Second round of football playoffs offers some fun matchups

       Sumter – This is the week of the South Carolina High School League football state playoffs when things start to get interesting. It’s the second round and you’re going to have some matchups where you’re wondering how are those two teams facing off so early and knowing one of them will be out of the hunt for a state title after Friday.

           We’re going to work our way through each of the six brackets and throw in the SCISA brackets as well and determine the biggest showdowns in each and explain why it’s the case.

5A Division I

Second Round

November 14

Upper State

(9) Boiling Springs (1) Dutch Fork

(5) Rock Hill at (4) Byrnes

(10) Blythewood at (2) Dorman

(6) Spartanburg at (3) Ridge View

Lower State

(8) Fort Dorchester at (1) Carolina Forest

(5) Summerville at (4) Ashley Ridge

(7) River Bluff at (2) Stratford

(6) James Island at (3) Sumter

           After getting a first-round bye, Dutch Fork, Dorman, Ridge View and Byrnes in the upper state and Carolina Forest, Stratford, Sumter and Ashley Ridge in the lower state will be playing their first games. The game that gets the most buzz out of these eight is the lower state showdown between Bi, 3 seed Sumter and No. 6 James Island. Each team has just one loss with Sumter winning Region 5 and James Island finishing in a 3-way tie for first in Region 8 with Summerville and West Ashley,.

           The Trojans have only allowed 86 points while the Gamecocks have scored 419 points, so something will have to give here. The tell-tale could be the play of the Sumter defense JI has scored 441 points while Sumter has allowed 259.

           Another big showown will be a rematch between the aforementioned Summerville and Ashley Ridge. The Swamp Foxes are just 6-4, but they hammered the 9-2 Green Wave 42-19. Summerville will be trying to exact some revenge.

1.                  James Island (10-1) at Sumter (9-1)

2.                  Summerville (9-2) at West Ashley (6-4)

3.                  Spartanburg (7-4) at Ridge View (7-3)

4.                  Rock Hill (7-4) at Byrnes (7-3)

5.                  Fort Dorchester (5-6) at Carolina Forest (9-1)

6.                  River Bluff (6-5) at Stratford (9-1)

7.                  Blythewood (4-7) at Dorman (8-2)

8.                  Boiling Springs (5-6) at Dutch Fork (8-1)

5A Division II

Second Round

November 14

Upper State

(8) Catawba Ridge at (1) Northwestern

(5) Gaffney at (4) Greenwood

(7) Greenville at (2) T.L. Hanna

(6) Hillcrest at (3) Indian Land

Lower State

(8) Lugoff-Elgin at (1) Irmo

(5) Lucy Beckham at (4) White Knoll

(7) Westwood at (2) Berkeley

(6) West Florence at (3) Myrtle Beach

           Eight teams in Division II will be entering the playoff fray as well. That includes defending state champion and upper state No. 1 seed Northwestern and defending runner-up and lower state No. 1 seed Irmo. The other upper state teams are T.L. Hanna, Indian Land and Greenwood and the lower state teams are Berkeley, Myrtle Beach and White Knoll.

           The one game out of these that immediately catches your eye is eye is perennial power and upper state No. 5 Gaffney visiting No. 4 Greenwood. The Indians are never afraid to take to the road and are 8-3. Greenwood has lost just once.

