(5) Williston-Elko (8-3) at (1) Southside Christian (10-1)
I went 16-0 on my first-round picks, but I doubt I'll be duplicating that feat this week...mainly because there aren't 16 games to pick, but also because very few games are of the "Green Bay Packers vs. The Orphanage for Skinny, Slow Kids" variety. There are some huge match-ups that are tricky to pick, including this one. Williston-Elko defeated Fox Creek 50-30 last week, while Southside Christian destroyed Wagener-Salley 63-14. Both teams feature big-time running backs, in W-E's Shakur Chisolm and Southside Christian's Quintyn Reeder. Chisolm ran for 197 yards and four touchdowns last week and has nearly 1,900 yards this season. Reeder has 1,430 yards and averages over 10 yards a carry. The thing is, this is the first time the Sabres have ever been in the position of playing a second-round playoff game, while it's old hat for W-E, which I think has to make at least a little bit of a difference. The Sabres are more balanced offensively, with Clayton Coulter having thrown for over 2,000 yards and 22 touchdowns this year. W-E, for comparison's sake, attempted six passes last week...now they averaged 30 a completion, but they are mostly one-dimensional. Since their close season-opening loss to AAA Travelers Rest, Southside Christian has only allowed more than 16 points once. W-E has tended to give up big points to good teams, including 46 Bamberg-Ehrhardt, more than 30 to Fox Creek twice and 57 to Calhoun County. Because of the offensive balance and more consistent defense, I'm going with the Sabres, but if this one goes the other way, I won't be surprised. The Pick-Southside Christian (3) McBee (10-1) at (2) Christ Church (9-2) Here's another one I don't feel good about. Until they lost to Lamar a few weeks ago, McBee was pretty much curb stomping everybody they played. Seriously, they handed down the kind of beatings where you not only whip the other guy, you take all the beer out of his fridge and call his wife "sweet thang" on the way out the door. Lamar not only beat them, though, they held what looked like an unstoppable offense to 13 points in the process. They then blew out an overmatched C.A. Johnson team, but struggled last week with a just OK St. Joe's team in a 21-0 win. Of course, 21-0 is only "struggling" when you are the odds-on favorite to win the whole thing and averaged almost 60 a game. I've talked to a McBee fan who said the blocking has been a little off and that the Panthers hurt themselves against Lamar and St. Joe's with penalties and turnovers. I think it's safe to say Jordan Fair hasn't been 100 percent either, but hopefully will be Friday. I saw Christ Church last week. They are very good on the front lines...VERY! WR Braxton Westfield is every bit as good as he's reputed to be and is a major weapon on offense and in the kicking game. The thing is, they struggled to get him the ball. Their passing game just isn't as good as it has been during their run of four-straight titles. They were 8-of-25 passing against Lewisville, though quarterback Jeffrey Johnsen is an athletic kid that makes some things happen with his legs. Defensively, they're nearly impossible to run on up the gut, but Lewisville had some success outside the tackles. The Cavs didn't have a good night in pass coverage at all, getting flagged for pass interference six times. That seems to be an area they've struggled in this year as they break in new starters back there. Of course, McBee has only attempted a handful of passes all year, so that isn't something they are likely to exploit. They will, of course, beg to be thrown in the "run outside" briar patch. The thing about McBee's defense is, they gamble and send the house, playing man on the back end. If the blitz doesn't get there, Westfield could have a field day, if they can get him the ball. Outside of that big-play possibility, McBee's defense has quietly been almost as effective as its offense this year. They're really solid and very physical on that side. Christ Church certainly has the edge in the kicking game. I'm totally torn and feel like this one can truly go either way...but I'll say McBee's athletes make one more big play, the Panthers win close in a fairly low-scoring game and the Cavs reign (and tenure in Class A) ends. The Pick-McBee Lowerstate (5) Latta (8-3) at (1) Bamberg-Ehrhardt (11-0) There