After a thrilling 11-week regular season, the high school football playoffs kick off on Friday night. But before an action-packed month of November kicks off, let’s go through our top state title contenders in the Lowco and look at what it will take for each school to bring home the big hardware.
Hilton Head Christian: Let the veterans lead the way.
The Eagles have soared past their SCISA 2A competition once again in 2021, finishing off a perfect regular season with a 42-0 domination over rival Hilton Head Prep. Ron Peduzzi’s group displays its winning mentality on every snap out on the field, and no one does it better than the senior duo of quarterback Jace Blackshear and linebacker Jackson Lanier. Both have grown by leaps and bounds during their time with the program, and both will be counted on to perform in the postseason. Blackshear is the engine of the high-powered spread attack and has developed a near-unbeatable multidimensional skill set. Lanier is the heart and soul of this Eagle team, and “Bulldog” has become an indispensable part of this team on both sides of the ball. With his explosiveness on offense and his phenomenal motor and tackling ability, Lanier has starred all over the field while becoming an incredible role model for the underclassmen. If Blackshear and Lanier continue to show their dominance and leadership on the field, the Eagles should fly to the perch of SCISA 2A football once again.
Thomas Heyward: Play your game and play to your strengths.
To be honest, I really don’t think there are any SCISA 1A teams that can challenge the Rebels on their quest for a fourth straight title. But Dorchester Academy is certainly one to watch as a potential championship matchup in Charleston. It was no easy win in the regular season, as the Rebels had to battle back from a 7-0 deficit after a bad snap allowed the Raiders to score first. But if Thomas Heyward can execute and play to its strengths on both sides of the ball, the Rebels should have the advantage against any opponent they face. They may be down to their third-string quarterback, but Anthony Fripp and Tony Obanner’s ability in the run game should be enough for the Rebels to move the ball and control the game. If Brandon Howard, Cameron VanGeison and a locked-in defense can continue its hard-nosed play to complement a terrific ground attack, Nic Shuford’s team will find a way to claim an incredible fourth straight 1A crown.
May River: The offensive line must pave the way for explosive quarterback Garvin Douglas.
Even when legendary quarterback Ahmad Green left May River this year, the Shark offense didn’t miss a beat. Thanks to senior superstar Garvin Douglas, May River has reloaded instantaneously and is once again looking like a 4A state contender. For the Region 7-4A champs to take this deep, the blocking will have open room for Douglas’ stellar running abilities. It only takes one small hole for Douglas to fly down the field, and a solid performance from the line should help the Sharks keep up with any other potent offense in Class 4A. The blockers must also avoid back-breaking holding calls, which ran May River into some trouble at Hilton Head last week. They returned just three offensive starters from last year, but Douglas and company have vaulted the Sharks to a Region 7-4A title and a terrific chance at a memorable playoff run.
Beaufort High: Tyler Haley and a dynamic Eagle offense must avoid costly mistakes.
It seemed like everything was clicking for Beaufort High early in the season, especially on offense. But a six-turnover road loss to Oceanside Collegiate showed that Bryce Lybrand’s group still had some strides to make. Now, after a loss to May River to give up its region title, Beaufort has a lot more to prove this time in the postseason. The Eagles have the weapons to do it, but Haley and company must find a way to play mistake-free football if they want to see out their preseason goals of a state title run. They’ve shown that they can hang with any school in 4A, heck, they almost knocked off Myrtle Beach last year. It will come down to fine margins, and taking care of the football could be the difference between success and feelings of what could have been.
Whale Branch: The Warriors must ride the hot hand of Joseph Hicks.
We’ve seen some memorable individual seasons in 2021, but Joseph Hicks’ 18-touchdown campaign was the one that really surprised me. Hicks has proven game after game that he can carry this Whale Branch offense, and the Warriors must find a way to get him going early and often in the playoffs. Hicks is a gifted and determined runner with impressive quickness and terrific tackle-breaking abilities. For Jerry Hatcher’s group to make a deep run, Hicks will need to stay healthy and produce on both sides of the ball. A senior veteran who can keep defenses honest and provide an important presence in the middle of the defense, Hicks is looking like the factor that can put the Warriors over the top in a tough 1A Lower State bracket.
The regular season has been a blast, but nothing compares to the intensity and the excitement of high school playoff football. I can’t wait for the ride to get started on Friday night.
By Wes Kerr
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