1.                  Gaffney (8-3) at Greenwood (9-1)

2.                  Lucy Bechkam (7-3) at White Knoll (7-3)

3.                  West Florence (6-5) at Myrtle Beach (7-3)

4.                  Greenville (7-4) at T.L. Hanna (9-1)

5.                  Hillcrest (8-3) at Indian Land (9-1)

6.                  Westwood (7-4) at Berkeley (8-2)

7.                  Catawba Ridge (6-5) at Northwestern (9-1)

8.                  Lugoff-Elgin (6-5) at Irmo (9-1)

4A

Second Round

November 14

Upper State

(8)                           Emerald at (1) South Pointe

(5) A.C. Flora at (4) Seneca

(6) Wren at (3) Westside

(7) Camden at (2) Daniel

Lower State

(8) Bishop England at (1) South Florence

(12)                           Gilbert at (4) North Augusta

(6) Hartsville at (3) Gray Collegiate

(10) Wilson at (2) Hilton Head Island

           Like the Sumter-James Island contest, you’ve got two teams doing battle in A.C. Flora and Seneca with just one loss apiece. Flora’s loss came at the hands of upper state no. 1 South Pointe, while Seneca’s loss came to upper state No. 2 Daniel.

           Another game full of storylines has Camden visiting Daniel. They’ve played each other for a state title three times in the last five years, the most recent coming for the AAA state crown in 2023. Daniel almost didn’t make it to this game, scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown to beat Dreher 14-10 in the first round.

1.                  A.C. Flora (10-1) at Seneca (10-1)

2.                  Camden (8-3) at Daniel (10-1)

3.                  Wren (8-3) at Westside (7-4)

4.                  Hartsville (7-4) at Gray Collegiate (9-2)

5.                  Wilson (7-4) at Hilton Head Island (10-1)

6.                  Gilbert (6-5) at North Augusta (10-1)

7.                  Bishop England (8-3) at South Florence (10-1)

8.                  Fountain Inn (6-5) at South Pointe (10-1)

3A

Second Round

November 14

Upper State

(9)                           Pendleton at (1) Powdersville

(5) Mountain View Prep at (4) Crescent

(6) Southside Christian at (3) Belton-Honea Path

(7) Christ Church at (2) Woodruff

Lower State

(9)                           Marlboro County at (1) Oceanside Collegiate

(5) Silver Bluff at (4) Dillon

(6) Orangeburg-Wilkinson at (3) Loris

(7) Hanahan at (2) Newberry

           Christ Church has come along as the season has progressed and is playing its best football. Plus, it has a history of deep playoff runs, albeit it in Class A. Woodruff is having one of its best seasons in years, but this will be a challenge.

           Loris has been dominant this season while Orangeburg=Wilkinson’s only loss came to defending state champion Oceanside Collegiate Academy. O-W hasn’t played the most difficult schedule so it will be interesting to see how it stands up against the Lions.

1.                  Christ Church (8-3) at Woodruff (10-1)

2.                  Orangeburg-Wilkinson (10-1) at Loris (11-0)

3.                  Silver Bluff (7-4) at Dillon (8-3)

4.                  Mountain View Prep (9-1) at Crescent (8-3)

5.                  Marlboro County (8-3) at Oceanside Collegiate (9-2)

6.                  Pendleton (6-5) at Powdersville (9-2)

7.                  Hanahan (6-5) at Newberry (11-0)

8.                  Southside Christian (6-5) at Belton-Honea Path (11-0)

2A

Second Round

November 14

Upper State

Saluda at Clinton

Andrew Jackson at Fairfield Central

Batesburg-Leesville at Chester

Liberty at Strom Thurmond

Lower State

Cheraw at Hampton County

Timberland at Manning

East Clarendon at Central

Atlantic Collegiate at Philip Simmons

           The AA classification easily has the best set of eight games being played on Friday. The only game out of the bunch where one can see a decided favorite is 5-6 Atlantic Collegiate Academy visiting 9-2 Philip Simmons. A great storyline to this one is ACA is in its second year and surprisingly got the No. 2 seed in Region 7 with a 4-2 record. Does that run end against the Iron Horses?

           The Cheraw-Hampton County matchup pits two teams that had midseason lulls playing their best football head into this game. Besides Atlantic Collegiate, the only other team left with less than seven wins is 6-5 Saluda. The Tigers, who lost two Region 2 games in overtime and another by one point, will face defending state champion Clinton.  