weren't many upset in round one, but Latta, as a five seed, did knock off fourth-seeded St. John's 36-30 in overtime. Kartilus McFadden ran for a pair of scores in that one and Colby Lee threw the game-winning TD in overtime. Latta has shown all year that they can pile up points in a hurry. They also, against really good teams, tend to give up a lot. Bamberg, at 11-0, falls under the "very good" heading. They scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in their 37-6 rout of Hemingway last week. They have also allowed only three opponents to reach double figures this year. Latta might be the fourth...but that will be a consolation prize. The Pick-Bamberg-Ehrhardt (3) Allendale-Fairfax (10-1) at (2) Calhoun County (11-0) The most surprising score I saw last Friday night was A-F's 14-8 win over Carvers Bay in OT. Certainly, Carvers Bay has a winner's pedigree and a tough schedule made their 4-6 record deceiving, but that was still a stunner. Calhoun County has now topped 57 points in four of their past five games. Crazy, Playstation stats QB Terrance Brunson had a quiet night by his standard in last Friday's 65-0 working of Hannah-Pamplico (ran for a score and threw for one) but he didn't have to, with the defense and special teams contributing to the scoring. A-F has played superb defense all year, but against top teams generally haven't put up big offensive numbers. I don't think that cuts it against the Saints... The Pick-Calhoun County Division II Upperstate (4) Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (7-4) at (1) Lamar (8-3) Lamar actually, no crap, broke their scoreboard in a 60-6 win over Blackville-Hilda last. I was told by someone there that the game was so lopsided, they aren't even sure the fourth quarter was played. Hard to tell with no scoreboard, I reckon. HKT won its fourth-straight game, knocking off Denmark-Olar 30-0. I was surprised to see that Trey Ceasar ONLY ran for 96 yards last week for Lamar...but I don't know that he played that long either, both because the game was a blowout and because, hey, no scoreboard. The Silver Foxes have so many backs that can hurt you in Ceasar, Barr, Durant etc. HKT is the two-time defending Division II state champ and in doing so, they disproved a theory I'd heard for a long time that schools with under 200 students just can't win state in football. That's a great accomplishment, but they aren't stretching it to a three-peat. Nobody in Class A is playing as well as Lamar right now and HKT has not beaten a team with a winning record this year... The Pick-Lamar (3) Ridge Spring-Monetta (7-4) at (2) McCormick (7-4) McCormick got the odd off-week last Friday, winning their game against Great Falls by forfeit. The week probably came in handy, since they were nursing so many injuries, including to stud hoss RB Mataeo Durant. RSM beat Whitmire 42-8. McCormick actually beat RSM 18-14 earlier in the year but closed the season with two lopsided losses. I don't know if Durant and the other injured players will be back. That would certainly make a difference but RSM seems to get going this time of year anyway. Ow, I'm hurt + Dang, you're playing good= The Pick- RSM (4) Baptist Hill (4-7) at (1) C.E. Murray (10-1) Good for Baptist Hill making it to the second round of the playoffs with last week's one-point win over Timmonsville. It should be noted that their four victories have come against teams with seven total wins. C.E. Murray did horrible, terrible things to Lincoln...may have borrowed McBee's drill even, winning 73-0. Isiah Odom had five flippin' touchdowns in that one. I said when I looked at the bracket that the War Eagles were going to upperstate at least...no reason to deviate from that. The Pick-C.E. Murray (3) Cross (8-2) at Lake View (9-2) I don't have a whole lot of insight to offer, not having seen either team in person. I know this is a hell of a match-up in the second round of the playoffs. Both teams play good defense, have some really quality wins and suffered their losses at the hands of teams from higher classes or top-notch Class A teams. Based on what seems like their more explosive offense, I'll go with the road team. The Pick-Cross Comments are closed.
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TravisI am Travis, the king 0f SC 1A Football Archives
November 2021
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