Class AAA outlook

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Fairfield Central fell twice last season to region rival South Pointe. This season, the Griffins are primed to supplant the Stallions as top dog in the Upper State.


Up until last year, Class AA and Class AAA were the only ones crowning a single champion rather than splitting its championship between two division winners.
A few months into the offseason, however, that all changed -- Class AAA now standing alone in the Palmetto State in crowning one, true champion.
After winning two of the classification’s past three titles -- including last season’s championship with a 27-23 triumph over South Pointe -- Myrtle Beach begins the 2011 campaign in the familiar role as favorite to continue its recent run of success. Different from the past few seasons, however, is the Seahawks will break in a new leader under center, Everett Golson departing for Notre Dame following a legendary career at the school.
Expected to compete for the job are rising juniors C.J. Cooper and Tyler Keane, a transfer from Carolina Forest over the summer. Myrtle Beach will also break in new starters at the skill positions and the offensive line.
An underrated unit last season, the Seahawks return seven starters on a defense now expected to lead the team back to the promised land.
Opponents in the Lower State will have trouble moving the ball against the squad’s fast, aggressive defensive front consisting of seniors Tyler Knox, Trey Vivian, and Kerry Chestnut, each getting looks by colleges. Leading tackler Octavius Thomas also returns.
While it’s hard to imagine anyone supplanting Myrtle Beach in the lower half of the state, a new one is eager to regain its spot atop the Upper State’s food chain.
A prolific offense helped take Fairfield Central to the Upper State’s version of the Turkey Bowl last season, only to be totally overmatched by a superior South Pointe squad led by top prospects Jadeveon Clowney and Gerald Dixon Jr. The Griffins may not be as laden with talent on the offensive side of the ball this season, but the team more than makes up for it on the defensive side, blessed with their own lineup of stars.
Opponents may find it particularly difficult to pass on Fairfield Central this season, returning three key members of its secondary -- Randall Adams, Davontre Parnell, and Shaferrell Jones. The Griffins are also strong on the defensive line, though there is a need at the linebacker position.
To help complement its strength on the defensive side of the ball, expect a heavy dose of running back Jimmy Walker this season, who rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last year.
Fairfield Central’s region rival, South Pointe, has many questions to answer as well. Graduating a wealth of talent on both sides of the ball, the Stallions also lost their head coach Bobby Carroll to York. He was 50-18 during his time at the school, including a state championship in 2008.
It will be interesting to see how the program reshuffles after so many changes in the offseason, but with so much talent at its disposal, South Pointe should again contend this season.
Other squads which could make things interesting are Greenville, Wade Hampton-Greenville, Belton-Honea Path, and Seneca.

FAVORITE: Myrtle Beach
CONTENDERS: Fairfield Central, South Pointe, Belton-Honea Path, Greenville, Wade Hampton-Greenville, Seneca
LOOK OUT FOR: Bluffton-- Following a 12-2 season and a deep run in the state playoffs, the Bobcats return nine starters on offense and quite a wealth of talent on the defensive side of the ball. With a number of questions regarding a number of squads in the Lower State -- in particular reigning state champion Myrtle Beach -- Bluffton might be primed to ascend to the classification’s top rung.

A Week 13 whip around the Palmetto State

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

Rushing for more than 200 yards in his team's Class AAAA Division I second round match-up with Fort Dorchester, junior running back Raymond Smith was a big reason Dorman's offense was able to kick things into high gear last Friday night.

It’s all depends on who you ask.
According to Gaffney fans, it was bad officiating and missed opportunities. In the eyes of those backing Irmo, it was the product of a good defensive effort.
No matter the combination of those ingredients, the Yellow Jackets were happy it fell in their favor, escaping W.C. Hawkins Stadium Friday night with a 12-7 victory.
Irmo’s Kevin Baxter returned an interception in the end zone off of Indians’quarterback DeEdward Burris 70 yards the first play of the fourth quarter, setting up the game’s deciding score, a 2-yard run by Dawan Scott.
The Yellow Jacket running back would wind up with 167 yards and two touchdowns on the night. With the win, his team advances to the Class AAAA Division I semifinals against defending state champion Dorman.
“Our kids made plays when they had to,” said Irmo head coach Bob Hanna to The State (S.C.). “We gave up some yards, but when it came time to play, we found a way to get it done.”
The Indians seemingly moved the ball at will against their Midlands contemporaries, spending much of the night inside Yellow Jackets territory. However, with the exception of a DeEdward Burris connection with wide receiver Quinshad Davis in the first quarter, that is where Gaffney drives would die, the result of mental errors in the form of three turnovers, several penalties and a number of dropped passes.
“When you come on somebody else’s home field and they are 10-2, you have to play better than them. We just didn’t make the big plays when we needed them,” said Gaffney head coach Dan Jones.
“We made some mistakes, dropped some passes, made some bad decisions. We just didn’t execute,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dorman put on arguably its most impressive performance of the season, disposing of Fort Dorchester 49-28. Raymond Smith ran for 241 yards and three touchdowns, including a 94-yard romp in the game’s final stanza.
Not to be outdone, Clemson commitment Charone Peake also had a big night, hit pay dirt three times in the contest, twice on throws from Cavaliers quarterback Nelson Hughes and another by way of a punt return.

