Class A outlook

It was a return to greatness last December for Abbeville, the football program winning its first state championship since 2002.
But one ring may just not be enough for the greedy Panthers, who return several key cogs in last season’s title-winning squad.
At the head of the list is running back Ashton Heard, who ran for over 1,200 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. Equally responsible for the team’s success last season was its tough defense, which held opponents to just under 11 points per game. Eight starters return from that unit, one which should be among the state’s best in 2011.
At the head of the list to dethrone Abbeville is Hemingway, who came just short of the Class A Division I title game, losing on a last second field goal to Bamberg-Ehrhardt. With 26 seniors laden with experience, the program is primed to make a run this upcoming season.
The Tigers boast one of the top talents in the state in dual threat Jabril Solomon, who caught 51 passes for 1,142 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also recorded 83 tackles and 10 interceptions.
Bamberg-Ehrhardt and Ridgeland also are expected to be contenders for the Class A Division I crown.
Christ Church begins the season as the favorite in the classification‘s lower tier, putting its hope in arguably Class A’s top signal caller Hunter Townes. Accounting for more than 60 touchdowns last year, fans are predicting big things for the Cavaliers.
Scott’s Branch and Williston-Elko also remain teams to beat, the two programs meeting in each of the past three Class A Division II title games, of which the Eagles have taken two close contests, including last season’s 34-32 triumph in Columbia.
Perennial powerhouses Great Falls and Blackville-Hilda may play a part in who wins the Class A Division II championship.

CLASS A DIVISION I
FAVORITE: Abbeville
CONTENDERS: Hemingway, Bamberg-Ehrhardt, Ridgeland, Calhoun County, Lamar, Allendale-Fairfax
LOOK OUT FOR: Chesterfield - After winning three consecutive Class A Division I crowns, the Rams took a step back last season, bowing out in the second round of the state playoffs to Lamar. Though Chesterfield is breaking in a new quarterback, expect Steve Taneyhill’s squad to remain a major player in the classification and with a few breaks, who knows?

CLASS A DIVISION II
FAVORITE: Christ Church
CONTENDERS: Scott’s Branch, Williston-Elko, Great Falls, Blackville-Hilda
LOOK OUT FOR: Fox Creek- With 14 starters returning - eight of which are on defense - the Predators have potential to improve on last season’s 8-4 record, and potentially contend for Region IV-A.

S.C. Prep Football -- Classes A & 2A Week 10 Stock Watch

CLASS 2A -- It seems this classification is defined by the play of two teams -- Central-Pageland(9-0) and Dillon (9-0). The Wildcats have prevailed by a single point in the past two state title games, and it seems the squads are again on a collision course.
Or are they? Here are a few teams who could spoil the party… or not.
STOCKS UP:
- Timberland (9-0): Likely Dillon’s stiffest test in the Lower State on its way to a three-peat. The Wolves have remained undefeated primarily due to the play of its defense, which has only given up 11 points per game.
In addition, Timberland is battle-tested, already having defeated region foes Manning and Lake City as well as the 2009 Class 3A champion Berkeley.
- Silver Bluff (8-1): Aside from a season opening loss to crosstown rival Aiken, it has been business as usual for the Bulldogs, reeling in eight consecutive wins and a Region V-2A title. Stout on defense and supremely balanced on offense, this squad has the potential to make things interesting in a loaded Lower State bracket.
- Lake City (7-2): Honestly, any squad that has a back as talented as South Carolina commitment Shon Carson has the potential to go a long way. While Timberland was able to put the clamps on the star running back, few defensive units have been able to do so during his stellar career, one which has him in the conversation as one of the state’s best backs this year.
Oh… they’re defense isn’t half bad either, giving up around 16 points per game.

STOCKS DOWN:
- Indian Land (8-1): After padding its record on mediocre competition, the Warriors were laid to waste by a dominant Central squad, losing by 26 points. While it was the two-time state runners-up it was playing, Indian Land must show more against tougher competition before being considered a legit threat to the Class 2A title.
- Mid Carolina (8-1): While it had run roughshod through competition through eight games, last week’s contest at Woodruff -- for a conference title, no less -- truly was a litmus test for the Rebels, one where they see where they are compared to other competition around the state. A 35 point loss proved rather telling, as Mid Carolina had no answer for the Wolverines fast paced offensive attack, one it is sure to see against opponents in the state playoffs.
WATCH OUT FOR:
-Batesburg-Leesville (7-2): This is typically the Panthers’ favorite time of year, and they are again proving this to be true, winning seven consecutive games going into its week 10 tilt with Strom Thurmond. No matter the record, this team is not one you want to see in the postseason.
- Woodruff (6-3): The record may not be the best, but just take a deeper look at who the Wolverines’ losses are to. Each of Woodruff’s three defeats are to Class 3A teams likely to qualify for their classifications’ state playoffs, with only one of the losses - a 14 point setback to Greenville - coming by more than a touchdown.
The Wolverines have virtually been a lock to score more than 30 points each game. If this continues, it could be hard for opponents to slow this team down.
CLASS A -- In the belief of sportswriters around the Palmetto State, there is one thing seemingly all of them can agree on -- yes, Williston-Elko (9-1) is that dominant. The defending Class A - Division II champion, only seven points separates the Blue Devils from an undefeated season.
Since that season opening loss to Strom Thurmond, Coach Dwayne Garrick’s squad has outscored opponents 513-85.

