Big night for football

By Staff Reports

Rock Hill's three high school football teams didn't just beat their opponents in last week's playoff games -- they demolished them.

The South Pointe Stallions stomped the Berkeley Stags, 48-14. With the win, South Pointe, ranked No. 2 in Class AAAA, moved to 13-0 and eliminated the team that knocked the Stallions out of the playoffs last year.

The Northwestern Trojans disposed of Richland Northeast, 49-9, in the second round of Class AAAA Division II playoffs. Northwestern, ranked No. 4 in Class AAAA, now is 12-1, its only loss to South Pointe.

The Rock Hill Bearcats shut down the Irmo Yellow Jackets, 26-3, in the Class AAAA Division I semifinals. The Bearcats are 11-2, losing only to South Pointe and Northwestern.

Long-shot Lancaster topped Goose Creek, 28-20, in Class AAAA Division II play to make it to the semifinals. The Bruins' 10-3 record is the team's best since a 6-5 finish in 2001.

In Class AAA, the Chester Cyclones overcame an 11-point lead in the third quarter to defeat the Clinton Red Devils. Chester, 10-3, travels to Daniel tonight for the Class AAA Upper State championship.

Rock Hill will travel to Sumter tonight to determine the winner of the Division I semifinals. Both Northwestern and South Pointe will play at home. Northwestern will take on Lancaster and South Pointe will take on Laurens. All games begin at 7:30 p.m.

South Pointe and Northwestern are both strong candidates to make the Class AAAA Division II championship game. They are on different sides of the bracket, and a win tonight would land either or both a spot in the title game.

Likewise, a win by Rock Hill at Sumter would put the Bearcats in the state championship on Dec. 6 in Clemson.

A lot is riding on tonight's games, and local loyalties are pulled in different directions. The best outcome tonight, however, is four local teams in the state finals, and three lugging home state trophies.

Good luck to all of them. No matter what the outcome is tonight, this has been a season to remember for local football fans.