High school football playoffs preview video, brackets and game capsules

Nation Ford at York

Last week: both were idle

Last meeting: York won 42-28 (Oct. 16, 2015)

Playoffs history: NFHS - Nation Ford is 1-3 all-time in the postseason, with the lone victory coming in 2011 in the 3A first round against Clinton. YCHS - York is 34-28 all-time in the postseason, according to SCFootballHistory.com, and the Cougars won a 3A state title in 1986, beating Strom Thurmond 10-7. Thirteen of York’s postseason games have come at the 4A level; Bobby Carroll’s program is 7-6 in those games after reaching last year’s 4A Division II state final.

Key players: NFHS - Sr. WR Hank Tuipulotu (North-South); Sr. DE Charlie Newton, Soph. LB Vinnie Catan, Sr. WR Josh Shade. YCHS - Jr. ATH Javione Matthews, Sr. FB Brandon Garvin, Sr. LB Jamar Griffin, Sr. DE Deivonne Chalk.

Need to know: Nation Ford’s leading tackler last season was its safety. This year, Falcon linebackers and a defensive lineman are the top tacklers, which tells you that Michael Allen’s defense isn’t letting the ball travel as far. Stopping the run isn’t exactly a strong-suit of the Nation Ford defense, though, and York will look to exploit that Friday. Cougars QB Wally Wilmore is a little banged up - he tweaked his hamstring against Clover - but York has enough capable talent in the backfield in Brandon Garvin and Tyquan McCray to trouble Nation Ford. The biggest key for the Falcons - and this will be repeated in the following game previews - is to take care of the ball, giving its dynamic offense every chance to put points on the board.

Laurens at Northwestern

Last week: both were idle

Last meeting: never played

Playoffs history: LHS - The Raiders won 4A Division II state championships in 1983, 1984 and 1991, the latter coached by Bobby Ivey, a former Northwestern coach. Laurens last advanced past the first round of the playoffs in 2008.. NHS - The Trojans - winners of 65 percent of their playoffs games - won state titles in 1989, 1993, 2010 and 2013, and have reached the state finals in numerous other occasions. Northwestern has won at least one playoff game every year since 2006.

Key players: LHS - Sr. LB Chuck Johnson (North-South); Sr. DB Thomas Jones (Shrine Bowl); Jr. RB D.Q. Floyd; Soph. RB Troy Dendy. NHS - Sr. DB Miles Corpening (Shrine Bowl); Sr. DE Trae’von Hinton (Shrine Bowl); Sr. OL Demontre Buckson, Jr. RB Jerry Howard, Sr. DB Davion Blake.

Need to know: Laurens has a capable two-headed rushing attack with Floyd and Dendy, but the Raiders have turned the ball over too much this season to be more than a team that’s hovered around .500. Chris Liner’s team have given the ball away 19 times and forced just 16, a bad recipe headed into a game against Northwestern. The Trojans are plus-16 in turnover margin. Laurens can’t afford empty possessions at District Three Stadium, especially if they give Northwestern short fields and easier chances to score.

Fort Mill at Lexington

Last week: both were idle

Last meeting: never played

Playoffs history: FMHS - Fort Mill has won 11 playoff games in the last 45 years, but none since 1998 when it reached the third round of the 3A playoffs. LHS - Lexington played in the 2000 Big 16 state title game, losing to Dorman.

Key players: FMHS - Sr. OL Matt Neill, Sr. RB/DL Brett Ferguson, Jr. WR/DB Ryan Deluca, Sr. OL/DL Austin Randolph. LHS - Jr. DB Daiquan Wells; Sr. DB Nick Graves (Shrine Bowl); Sr. LB Trey Mitchell (North-South); Sr. RB Slade Carroll; Sr. WR Jayson Hopper (Shrine Bowl).

Need to know: Fort Mill last played a football game on Oct. 30. Because of a season-ending bye and the delay of the first round of the playoffs, the Yellow Jackets should at least be well rested. That can only help against Justin Stepp’s Lexington juggernaut. After losing its season opener, Lexington has rolled off 10 straight wins, with six of those victories coming against 4A playoff teams. The Wildcats are very balanced on offense with 2,200 rushing yards and about 2,155 passing and will challenge Fort Mill’s defense seriously Friday night.

Richland Northeast at South Pointe

Last week: Richland Northeast beat Emerald 38-6; South Pointe beat Daniel 55-28

Last meeting: South Pointe won 39-0 in the first round of the 4A playoffs (2009)

Playoffs history: RNHS - Richland Northeast won the 1993 4A Division II state title under Joe Wingard, and lost in the 2005 4A Division II state title game to Byrnes. Last week’s win over Emerald was the school’s first playoff win since 2008. SPHS - According to SCFootballHistory.com, South Pointe currently has the highest playoff winning percentage in the state’s high school football. The Stallions have won 26 of the 31 postseason games they’ve played, or 84 percent. That record includes perfect playoff runs that led to state titles in 2008, 2011 and 2014.

Key players: RNHS - Sr. LB T.J. Brunson (Shrine Bowl); Jr. QB Aloysius Jackson; Soph. RB Tyquandre Davis. SPHS - Sr. DB Nick McCloud (North-South); Sr. WR Lorenzo Wells; Jr. RB Voshon St. Hill; Soph. DE Eli Adams; Sr. OL/DL Ethan Hudspeth.

Need to know: Richland Northeast’s run-first philosophy will challenge South Pointe, which isn’t the strongest up front on either side of the ball. The Cavaliers average 6.5 yards per carry and have three different rushers with over 800 yards on the season, led by Davis, a slight but shifty 10th grader who’s topped 1,200. Richland Northeast is almost straight out of the 1990s; they don’t kick extra points and they only throw the ball about 10 times per game. South Pointe, very much a team of the modern area, can really put the pressure on the visitors with some early scores. The Stallions are plus-15 in turnover margin this season, a stat that has helped offset any difficulties on the offensive or defensive line.

This story was originally published November 19, 2015 at 7:25 PM with the headline "High school football playoffs preview video, brackets and game capsules."