SCHSL 4A
No. 16 Beaufort (3-7) at No. 1 South Pointe (9-1)
All-Time Series: South Pointe leads 1-0
Last Meeting: South Pointe W 41-7 (2021)
Scouting Beaufort: The Eagles’ early offensive woes have subsided somewhat with the emergence of running back Tylik Isom and quarterback Braydon Moyd-Smalls, but the lack of an effective passing game has troubled Beaufort all season. Beaufort’s defense has been outstanding at times and fuels the Eagles’ success, and the front seven is especially tough with rushers Chaz Brown and Jayden Simmons and linebackers Colton Freeman and James Thomas holding things down up front.
Scouting South Pointe: The Stallions have won nine straight since a season-opening 14-10 loss at North Carolina power Hough, and they’ve posted three shutouts in their last four games, including a 70-0 drubbing of Richland Northeast last week. Loaded with Power 4 talent, South Pointe’s defense has racked up 143 tackles for loss and 47 sacks, and the offensive stats aren’t any less impressive with quarterback J’Zavien Currence — 247Sports’ top-ranked senior in South Carolina — at the helm.
Outlook: We all remember what happened the last time these teams met — unless you’ve been fortunate enough to block it from your memory — and a similar outcome seems likely this time despite Beaufort’s recent strides on offense. Isom has become a reliable lead back, and Moyd-Smalls is an effective runner who is developing as a passer, but the Eagles didn’t score more than 20 points in any of their last five games, and the Stallions haven’t allowed more than seven in their last five. Beaufort’s defense has held its own this season and kept the Eagles in games with May River and Bishop England, but they’ve had a hard time stopping dynamic offenses that are multi-dimensional, and South Pointe fits the bill. Beaufort will have a tough time containing Currence and Co. and keeping pace with a stacked Stallions squad.
SCHSL 3A
No. 14 Battery Creek (2-8) at No. 3 Loris (10-0)
All-Time Series: Loris leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Loris W 56-0 (2012)
Scouting Battery Creek: The Dolphins limp into the postseason on a four-game losing streak, though they rallied in the second half last week to make things respectable in a 31-21 loss to Hanahan. The ground game has shown flashes of success, but Battery Creek’s execution has been inconsistent. The defense has held its own against opponents of like caliber, but dynamic offenses have been able to shred the Dolphins on the ground and through the air.
Scouting Loris: The Lions have really only been challenged once this season, in a 23-22 win at Dillon that proved their mettle as a legitimate state title contender. The defense has surrendered more than 14 points only that one time this year and is coming off its first shutout, a 54-0 rout of Aynor on Friday. The Lions’ pass-heavy offense is a nightmare to defend with six different receivers who have caught at least three touchdown passes and four players with at least six touchdown grabs.
Outlook: The last time the Dolphins made it out of the first round in 2012, the Lions dispatched them in blowout fashion, and this year’s matchup is ripe for more of the same. Loris is undefeated and one of the top contenders to challenge Lower State favorite Oceanside Collegiate, which ran through Region 6-3A and routed Battery Creek 45-0. The Dolphins’ defense has a big test in trying to contain senior quarterback Zamire Gerald, who has passed for more than 2,000 yards with 37 touchdowns and just one interception this season, and with an offense that has struggled to score at times, it’s going to be difficult for Battery Creek to keep up.
SCHSL 2A
Region 5 No. 4 Whale Branch (3-7) at Region 6 No. 1 Philip Simmons (8-2)
All-Time Series: Whale Branch leads 3-2
Last Meeting: Philip Simmons W 46-14 (Sept. 19)
Scouting Whale Branch: The Warriors’ first campaign without Jerry Hatcher has taken a downturn since a heartbreaking 28-26 homecoming loss to Lake Marion started a three-game losing streak to finish the regular season. Whale Branch was in most of its games until the last two weeks, but the offense sputtered and the defense fell apart against Hampton County and Barnwell, which doesn’t bode well going into a rematch that didn’t go their way the first time.
