Playoffs! Pairings, predictions as 11 Rock Hill-area HS football teams try to stay alive
Four months ago, when everyone was undefeated and the beautiful optimism that spins high school sports round was in full bloom, pretty much every high school football team in The Herald’s coverage area had state championship dreams.
Now, a whirlwind of a regular season later, only 11 still have those dreams intact. And they’ll be put on the line every week from here on out.
Here’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to know ahead of the first round of the high school football state playoffs — including Friday night’s full local schedule, game-by-game story lines, sports editor Alex Zietlow predictions and more.
Full Rock Hill-area football schedule
Boiling Springs (1-9, 1-3) at Northwestern (9-1, 4-0). Northwestern is on a nine-game winning streak, and the team looked downright invulnerable in its 50-7 clobbering of city rival Rock Hill last week. Wherever you look, the Trojan offense is stacked — from its Mr. Football finalist quarterback, Will Mattison; to its two-headed rushing attack of Turbo Richard and Qua Howard; to its tough offensive line and deep receiving corps and more. (The Northwestern defense has proven its worth as of late, too, only allowing 12.5 points a game in its four region contests.) The Trojans will host Boiling Springs, whose playoff-clinching (and only) win so far this season was against Fort Mill.
Listen: FM 100.1/AM 1340
Zietlow’s prediction: Northwestern wins.
Rock Hill (2-6, 1-3) at Gaffney (10-0, 4-0). It’s no secret the Bearcats needed Ridge View to beat Blythewood last week to sneak into this year’s playoffs. It’s no secret, either, that Gaffney — the No. 3 team in South Carolina 5A football — could oust Rock Hill from the postseason for the third time in four years Friday. But one positive angle the Bearcats should carry into their contest against the Indians? Gaffney’s worst offensive performance of the season came against Clover — a team Rock Hill beat and scored 23 points on. This one’s worth tuning in to.
Listen: FM 94.3
Zietlow’s prediction: Gaffney wins.
Nation Ford (4-5, 2-2) at Spring Valley (6-2, 3-1). Nation Ford, a team averaging 32.1 points a game, has proven that it can score points with anyone in 5A football. Spring Valley, conversely, boasts one of the best defenses in football — only once allowing more than 30 points in a game all season (and that was in a 35-21 loss to Northwestern). The Falcons were held to a season-low 15 points against Clover last week, and if the law of averages holds weight in the postseason, that means quarterback Carson Black and company are due for an explosive outing. Anything can happen.
Zietlow’s prediction: Spring Valley wins.
Ridge View (4-4, 2-2) at Clover (4-4, 3-1). Ridge View is an athletic and clearly capable team, and that’s about all anyone knows about the Blazers. And for good reason: Ridge View has been in and out of the 5A top-10 media poll this year by virtue of the fact that it has hung tough against good teams (read: the team’s 42-40 loss to Dorman) yet fallen flat against teams it shouldn’t have (read: the team’s loss to 2A Gray Collegiate). Much of the same can be said for Clover, yes — but the Blue Eagles have proven their mettle the last two weeks. They’ve done so, too, without a chunk of their offensive starters (including several wide receivers and starting quarterback Joe Boyd last week). This one should be good.
Listen: WRHI.com
Zietlow’s prediction: Clover wins.
Richland Northeast (3-7, 1-4) at South Pointe (7-1, 4-0). South Pointe will be looking to deliver DeVonte Holloman his second playoff win as a head coach on Friday. And if the Stallions play at all like they did last week against York — a game in which they shut the Cougars out and capitalized on big days from quarterback Zay McCrorey and running back Ja’Quan Thompson — they’ll deliver a win. Richland Northeast has only scored more than 10 points in a game once this season, and it came in a loss to Crestwood in September.
Listen: FM 104.1
Zietlow’s prediction: South Pointe wins.
Irmo (6-3, 4-1) at York (7-2, 3-1). Irmo might be traveling to York on Friday night, but the team probably doesn’t consider itself much of an underdog. And nor should it: The Yellow Jackets finished in a three-way tie for first place in Region 4-4A but fell to a No. 3 seed in the playoffs. They have a season-defining win over 4A state championship contender AC Flora to their name, too. But the Cougars — who use a run-first, clock-eating offense powered by sophomore quarterback Ayden Davis, and who have been able to turn over opponents like flapjacks this season — are no slouches. This might be the most competitive game in the state on Friday night.
Listen: FM 107.1
Zietlow’s prediction: York wins.
