhoun Academy.

As in AAA, there are no rematches in the four first-round games.

Patrick Henry Academy is the defending Class A state champion, but it will be going on the road in the first round to face Williamsburg Academy. The Stallions are in their first season in Class A after reclassification. They played for the last three AA titles, winning in 2022.

       The other first-round games will have Lee Academy at Thomas Heyward, Colleton Prep at Dorchester and Carolina Academy at Beaufort Academy.

         The only rematch in the four games is between Dorchester and Colleton Prep. They will be playing for the second time in St George. Colleton Prep won the regular-season meeting 38-12 on October 25.

         Jefferson Davis Academy will be trying to defend its 8-man championship. The Raiders will open at home against W.W. King.

         The other games will have Newberry Academy at Richard Winn, Wardlaw at Holly Hill and Cross Schools at Laurens Academy.

There are no rematches in these four games.

The 11-man championship games will be played on November 22-23 at Charleston Southern University’s Buccaneer Field in North Charleston. The schedule has yet to be determined.

The 8-man title game will be played on November 22 at a site to be determined.

SCISA FOOTBALL STATE PLAYOFFS

Friday

First Round

AAAA

Cardinal Newman at Hammond

Ben Lippen at Augusta Christian

Heathwood Hall at Porter-Gaud

Laurence Manning at Northwood Academy

AAA

John Paul II at Wilson Hall

Florence Christian at Hilton Head Christian

Trinity Collegiate at Pinewood Prep

First Baptist at Northside Christian

AA

Spartanburg Christian at Pee Dee Academy

St. John’s Christian at Greenwood Christian

Hilton Head Prep at Calhoun Academy

Orangeburg Prep at Bethesda Academy

CLASS A

Lee Academy at Thomas Heyward

Colleton Prep at Dorchester

Patrick Henry at Williamsburg Academy

Carolina Academy at Beaufort Academy

8-MAN

Newberry Academy at Richard Winn

Wardlaw at Holly Hill

W.W. King at Jefferson Davis

Cross Schools at Laurens Academy