SC prep football playoff roundup: South Pointe, Catawba Ridge, Indian Land advance
South Pointe opened its bid for South Carolina’s Class 4A state football championship with a record-breaking performance Friday night.
The Stallions scored the most points in a single game in school history, walloping visiting Blue Ridge 77-0.
South Pointe dominated in every phase of the game, scoring on the ground, in the air, with its defense, and via special teams.
The Stallions scored a little more than three minutes into the game, on the first of three touchdown runs by Mason Pickett-Hicks. His opening score covered 38 yards.
Cam McMillon then connected with J’zavien Currence on a 10-yard scoring toss, before Pickett-Hicks added a 1-yard scoring run late in the first quarter.
South Pointe (9-2) added 35 points in the second quarter.
Pickett-Hicks scored on a 28-yard run to make it 28-0. Then the defense and special teams took over. Defensive back Darrien Judge picked off a Blue Ridge pass and returned it 47 yards for a score. Blue Ridge had to punt on its next possession, and Sean Young returned the kick 40 yards for a touchdown.
The next Blue Ridge possession resulted in a 55-yard punt return by Dailan Duncan.
Duncan caught a 19-yard touchdown pass with five seconds left in the first half, bringing the lead to 56-0.
The Stallions, seeded third in the Upper State, will host Greer in the second round next Friday.
Blue Ridge finished with a 4-7 record.
CATAWBA RIDGE 38, WOODMONT 35
C.J. Couch threw five touchdown passes, leading the Copperheads (8-3) to a Class 5A/Division 2 victory.
Catawba Ridge, seeded sixth in the Upper State, will travel to third-seeded J.L. Mann next Friday.
Couch had a huge night for the Copperheads, but it was senior kicker Camden Gifford who actually won the game. He connected on a 23-yard field goal with 45 seconds remaining for the winning points.
Woodmont (3-8) scored first, but Catawba Ridge came back with first-quarter touchdowns on Couch passes of 14 yards to Darius Sutton and 42 yards to Braylin Burgis.
Woodmont led 14-13 at the half after scoring a touchdown just 10 seconds before intermission.
Couch connected with Sutton on a 25-yard scoring pass early in the third quarter, but Woodmont came back and tied the game on a 2-yard run by quarterback Ezekiel Belcher. T.J. Williams then ran 26 yards for a score, putting Woodmont on top 28-21.
A 6-yard pass from Couch to Burgis in the final minute of the third quarter tied the game at 28-all.
Couch and Sutton connected on a 20-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, but Woodmont tied the game again on a 4-yard run by Belcher with 4:28 to play.
That set the stage for Catawba Ridge’s final drive, which resulted in the Gifford field goal.
INDIAN LAND 34, EASTSIDE 7
Jamol Horton ran for two touchdowns, and Matt Kucia threw three scoring passes, as Indian Land registered its first playoff victory in 14 years.
Defense helped fuel the Warriors (6-5) in this Class 5A/Division 2 game. Indian Land held Eastside to negative total yardage through the first three quarters.
Horton got the offense going with a 3-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. The Warriors set the tone in that drive, which consumed more than eight minutes.
Eastside (4-6) got its only score on the ensuing kickoff, with Elijah McMahon returned the kick 91 yards for a touchdown.
Indian Land went ahead to stay midway in the second quarter. Kucia, a freshman quarterback, connected with Sequel Patterson on a 19-yard touchdown pass. The Warriors made it 20-7 shortly before the half on a 56-yard pass from Kucia to sophomoe Lavoris Lucas.
Horton then ran 52 yards for a score on Indian Land’s opening possession of the second half, and Kucia threw a 55-yard touchdown pass for the final score in the fourth quarter.
The Warriors’ next playoff game will be a challenge, as they travel to top-seeded Northwestern next Friday. It will be a rematch of a late-October game which Northwestern won 45-0.
CLOVER 31, BLYTHEWOOD 28
Clover raced to a 31-13 lead, then held off a Blythewood comeback for a Class 5A/Division 1 victory. The Blue Eagles, seeded sixth in the Upper State, travel to third-seeded J.L. Mann next Friday.
What turned out to be the winning touchdown came with 9:01 left in the game, on a 29-yard run by Landon Stone. Blythewood (6-5) made it closed by scoring on an interception with 5:32 to play, and then a long pass with 3:04 remaining.
Grady Stone scored on a pair of short runs in the third quarter.
Aaron Shealey connected with Dane Craig on a 49-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and Haven Maddox kicked a field goal on the final play of the first half.
HILLCREST 48, NATION FORD 23
The Falcons (2-9) kept it close through the first half of this Class 5A/Division 2 game, but Hillcrest (8-3) pulled away in the second half.
Nation Ford grabbed a 6-0 lead just two minutes into the game, on a 25-yard pass from Carson Sanford to Josh Ameo. Hillcrest then grabbed a 7-6 lead, but Nation Ford went ahead late in the first quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Austin Sarvis.
