Photo by Joe L. Hughes II
South Pointe defenders deliver some punishment to a Fairfield Central runner during the teams' recent contest in Winnsboro. Both squads are among the favorites to bring home the Class 3A title in a few weeks.Should I buy or sell? Or maybe just keep an eye on the stock?
For nine (or in Williston-Elko's case, 10) weeks we have kept a close eye on teams around the Palmetto State, particularly wondering how each would figure into their respective classification's playoff picture. With things beginning to clear up as the regular season draws to a close for classes 1A-3A, here's a look at the squads whose stock you should buy, sell, and a couple to keep a close eye on in the coming weeks.
Today I will begin with South Carolina's largest two classifications before taking a look at classes A & 2A later this week.
Class 4A— Of course, it is easy to look at the classification's three unbeaten squads— Dorman, Northwestern and Goose Creek — and believe they are just a notch ahead of their competition around the state. However, there are several squads who can deny each of the powerhouses of the championship they have so longed for.
STOCKS UP:— Greenwood (8-1): Blessed with a stout defense (giving up only 12 points per game) and an effective running game, the Eagles have earned much respect in the Palmetto State in addition to attention from analysts nationwide. In all honesty, you remember few names outside of linebacker Quinton Backus and there's nothing too "sexy" or flashy about this squad— but they darn sure know how to win ball games.
Greenwood's only defeat being a 35-28 loss to defending Class 4A champion Dorman, the program is trying to add another title to its already extensive collection.
— Gaffney (7-2): Snake-bitten by turnovers in early season losses to Dorman and Greenwood, the Indians have won six straight going into this weekend's clash with region for Northwestern. Gaffney seems to have caught its stride on offense as quarterback DeEdward Burris seems to have formed quite a bond with receivers Quinshad Davis and Khris Brown. The team's defense has also improved as the season has went along, displaying such flashes of brilliance in a 31-0 shutout of Lancaster in which it gave up a total of 45 yards on the night.
— Summerville (8-1): Every year around this time, the chant begins down in the state's Lowcountry ... "Win one for Coach McKissick!" For the nation's all-time leader in wins for a high school football coach, this may be his best chance in a number of years.
Led by running back DeAngelo Henderson, the Green Wave have one of the more explosive offenses in the state. The question remains whether Summerville's defense can hold down some of the state's better offensive squads, many of whom also reside in the Big 16 with the Green Wave.
STOCKS DOWN:— Wren (6-3): It would take quite a collapse in the Golden Hurricanes' final two contests for this team not to make the playoffs. While blessed with an explosive offense, do not expect this team to go far in the postseason if its defensive woes continue.
Wren has given up more than 30 points four times this season. In three out of those four contests, the Golden Hurricanes have walked away with a loss.
— Orangeburg-Wilkinson (7-2): Following a close loss to Class A power Bamberg-Ehrhardt to begin the year, the Bruins led by quarteback Cyril Davis were able to rattle off seven consecutive wins, a stretch in which the team did not score less than 36 points. Since jumping back into region play, however, O-W's defense has shown it cannot stand up to capable offensive schemes, the weakness particularly coming to fruition last Friday in a 65-42 loss to White Knoll in which the Bruins found themselves down 43 points at halftime.
They say defense wins championships; if so, it will take quite the four game stretch by Davis and his mates on offense to pull out a state title because right now they are the best defense O-W currently has.
— South Florence (7-2): It has been quite a breakthrough season for the Bruins, the team finding itself a mere victory away from earning the Region VI-4A title. While earning a conference title is admirable, doing so in one of the state's weakest regions likely will not equate to much postseason success for South Florence, only defeating four opponents with winning records, the most impressive of those last week's 41-31 win over Conway, a team only a game above .500.
I'm not saying this squad cannot make a run, you just won't see me placing much stock in the Bruins doing so.
WATCH OUT FOR:— Irmo (8-1): Led by one of the state's best running games, the Yellow Jackets have won seven in a row after a week one defeat to nationally ranked Goose Creek. While defense is somewhat an issue, if Irmo is allowed to dictate the clock by continuing to feed the ball to Dawan Scott and others in the Yellow Jackets' stable of running backs, this team could surprise some people en route to a December date down the road at Williams-Brice Stadium.