A Sleeping Giant Awakens
Class AAAA powerhouse Byrnes may be down a bit this year … but they are definitely not out.
Junior running back Shakeem Wharton was quite the dual threat for the Rebels, racking up 170 total yards and three touchdowns in the team’s 31-14 Class AAAA Division I playoff win at Dutch Fork.
The performance was quite the statement for Byrnes, perceived as a bit vulnerable after a squad laden with stars was decimated by graduation. Yet it stands 48 minutes from another appearance in the state title game.
In the Lowcountry however, a thorough beating was being given to one of the state’s most recognizable figures in high school football. Summerville’s John McKissick, the nation’s all-time leader in coaching wins at the high school level, could only describe it as the worst beating any team has given his Green Wave on the field named after him.
Lexington delivered a whipping Summerville fans are sure to remember for some time, dismantling the traditional power from the Lowcountry 45-14.
Wildcats’ running back K.J. Miller toted the pigskin 31 times for 230 yards and three touchdowns, while his teammates on defense held Summerville star to a total of 152 yards and a meaningless touchdown late in a contest seemingly never in doubt.
In the “Lower 32” tournament better known to most as Class AAAA Division II, things went as expected with each of the top four seeds advanced, setting up a (4) Northwestern - (1) Goose Creek and (3) North Augusta- (2) Greenwood state semifinal round.
North Augusta was the only one of the four to struggle on the night, erasing an early deficit and surviving a late flurry from T.L. Hanna , 28-21.

"Thriller"
When they say enjoy every moment, do so; you never know when it will be taken from you.
Belton-Honea Path could not have believed the end was near after pulling ahead 28-27 with 1:18 left to go against Fairfield Central, thinking it had delivered the final salvo in the wild Class AAA Upper State semifinal contest.
The Griffins had other ideas, turning out the lights on the Bears and their undefeated 2010 campaign with a 35-28 heart-stopping win in the state’s upcountry.
Shaquille Young hauled in a pass from Fairfield Central quarterback Danny Miller with 25 seconds left to snare victory from defeat. The miraculous 34-yard grab, caught between two Belton-Honea Path defenders and also tipped twice, earned the Griffins a rematch with region rival South Pointe in the Upper State title game, the Stallions humbling Greenville 50-7.
South Pointe dealt Fairfield Central its lone defeat in 2010, winning 17-7 in Winnsboro last month.
Lower State juggernaut Myrtle Beach put an end to Berkeley’s playoff winning streak, taking care of the Stags 42-28. Seahawks quarterback Everett Golson passed for 381 yards and four touchdowns in the game, eliminating Berkeley, last year’s winners of the Class AAAA-Division II crown.
Myrtle Beach wants a Class AAA crown of its own, however, and will earn at least the right to do so with a win in the Lower State title game Friday against Bluffton, a 40-35 winner at Hartsville.

Thrice as Nice
Things seem to come in threes.
For Strom Thurmond and Timberland, the third time did not wind up being the charm, both falling to familiar opponents for the third consecutive year.
Meanwhile, Central (Pageland) and Dillon remained on a collision course to meet in the Class AA title game, the Eagles advancing past Strom Thurmond 35-30; while the Wildcats moved on with an impressive 31-14 win over previously undefeated Timberland.
Dillon again advances to the Lower State title game where it will host Manning, a 30-20 winner over region rival Lake City.
The Monarchs again did a good job in limiting Panthers’ star running back Shon Carson, who though gaining 137 yards and scored the 100th touchdown of his prep football career, Manning won the rushing battle as it was able to churn out 205 yards of its own on the ground -- 120 of which were contributed by Marcos Pearson -- wearing out an active Lake City defense.
Central faces a familiar foe for a second straight week, this time in the form of Woodruff, which earned a hard fought 37-30 victory over Columbia.
In Class A on the other hand, Scott’s Branch and Williston-Elko again earned the right to meet each other with a state title hanging in the balance.
Christ Church gave the Blue Devils all they could handle in the Class A Division I Upper State final, drawing to within six points after being down three touchdowns early on in the contest. However, Williston-Elko’s wishbone attack chewed valuable clock time and the Cavaliers’ final heave fell into the arms of an opposing defender, giving W-E the 27-21 win.
Scott’s Branch fell behind early, but it was only a minor setback between it and the program’s third consecutive date with the Blue Devils, defeating Hardeeville 36-20.
Might as well call it a grudge match, the teams splitting the last two Class A Division II championship games. The game is Friday at 3 p.m. at Benedict University Stadium in Columbia.
In Class A Division I play, a Randon Sandifer 22-yard field goal as time expired gave Bamberg-Ehrhardt a Lower State title, defeating Hemingway 17-14. It will face Abbeville for a championship Friday at noon in Columbia, the Panthers getting past Lamar 20-12 in a highly contested Upper State final.