Hillcrest scored three straight touchdowns for a 27-9 lead, but Nation Ford narrowed the gap on a 25-yard scoring pass from Ey Young to Ameo.
Hillcrest added a pair of third-quarter touchdowns for a 42-17 lead and were never threatened again.
Young and Ameo connected on a 60-yard touchdown pass midway in the fourth quarter for Nation Ford’s final points.
WREN 41, LANCASTER 21
There will be no “Cinderella” story this year for Lancaster.
The Bruins surged to the third round of the Class 4A playoffs a year ago after winning only one regular-season game. This time, Lancaster (4-7) fell behind in the second quarter and couldn’t catch up.
Wren (8-2) scored first for a 7-0 lead, but quarterback Zy Clinton ran 14 yards for a touchdown, tying the game midway in the first quarter. Wren then scored three straight touchdowns, two of them by Reese Price, for a 28-7 halftime lead.
The Bruins got a third-quarter score on Clinton’s 12-yard pass to Kevin Armour, but Wren answered with two more scored for a 41-13 lead after three periods.
R.J. Brown scored on a 13-yard run late in the fourth quarter for Lancaster’s final points.
ANDREW JACKSON 42, LIBERTY 17
Damias Seegars rushed for more than 230 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Volunteers (4-7) to a Class 2A first-round road victory over Liberty (5-5).
Seegars had 164 of his yards in the first half, including a 2-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. He added touchdown runs of 11 and 22 yards in the third quarter.
Andrew Jackson scored the final 28 points of the game, after Liberty had taken a 15-14 lead with two minutes left in the first half.
CHESTER 44, STROM THURMOND 23
The Cyclones (5-5) opened Class 2A playoff action with a convincing victory over Strom Thurmond (6-4).
Caleb Feaster led the attack, scoring on a 59-yard run in the first quarter, a 23-yard run on the final play of the third period, and a 71-yard run on a draw play with 4:46 remaining.
Feaster’s final score was the big one for Chester, as it gave the Cyclones a 36-23 lead in the closing minutes.
Quarterback Trooper Floyd, who missed part of the season with an injury, scored on a short run for Chester’s opening touchdown and then threw a 57-yard scoring pass to Zeke Evans later in the opening half.
Hudhaifah Taylor added a 6-yard touchdown run with 1:33 left in the game for the final points.
LEWISVILLE 66, CALHOUN FALLS CHARTER 0
The Lions opened a bid for the Class 1A state championship with an emphatic victory.
Eden Gaston had a huge game, with a pair of interception returns for touchdowns. He had a 55-yard pick-six late in the first quarter and a 65-yard interception return shortly before halftime.
Jordan Strong scored on runs of 23 and 10 yards, and Zach Rogers threw three touchdown passes. Rogers connected with Jacorreun Howze, Riquarius Harris and Jordan Fields. Hoze also scored on a 44-yard run.
Playoff scores, schedule
CLASS 5A / DIVISION 1
Friday’s first round
Upper State
Boiling Springs 32, Dorman 0
Byrnes 32, Lexington 11
Clover 31, Blythewood 28
River Bluff 36, Mauldin 6
Lower State
Ashley Ridge 51, West Ashley 13
Fort Dorchester 20, Stratford 10
James Island 24, Wando 2
Ridge View 55, Spring Valley 14
Next Friday’s second round
Upper State
Boiling Springs (7-3) at Dutch Fork (9-0)
Byrnes (5-5) at Spartanburg (7-2)
Clover (8-3) at J.L. Mann (8-2)
River Bluff (9-2) at Rock Hill (5-5)
Lower State
Ashley Ridge (7-4) at Sumter (10-0)
Fort Dorchester (6-5) at Summerville (10-0)
James Island (8-3) at Carolina Forest (6-3-1)
Ridge View (7-4) at Cane Bay (3-7)
CLASS 5A / DIVISION 2
Friday’s first round
Upper State
Catawba Ridge 38, Woodmont 35
Hillcrest 48, Nation Ford 23
Indian Land 27, Eastside 7
Riverside 47, Greenville 38
Lower State
Chapin 17, Goose Creek 16
North Myrtle Beach 42, Lucy Beckham 28
Westwood 34, Socastee 14
White Knoll 41, Lugoff-Elgin 18
Next Friday’s second round
Upper State
Catawba Ridge (8-3) at T.L. Hanna (8-2)
Hillcrest (8-3) at Greenwood (8-2)
