Published: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 / Updated: Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2008 12:53 AM

'Tis the season

It's about this time of year I start making promises to myself.

Thanksgiving: Turkey, dressing, gravy, potato salad -- I'm gonna eat like a starving dog.

Christmas: Ham, gravy, mashed potatoes, asparagus -- yum-yum, eat 'em up.

Jan 2: Time to go on a diet and shed about 60 pounds. Never happens. Too many cheeseburgers to eat, and my pants keep getting tighter.

The point is, I'm not too good at keeping promises to myself. Long ago, I made one that I've been able to keep for years. I would not make predictions. I would not participate in our Guessperts contest because it's hard not to pick with my heart.

Besides, I can't pick one of our local teams to lose. Regardless of the outcome of their games, all of them are winners in my book.

So why am I going to break another promise and pick the winners in the Class AAAA state championship game? Who knows? Must be a crazy man, but here goes.

Let's start with Division I.

First round: Dorman over Wando; Lexington over Stratford; Byrnes over Spartanburg; Clover over Mauldin; Irmo over Hillcrest; Rock Hill over Fort Dorchester; Summerville over Gaffney, Sumter over Boiling Springs.

Second round: Dorman over Lexington; Byrnes over Clover -- sorry, Blue Eagles, that mountain is too high to climb; Rock Hill over Irmo; Sumter over Summerville.

Semifinals: Byrnes over Dorman; Rock Hill over Sumter.

Championship: Byrnes over Rock Hill -- it was a good run.

OK. All comments welcomed, but those and the picks to follow were made with my Mr. Spock logic, not my heart. Believe me. My heart is aching right now, and I hope I'm wrong on a couple of picks.

Here we go again, with Division II.

First round: Northwestern over York; Richland Northeast over Aiken; Goose Creek over T.L. Hanna; UPSET WARNING!!!, Lancaster over Greenwood; Conway over Ridge View; Laurens over North Augusta; South Pointe over West Florence; Beaufort over Berkeley.

Second round: Northwestern over Richland Northeast; Goose Creek over Lancaster -- great season, Bruins; Conway over Laurens; South Pointe over Beaufort.

Semifinals: In a rematch of their season opener, Northwestern over Goose Creek; South Pointe over Conway.

Championship: South Pointe over Northwestern.

On what are these picks based? The three Rock Hill teams are a combined 30-3. Rock Hill, 9-2, lost to Northwestern and South Pointe. Northwestern lost to South Pointe.

Let's not forget that Clover and Lancaster are each 8-3. Their losses were against the three Rock Hill teams.

Enough said and good luck guys.

• PROMISE KEPT: This is a promise that will be kept.

I promised one of the posters on The Herald Class AAAA Football message board that I'd get this out to as many folks as possible.

Clover is home against Mauldin in the fist round of the Class AAAA Division I playoffs at 7:30 Friday. The call has been made for a "Blue Out'' by all Clover fans. In other words, all fans and students are asked to wear their best blue Clover to to the game. Sweatshirt, jacket, whatever, as long as it's Clover blue.

That's so while the Blue Eagles are making the Mavericks black and blue on the field, the team and fans on the visitors' side will see nothing but Clover blue when they look at the home stands. The gesture is a show of support for the defending Division II champs.

• MOORE NEWS: Clover assistant coach Robbie Wiggins said the diagnosis on fullback Ricky Moore is a dislocated shoulder, not a separated shoulder as first believed.

Moore, a senior, definitely will be out this week but could make it back at some point if the Eagles keep winning.

We're pulling for you, Ricky. I'm guessing all of York County is.

• WHY?: You're probably wondering why Rock Hill is playing on Thursday and Northwestern on Friday.

It's because Northwestern is a region champ and a higher seed than Rock Hill. The Trojans are a No. 1 seed; the Bearcats a No. 7.

As both keep playing and have home games, Northwestern has first choice of which night to play.