STOCKS UP:
- Bamberg-Ehrhardt (9-0): Since a surprising season opening victory over Class 4A’s Orangeburg-Wilkinson, the Red Raiders have plugged right along, flashing signs of brilliance as well as toughness and resiliency in close wins over Barnwell, Ridgeland, and most recently Allendale-Fairfax.
Last season, B-E was embarrassed in a second round matchup with Calhoun County 20-0.This year it hopes to extend its stay in postseason play.
- Hemingway (9-0): Arguably no defense has been more dominant than the Tigers, giving up a total of 34 points while racking up a 9-0 record. Playing in one of the classification’s toughest conferences, joined in Region 8-A by the likes of Johnsonville, Lake View and Carvers Bay, this squad has set itself apart, making it one to watch in coming weeks.
-Scott’s Branch (7-2): Since consecutive losses to Class 2A foes Manning and Woodland, no one has been able to stop the Eagles, who during their seven game winning streaked have beaten three-time defending Class A champion Chesterfield as well as region rival Lamar. The squad hopes to achieve a conference title Friday vs. C.E. Murray, paving its way for another run at a state title.

STOCKS DOWN:
-Chesterfield (6-3): It is hard to put a squad with three rings on this list. But following three straight losses midseason, it is even more difficult to tab the Rams as a contender for a fourth consecutive Class A title. While young and inexperienced heading into the playoffs, history is on Chesterfield’s side- head coach and former University of South Carolina quarterback Steve Taneyhill’s first championship team in 2007 lost three games that year.
Maybe he has a little magic in the bag… who knows?
- Christ Church (9-0): How can an undefeated team whose lowest margin of victory this season is five points, while scoring more than 40 points eight out of nine games in 2010 not getting the respect it deserves? The Cavaliers must earn respect in my opinion, having bowed out in the second round of the playoffs each of the past two years.

WATCH OUT FOR:
- Lamar (8-1): A one point loss to Scott’s Branch is the only thing keeping coach J.R. Boyd’s Silver Foxes out of the conversation as one of the front runners for a state title. However, I’m sure they like it that way.
At its best, Lamar can beat any team its classification has to offer.

Week 4- Several players put up HUGE numbers

Photo by Scott Powell/ The Gaffney Ledger

Blacksburg's Chase Hames followed up a 364 yard effort with another performance Wildcats fans will not soon forget.

Week 4 was one for the books as several players around the Palmetto State put up big numbers. Here are just a few of whom stuffed the stat sheet on the gridiron:

Chase Hames, Blacksburg: If the run is working, there’s no need to change what you’re doing.
Blacksburg coach Mickey Moss definitely has done that the past two weeks, his gameplan solely built on the strong running of Hames, who rushed for 437 yards and five touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 41-27 victory over Liberty. He also was the recipient of a touchdown pass.
It was the senior running back’s second consecutive standout performance, running for 364 yards and seven touchdowns the previous week.

Dawan Scott, Irmo: Few schools in South Carolina lean on the run like the Yellow Jackets, and this year is no different.
The latest running back to prosper in head coach Bob Hanna’s system is Dawan Scott, now 20 yards from the 1,000 yard mark following a 295 yard performance in Irmo’s 45-28 victory over Lexington.
Scott scored on runs of 70, 67 and 26 yards in the win, the Yellow Jackets’ 11th straight win the “Battle of the Dam.”

DeEdward Burris, Gaffney: Has Gaffney lost a bit of its swagger?
Burris did his best to silence pundits, going 24 for 37 for 215 yards and three touchdowns in the Indians’ 26-16 win over hated Byrnes. The senior also added 65 yards and a score on the ground in the win, Gaffney first over the Rebels since 2006.

Dayton Ayers, Chapman: The Panthers did not have enough to keep up with Woodruff last Friday, but it wasn’t because of Ayers, who caught seven passes for 224 yards and touchdowns passes of 61 and 59 yards in his team‘s 64-40 loss.

Nick Rodgers, Dorman: Defense led the Cavaliers all the way to a state crown last year. Rodgers’ head coach undoubtedly was proud of his effort vs. T.L. Hanna last Friday, racking up 16 tackles, including one for a loss in Dorman’s 31-14 win.

Randon Sandifer, Bamberg-Ehrhardt: Sandifer needed each of his 387 passing yards and three touchdowns last Friday, which proved to be just enough for the Red Raiders to pull out a 35-33 win over Ridgeland.

Justin Worley, Northwestern: Worley continues to put up big numbers in the Trojans’ “Air Raid” offense, going 29-of-39 for 365 yards in their 36-24 win over Blythewood. The Tennessee commit connected with six different receivers and threw for five touchdowns in the contest.