Indian Land (6-5) at Northwestern (10-0)
Riverside (6-4) at Gaffney (8-1)
Lower State
Chapin (6-5) at Irmo (9-1)
North Myrtle Beach (4-6) at West Florence (7-3)
Westwood (6-5) at Berkeley (6-4)
White Knoll (6-5) at Myrtle Beach (6-4)
CLASS 4A
Friday’s first round
Upper State
A.C. Flora 40, Emerald 20
Camden 43, Pickens 17
Daniel 45, Dreher 14
Greer 28, Fountain Inn 21
Richland Northeast 22, Seneca 20
South Pointe 77, Blue Ridge 0
Westside 55, Lakewood 0
Wren 41, Lancaster 21
Lower State
Bishop England 42, South Aiken 19
Darlington 22, Midland Valley 15
Gilbert 41, Lower Richland 10
Hartsville 45, Beaufort 21
Hilton Head Island 19, Crestwood 17
May River 46, Bluffton 45
North Augusta 56, Airport 0
South Florence 56, Brookland-Cayce 20
Next Friday’s second round
Upper State
A.C. Flora (8-3) at Westside (10-0)
Camden (8-2) at Wren (8-2)
Greer (7-4) at South Pointe (9-2)
Richland Northeast (8-3) at Daniel (10-1)
Lower State
Darlington (6-5) at Hartsville (9-1-1)
Gilbert (6-4) at Bishop England (9-2)
Hilton Head Island (9-2) at South Florence (8-3)
May River (8-2) at North Augusta (10-1)
CLASS 3A
Friday’s first round
Upper State
Belton-Honea Path 63, Southside Christian 20
Christ Church Episcopal 42, West-Oak 2
Crescent 45, Christ Church 18
Mountain View Prep 42, Carolina Academy 0
Palmetto 29, Chapman 15
Powdersville 37, Broome 13
Walhalla 36, St. Joseph Catholic 35
Woodruff 28, Powdersville 21
Lower State
Dillon 42, Battery Creek 7
Hanahan 35, Silver Bluff 10
Keenan 58, North Charleston 8
Newberry 48, Georgetown 0
Oceanside Collegiate 56, Fox Creek 14
Orangeburg-Wilkinson 35, Aynor 16
Waccamaw 43, Swansea 23
Next Friday’s second round
Upper State
Chesnee (6-4) at Christ Church Episcopal (6-4)
Palmetto (5-6) at Belton-Honea Path (10-1)
Walhalla (6-5) at Mountain View Preo (10-0)
Woodruff (9-1) at Powdersville (8-3)
Lower State
Dillon (9-2) at Newberry (7-3)
Hanahan (6-5) at Latta (5-6)
Orangeburg-Wilkinson (8-3) at Keenan (7-4)
Waccamaw (5-4) at Oceanside Collegiate (7-3)
CLASS 2A
Friday’s first round
Upper State
Andrew Jackson 42, Liberty 17
Batesburg-Leesville 43, Columbia 6
Chesnee 26, Ninety Six 21
Chester 44, Strom Thurmond 23
Clinton 56, Pelion 0
Fairfield Central 60, Chesterfield 6
Pageland Central 36, Landrum 26
Saluda 24, Mid Carolina 0
Lower State
Barnwell 42, Academic Magnet 0
Cheraw 45, Edisto 0
East Clarendon 14, Andrews 12
Hampton County 42, Woodland 21
Kingstree 34, Whale Branch 18
Manning 55, North Central 0
Philip Simmons 45, Mullins 12
Timberland 20, Lake City 15
Next Friday’s second round
Upper State
Andrew Jackson (4-7) at Batesburg-Leesville (11-0)
Chesnee (6-5) at Fairfield Central (10-1)
Chester (5-5) at Clinton (8-2)
Saluda (9-1) at Pageland Central (8-2)
Lower State
East Clarendon (8-3) at Cheraw (8-3)
Hampton County (8-2) at Manning (9-1)
Kingstree (5-6) at Philip Simmons (9-2)
Timberland (8-3) at Barnwell (10-1)
CLASS 1A
Friday’s first round
Upper State
Abbeville 48, C.A. Johnson 0
Blackville-Hilda 45, McCormick 6
Dixie 42, Williston-Elko 0
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 54, McBee 21
Lamar 62, Whitmire 0
Lee Central 27, Calhoun County 17
Lewisville 66, Calhoun Falls Charter 0
Ridge Spring-Monetta 45, Ware Shoals 28
Lower State
Bamberg-Ehrhardt 65, Bethune-Bowman 0
Baptist Hill 16, Latta 0
Cross 48, Green Sea-Floyds 0
Denmark-Olar 22, Carvers Bay 16
Hannah-Pamplico 43, Military Magnet 6
Johnsonville 43, Branchville 41
Lake View 36, Hardeeville 7
Ridgeland 26, Scotts Branch 20
Next Friday’s second round
Upper State
Blackville-Hilda (9-2) at Abbeville (9-1)
Dixie (8-2) at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (9-1)
Lee Central (7-4) at Lamar (8-3)
Ridge Spring-Monetta (6-5) at Lewisville (10-1)
Lower State
Baptist Hill (6-3) at Bamberg-Ehrhardt (7-2)
Denmark-Olar (4-6) at Hannah-Pamplico (8-2)
Johnsonville (5-6) at Lake View (9-1)
Ridgeland (5-4) at Cross (8-2)
This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 5:30 AM.