High school football preview: video, game capsules and playoff brackets

Westwood at Northwestern

Last week: Westwood beat Conway 34-13; Northwestern beat Laurens 46-7

Last meeting: never played

Playoffs history: WHS - the Red Hawks have made the postseason in three of the school’s four years in existence. Last year, they won the first 4A playoff game, after winning the first ever playoff game in 3A in 2013. NHS - Northwestern has played 23 quarterfinals since 1981, winning 16 of those. The Trojans have reached at least the quarterfinal round of the 4A Division I or II postseason each year since 2007.

Key players: WHS - Sr. OL Torrey Boone (Shrine Bowl); Sr. OL Chris McCarthy (Shrine Bowl); Jr. RB Rudy Mitchell; Sr. RB Andrew Plante; Jr. QB Jalen Smith; . NHS - Jr. QB Gage Moloney; Sr. DT Jamah Mitchell; Jr. RB Jerry Howard; Sr. LB Da’Chon Witherspoon; Sr. DB Miles Corpening (Shrine Bowl).

Need to know: Westwood’s defensive secondary consisted of all three-year starters in 2014. With all of those Red Hawks gone, Rodney Summers’ team has four first-year starters in the defensive backfield this season. That spells trouble for any team confronting a Northwestern passing attack that quickly found its footing with junior QB Gage Moloney. The Trojans’ ability to quick-strike score is a big concern for Summers, who said time of possession will be a key stat in the game, in his eyes. Westwood has a an excellent two-back pair in Andrew Plante and Rudy Mitchell, but it’s highly likely the visitors will have to show they can move the ball through the air too, to have an upset chance Friday.

Nation Ford at Westside

Last week: Nation Ford beat York 40-21; Westside beat Cane Bay 31-21

Last meeting: never played

Playoffs history: NFHS - There isn’t much postseason history for eight-year old Nation Ford. The Falcons won their first playoff game in 2011, a 3A win over Clinton. They added their second playoff win, and first at the 4A level - by beating York last Friday. WHS - Westside, opened in 1970, doesn’t have much postseason success either. The Rams farthest postseason trip happened in 1995 when they reached the 4A semifinals. Their best recent run was the 4A Division II semifinals in 2006.

Key players: NFHS - Soph. DB Ben Tuipulotu, Sr. OL Andy Stock, Sr. LB/WR Jordan Helms, Sr. OL Chandler Smith, Sr. RB Rayquwan Taylor. WHS - Sr. WR Matthew Martin (Shrine Bowl); Jr. QB Jackson Williamson; Sr. TE Antonio Lomax; Jr. WR Jyston Kendrick.

Need to know: Westside’s secondary unofficially leads the state in interceptions, setting up a mouth-watering matchup with the state’s most insatiable passing attack in Nation Ford. The Falcons have topped 500 yards of total offense five times this season, and - with an average outing Friday - QB Cole Martin should top 5,000 yards passing for the season. It’s unlikely Westside has seen an aerial arsenal like Nation Ford’s. A big question surrounds the health of Westside running back Quinn Wright, who left last week’s win over Cane Bay with an injury; his presence or absence would have a huge impact on a Rams team that hasn’t been quite as emphatic the last three games as it was in winning the first nine in a row.

South Pointe at Seneca

Last week: South Pointe beat Richland Northeast 34-24; Seneca beat Chapman 55-14

Last meeting: South Pointe won 19-15 (2014 3A playoffs)

Playoffs history: SPHS - Three-time state champ South Pointe has reached the state semifinals in either 3A or 4A Division II every year since 2008, meaning Thanksgiving Day practice on Thursday for the seventh year running. SHS - Seneca was 14-0 in 1996 before losing in the 3A state final to Fairfield Central, the apex of the Bobcat program’s achievements. Seneca has a 29-33 playoff record, according to SCFootballHistory.com.

Key players: SPHS - Sr. WR Quay Brown; Jr. RB Voshon St. Hill; Jr. LB Bryson Cooper; . SHS - Sr. DL Amyrical Diggs (Shrine Bowl); Sr. QB Elijah Turner (North-South); Sr. RB Braxton Gambrell; Sr. RB Jacory Benson.

Need to know: South Pointe forced six Seneca turnovers in the two teams’ 3A playoffs second round meeting last season, but two costly turnovers hurt the Stallions last week in a closer-than-expected win over Richland Northeast. South Pointe will have to play a perfectly clean game against a very good Seneca team Friday night, especially with Derion Kendrick sidelined and several other key contributors banged up.

“We have no fear of putting in our backups,” said South Pointe coach Strait Herron. “Our backups are usually as good as most team’s starters. Maybe not Seneca’s, but most teams.”

The Stallions will need more than confidence to slow down a very good Bobcats rushing attack, led by scat-back Braxton Gambrell. If Seneca chooses to run between the tackles, it will be a tough night for South Pointe.

This story was originally published November 26, 2015 at 11:46 AM with the headline "High school football preview: video, game capsules and playoff brackets."