Palmetto State Roundup
Class AAAA Division 2 Second Round
Goose Creek 49, Easley 0
Greenwood 35, South Florence 7
North Augusta 28, T.L. Hanna 21
Northwestern 49, Ashley Ridge 35

Class AAAA Division 1
Second Round
Irmo 12, Gaffney 7
James F. Byrnes 31, Dutch Fork 14
Lexington 35, Summerville 14
Dorman 49, Fort Dorchester 28

Upper State Class AAA
Third Round
Fairfield Central 35, Belton-Honea Path 28
South Pointe 50, Greenville 7

Lower State Class AAA
Third Round
Bluffton 40, Hartsville 35
Myrtle Beach 42, Berkeley 28

Upper State Class AA
Third Round
Central 35, Strom Thurmond 30
Woodruff 37, Columbia 30

Lower State Class AA
Third Round
Dillon 31, Timberland 14
Manning 30, Lake City 20
Upper State Class A Division I Semifinal
Abbeville 20, Lamar 12

Lower State Class A Division I
Semifinal
Bamberg-Ehrhardt 17, Hemingway 14

Upper State Class A Division II
Semifinal
Williston-Elko 27, Christ Church Episcopal 21

Lower State Class A Division II
Semifinal
Scott's Branch 36, Hardeeville 20

S.C. Prep Football — Classes 3A & 4A Week 10 Stock Watch

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.

Doing whatever it takes -- South Pointe defense leads way in tough region win over Fairfield Central

Photo by Joe L. Hughes II

South Pointe's Gerald Dixon tries to corral Fairfield Central running back Jimmy Walker in the pivotal region contest in Winnsboro last week. The Stallions were able to earn a hard fought win and a share of first place in Region IV-3A, 17-7.

WINNSBORO, S.C. -- South Pointe head coach Bobby Carroll could not have described last Friday night’s contest with region foe Fairfield Central any better -- “it was nothing short of a 12 round fight.”
A haymaker in the form of a 25 yard pass from backup quarterback Devin Pearson to Montay Crockett gave Carroll’s Stallions the cushion they needed late in the fourth quarter at Winnsboro’s E.K. McClendon Stadium, allowing the team’s stout defense to turn out the lights on the Griffins, defeating them 17-7.
“This team does not care about statistics, how many touchdowns one of them has or the number of shutouts are achieved,” Carroll said. “All we care about is what the scoreboard says at the end of the game.”
Facing a high octane Fairfield Central offense which had not previously scored less than 26 points this season, South Pointe yielded 212 yards on the night, holding Griffins’ star quarterback Danny Miller to 10- of-22 passing for 57 yards and an interception.
The theft of Miller, which occurred on Fairfield Central’s first series, led to the Stallions getting on the board first in the game, a 19 yard scamper by all-American Jadeveon Clowney.
Clowney, who is regarded as one of the nation’s top prospects for his exploits on the defensive side of the ball, proved he was not a “one trick pony” by toting the ball twice on the drive -- a 4th-and- 1 play and the touchdown run.
“One of our backs separated his shoulder early, so Clowney was able to step in and be effective for us,” Carroll said.
South Pointe would add a field goal by Landon Ard in the second quarter to take a 10-0 lead into the locker room at intermission.
Following a Stallions punt after the break, Fairfield Central’s running game cranked it up a notch, the legs of Griffins tailback Jimmy Walker eventually getting into the end zone from six yards out.
On several more occasions Fairfield Central would get into South Pointe territory during the second half, however, none of the drives would come away with points, much to the disappointment of head coach Reggie Kennedy.
“That’s a good defense over there, one of the best in the state; but we were able to run a bit in the second half and wear them down a bit,” Kennedy said. “But we knew this game would come down to who made the most plays. It just so happened they made more plays than us.”
Carroll also was not happy about his squad leaving points off the board, and more specifically, putting the ball on the ground.
“This was a tough, but sloppy ball game for us,” Carroll said. “To give up four fumbles and still win against a team this good is a tribute to how good our defense played (Friday night).”
South Pointe improved to 7-1 in 2010, and more importantly 3-0 in Region IV-3A going into a contest with Chester which will decide a region champion. Fairfield Central hopes to take care of business Friday against Fort Mill before finishing up the regular season at the rival Cyclones.