— Clover (7-2): Do not sleep on the Eagles. Though falling in defeat to state powerhouses and region foes Gaffney and Northwestern, Clover did do its part to give each of the teams' defenses fits using its brand of the Wing-T offense. The difficult part of the schedule is seemingly in the Eagles' rear-view mirror, as it will take a team with offensive might similar to that of the Trojans or Indians to knock this squad out of the playoffs.
Class 3A— In my opinion, the best of the state's classifications from top to bottom. At least eight teams believe they have the ingredients to hoist the championship trophy at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia on the first Saturday night in December. Here are a few of those.
STOCKS UP:— South Pointe (8-1): The Stallions, aside from a mistake-prone third quarter against rival Northwestern in the season's opening week, has been dominant — particularly on the defensive side of the ball. South Pointe showcased how important that side of the ball is in its success over then-No. 3 Fairfield Central, holding one of the classification's more prolific offenses to under 200 yards of total offense and only seven points.
It does help to have the nation's top prospect on your defensive line as well, Jadeveon Clowney.
— Myrtle Beach (8-1): Like their contemporaries South Pointe in the Upper State, the Seahawks find themselves minutes from being undefeated as well. Playing most of the season without starting quarterback Everett Golson, backup signal caller Mitchell Campbell has been effective in his stead, throwing for 2,067 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Myrtle Beach's defense has also been a forced to be reckoned with, particularly of late, holding region opponents to a total of 21 points in four games.
— Fairfield Central (8-1): While the Griffins were on the wrong end of a 17-7 defeat at the hands of South Pointe, few can argue the team gave their rivals from Rock Hill all they could handle. Fairfield Central should be equally as potent when the playoffs roll around... that is unless its old nemesis Clinton winds up in the same bracket; then things could become quite interesting.
STOCKS DOWN:— Chester (6-3): The Cyclones feasted upon mediocre competition early on the 2010 season, jumping out to a 3-0 mark before meeting with Class 2A's Central—Pageland, a contest in which they gave up a fourth quarter lead and eventually lost, 36-28. Since then, things have not quite been the same for Chester, losing the following week to nationally ranked Mallard Creek (N.C.), followed by sub par efforts against Nation Ford ( a win nevertheless) and a 55-17drubbing at the hands of South Pointe.
Beating quality teams is what champions are made of. I see little of that in the Cyclones' resume.
— Clinton (6-3): You hate to put the defending state champions in a category like this, but losing two consecutive region games to the likes of Greer and Union County is cause for concern for the Red Devils. However, last season following a mediocre region slate in which Clinton finished fourth in its conference, the team found a way to win five straight games and the Class 3A championship.
Can it happen again? Of course. But if that's the case, the Red Devils sure like to take the long road instead of the easy one.
—Marlboro County (6-3): There are few teams more of a mystery in the Palmetto State than the Bulldogs. Blessed with an abundance of talent on both sides of the ball, it seems this team has simply not been able to put it together, the low points coming in consecutive weeks in losses to Conway and Dillon.
Last week's 24-14 defeat at the hands of Hartsville put a conference title in doubt, and with a road test at Camden this Friday, Marlboro County could be looking at several road games en route to a trip to Columbia and the Class 3A title game.
WATCH OUT FOR:—Union County (6-3): No squad circles the wagons late in the season like the Yellow Jackets, who again after a rough start have fought their way to a region championship. Since beginning the season 0-3, Union Co. has rattled off six straight wins, averaging 33 points a game during that stretch. Getting the Clinton bug off their backs also was big for the Yellow Jackets, losing two close contests last season to the Red Devils, including a 17-14 loss in the state playoffs.
— Greenville (8-1): Few squads in Class 3A can light up the scoreboard in the fashion the Red Raiders can, averaging 33 points per game this season. But the biggest contributor the Greenville's success this year has to be its defense, only allowing more than 10 points once this year — that being a 33-31 setback at Gaffney in September.
Photo by Joe L. Hughes II
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