Catawba Ridge (5-4, 2-2) at Westwood (5-4, 4-1). In Weeks 8 and 9, Catawba Ridge found ways to win without its starting quarterback, Jadyn Davis. How’d the Copperheads do it? They held Lancaster to 10 points and Indian Land to 13 points (using a goal-line stand in overtime to make it happen). Catawba Ridge will need to score against Westwood on Friday: The Redhawks, after all, have won their last four and have done so by scoring an average of 38.5 points a game.
Zietlow’s prediction: Catawba Ridge wins.
Indian Land (5-3, 1-3) at AC Flora (8-1, 4-1). Indian Land earned a win over Lancaster last week to sneak into the playoffs, thanks to a big offensive day powered by quarterback Blake Goode and receiver Drew Hardin, but the Warriors’ playoff reward is a bit of a punishment: They’re tasked with taking on AC Flora, a team that ran its way to a 4A state championship in 2020 and one that hasn’t really slowed down in 2021.
Zietlow’s prediction: AC Flora wins.
Belton-Honea Path (4-6, 2-2) at Chester (6-3. 3-1). Like head coach Victor Floyd prescribes every year, Chester had a bye week last week to get his 3A team healthy before beginning its playoff run on Friday. The Cyclones at full strength are scary. Running backs Shydem McCullough and Sherard Feaster and quarterback Zan Dunham have been giving teams headaches all year. And the Cyclone defense is solid, too: After its overtime loss to Lower Richland in mid-September, Chester has won all four of its contests and in the process has only allowed 48 total points. Belton-Honea Path ended the regular season losing three of its last four.
Listen: FM 90.3
Zietlow’s prediction: Chester wins.
Andrew Jackson (6-3, 3-1) at Saluda (6-2, 3-1). Andrew Jackson is on the road to play a very tough Saluda team. Just two weeks ago, the Volunteers were one win away from a region title and a No. 1 seed in the Lower State playoffs. Now, they’re in a bit of a bind: Saluda is a top-10 team in 2A football, and even if AJ can scrape by Saluda, the Lancaster County team will face 2A juggernaut Abbeville in Round 2. Brutal. Don’t count the coach Todd Shigley-led Volunteers out, though: His team has been able to turn opponents over like no one else in 2A football this year. (Against archrival North Central, the Volunteers forced nine — yes, 9 — takeaways.)
Zietlow’s prediction: Andrew Jackson wins.
Great Falls (6-3, 1-3) at Dixie (7-2, 5-1). Great Falls has enjoyed a banner season, in large part due to the emergence of offensive playmakers Foxx Moore (running back) and Zay Brown (quarterback). The Red Devils will face a team with an impressive 1A pedigree in Dixie on Friday — but this one’s winnable for GF: Last week, Dixie barely squeaked by Whitmire; Great Falls crushed Whitmire, 36-12, in its season-opener.
Zietlow’s prediction: Great Falls wins.
Tri-County Coaches Association Players of Week 10
The Tri-County Coaches Association is comprised of coaches from York, Chester and Lancaster counties. The Herald facilitated the vote, as it does every week.
5A
Offensive Player: Will Mattison, Northwestern, 21 of 31 passing for 318 yards and 4 TDs, 5 carries for 38 yards and a TD; Offensive Lineman: Vance Ventry, Northwestern, 92% grade with 4 knockdowns and 0 sacks given up; Defensive Player: Jackson Sims, Nation Ford, 22 tackles, 3 TFL; Defensive Lineman: Maurice Bonneau, Rock Hill, 13 tackles (11 solo), 5 TFL, 1 QBP, 2 PBU, 1 blocked kick; Special Teams Player: Mateo Moyon, Rock Hill, 5 punts, 41 yard average (long of 73 yards), 1 punt pinned on 1 yard line, 1-1 PAT.
4A
Offensive Player: Waymond Jenerette, South Pointe, 10 catches for 106 yards and 1 TD; Offensive Lineman: Alexavier McMoore, South Pointe, 90% grade, 5 pancakes, 2 knockdowns; Defensive Player: Makhail Knight, Indian Land, 1 fumble recovery, 1 INT, 3 tackles; Defensive Lineman: JT Knight, Indian Land, 7 tackles, 1 sack; Special Teams Player: Drew Hardin, Indian Land, punt return for a TD (only played for one half).
3A, 2A, 1A
No teams from The Herald’s coverage area in 3A, 2A or 1A played last week.
Sam Copeland contributed to this report.
This story was originally published November 4, 2021 at 8:00 AM.
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