1.                  Cheraw (7-4) at Hampton County (8-3)

2.                  Timberland (9-2) at Manning (8-3)

3.                  Batesburg-Leesville (8-3) at Chester (7-4)

4.                  Andrew Jackson (7-4) at Fairfield Central (8-3)

5.                  East Clarendon (9-2) at Central (9-1)

6.                  Saluda (6-5) at Clinton (8-3)

7.                  Liberty (8-3) at  Strom Thurmond (9-2)

8.                  Atlantic Collegiate (5-6) at Philip Simmons (9-2)

1A

Second Round

November 14

Upper State

Lewisville at Abbeville

C.A. Johnson at Blackville-Hilda

Ware Shoals at Hunter-Kinard Tyler

Wagener-Salley at Lamar

Lower State

Bethune-Bowman at Cross

Johnsonville at Scott’s Branch

Lake View at Carvers Bay

Latta at Bamberg-Ehrhardt

           Bamberg-Ehrhardt has outscored its opponents 597-49 in posting its 11-0 record. The Red Raiders will rightfully be a major favorite against 8-2 Latta. However, the Vikings are a tough team with the only losses coming to undefeated Carvers Bay and 8-2 Johnsonville.

           Speaking of Johnsonville, it will be hitting the road to face 9-2 Scott’s Branch. Another game that will be interesting to see how it plays out will have 10-1 Ware Shoals visiting 9-2 Hunter-Kinard-Tyler.

1.                  Latta (8-2) at Bamberg-Ehrhardt (11-0)

2.                  Johnsonville (8-2) at Scott’s Branch (9-2)

3.                  Ware Shoals (10-1) at Hunter-Kinard Tyler (9-2)

4.                  Lewisville (7-4) at Abbeville (9-2)

5.                  Lake View (5-4) at Carvers Bay (11-0)

6.                  C.A. Johnson (6-5) at Blackville-Hilda (6-5)

7.                  Wagener-Salley (5-6) at Lamar (9-2)

8.                  Bethune-Bowman (4-7) at Cross (9-1)

SCISA

AAAA

Semifinals

November 14

Heathwood Hall at Hammond

Porter-Gaud at Northwood

AAA

Semifinals

November 14

Hilton Head Christian at Wilson Hall

Florence Christian at Pinewood Prep

AA

Semifinals

November 14

Hilton Head Prep at Pee Dee

Greenwood Christian at Bethesda Academy

Class A

Semifinals

November 14

Thomas Heyward at Williamsburg

Dorchester at Colleton Prep

8-Man

Semifinals

November 14

Jefferson Davis at W.W. King

Laurens Academy at Holly Hill

           Dorchester Academy visiting Colleton Prep Academy is hands down the best matchup of the 10 semifinal games in SCISA. CPA is 8-2 and won the Region 2 title. One of its two losses was to the Raiders by a 28-14 count. They are 9-1 with the only loss coming to Williamsburg Academy to finish second in Region1, thus explaining why they are traveling to Walterboro.

           Hammond is chasing its ninth straight state championship. While the Skyhawks are 9-1 on the season, they have had some close calls. One of those was a 9-7 victory over Heathwood Hall, which will bring an 8-3 record into the contest.

1.                  Dorchester (9-1) at Colleton Prep (8-2)

2.                  Heathwood Hall (8-3) at Hammond (9-1)

3.                  Laurens Academy (8-2) at Holly Hill (11-0)

4.                  Jefferson Davis (8-3) at W.W. King (10-0)

5.                  Thomas Heyward (4-5) at Williamsburg (9-1)

6.                  Hilton Head Christian (6-5) at Wilson Hall (10-1)

7.                  Florence Christian (8-2) at Pinewood Prep (8-3)

8.                  Greenwood Christian (9-2) at Bethesda Academy (10-0)

9.                  Porter-Gaud (5-6) at Northwood (9-1)

10.              Hilton Head Prep (3-8) at Pee Dee (7-3)