Scouting Philip Simmons: The Iron Horses lost their first two games of the season to Hanahan and Lucy Beckham, but they’ve been rolling ever since, starting with a tough win at Beaufort in September. After giving up 75 points in those first two games, Philip Simmons has surrendered only 48 points during an eight-game winning streak with four shutouts over that span. That kind of defense doesn’t require much offensive support to win, but the Iron Horses have an electric dual-threat quarterback in junior Hayes Goddard, who has accounted for 28 touchdowns (24 passing) with just one interception.
Outlook: The Iron Horses have dominated the regular-season meetings the last two seasons, routing the Warriors 43-7 last year in Seabrook and 46-14 on Sept. 19 in Charleston, and conditions are ripe for a repeat. Goddard is a weapon, and even if Whale Branch’s Jermon Bowers can lock down top target Ashton Kellermann, the Iron Horses have other guys who can beat you. It would take a huge game from Bowers working behind a strong offensive line and a season-best performance from the defense to keep the Warriors’ season alive.
SCISA 3A
No. 3 John Paul II (5-5) at No. 2 Florence Christian (7-2)
All-Time Series: Florence Christian leads 4-0
Last Meeting: Florence Christian W 30-21 (2023)
Scouting John Paul II: One of the best stories in the Lowco this season has been JPII’s rapid turnaround after winning just one game a year ago, and the quick success has been built on a powerful ground game. The thunder-and-lightning duo of Andrew Boyden and Jadon Inabinett combined with the dual threat of quarterback Alan Wolf gives the Golden Warriors a ball-control offense built for the postseason, and the defense is tough against the run, if a little soft in coverage.
Scouting Florence Christian: The Eagles are a quality squad whose only losses have come to Williamsburg Academy and Wilson Hall, each legitimate state title contenders in their divisions, and those games were competitive. Sophomore quarterback Riley Minton doesn’t put the ball in the air often, averaging fewer than 10 pass attempts per game, but the play-action passing game is effective when the opponent overcommits to stopping the one-two punch of Andrew Miller and Brooks Poston.
Outlook: The Eagles have twice ended the Golden Warriors’ season in the playoffs, including a 30-21 win in the 2023 first round and a lopsided victory in the 2018 state championship game, but this is a matchup that plays to JPII’s strengths. The Eagles’ defense is susceptible to strong rushing attacks, as borne out in losses to Wilson Hall and Williamsburg Academy, so the Golden Warriors should be able to move the ball and put up points. If the Golden Warriors take care of the ball and JPII’s safeties stay disciplined and take away Florence Christian’s targeted passing game, this season of growth could be extended another week.
SCISA 1A
No. 3 Beaufort Academy (6-4) at No. 2 Dorchester Academy (8-1)
All-Time Series: Dorchester leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Dorchester W 21-8 (Sept. 19)
Scouting Beaufort Academy: After a red-hot start, the Eagles have stumbled to four losses in their last five games, including a heartbreaking 32-27 defeat Friday at Thomas Heyward, but the pieces are still in place for this BA team to make a playoff run. Nych Underwood is among the best backs in all of SCISA, and quarterback Nic Shuford is a dangerous runner who can pick apart defenses with dangerous receivers Devin Fripp and Jace Paulk. BA’s defense faltered down the stretch, but if the defensive front can muster its early-season dominance, the Eagles will be a tough out.
Scouting Dorchester Academy: The Raiders were riding high at 8-0 and looked like they might be the team to beat in SCISA 1A until Friday’s 36-21 setback at home against Williamsburg Academy. Now they have to pick up the pieces and try to beat a pesky BA team for a second time. There’s no secret to what DA wants to do on offense, and that’s pound the ball to bruising back John Whetsell and let John Quattlebaum make reads at the line and guide the offense, and the Raiders fly to the ball and play physical on defense.
Outlook: The regular-season meeting was a slugfest, and the Eagles were in it until a late score put it out of reach. The Raiders were able to control the game script and the clock with long, sustained drives the first time around, so BA needs to make stops on first and second downs and put DA in third-and-uncomfortable situations to give the offense more opportunities to catch lightning.
