INSTAND ANALYSIS - WEEK FOUR
As I peruse over the scoreboard for the week, here's some thoughts that come to mind:
CLASS 4A:
There is little doubt that we have the 4A Top Ten right. The teams here continue to showcase why they are where they are. Everyone gets a quality win, except for Dorman, who made a game of it with No. 5 Dutch Fork.
Dutch Fork's Matt Colburn is the real deal. To steal some baseball terminology, he's a five tool guy - balance, power, speed, vision, and heart. The only thing this kid doesn't have is a 6-foot-plus frame but it is not stopping him from shredding defenses. 287 yards and five scores against a top ten opponent is pretty good, folks.
North August "they are who we thought they were." This team continues to impress with outstanding play from quarterback Trib Reece and a solid ground attack. I can't wait for the region match up with Dutch Fork, as these two teams are heavy favorites in the 4A Class playoffs (DF Div I, NA in Div II).
Irmo appears to be mailing it in, guys. They are playing horribly on defense and are sputtering on offense like an old jaloppy that has jumped time. They have a winnable football game coming up next week but if they lose to Aiken, they can go ahead and put the envelope in the mailbox.
On the subject of Lexington, those kids played hard last night. Will Hunter is the key cod. Anyone with the Wildcats on the schedule, here's a tip: Stop #1. Solid play from all of those guys and I was impressed with the secondary and linebackers on defense. Granted, it was a sloppy Irmo offense they faced but the Wildcats played well.
Hillcrest bounced back from a narrow defeat at the hands of Dorman to anhialate Riverside, 44-3. I really believe this team has a shot at their region crown.
Spartanburg continues to roll. This game tells us two things: Spartanburg is getting better and Greenwood is not prepared for a run to Clemson (yes, the Weekend of Champions is back at Clemson, but that's a topic for another day.)CLASS 3A
This Class continues to impress with the caliber of competition and I really believe the 3A playoffs will be the best of any bracket (probably because they don't divde up in to two divisions)
Hartsville got a first half scare from rival Cheraw, held scoreless in the first half of their game. But the Red Foxes put up 28 in the second half behing the running of Brian Rivers (this kid is the real deal and just a sophomore) to win 28-0.
I've said since August that the sleeper in 3A is Hanahan and boy did the Hawks continue their quest to be a contender last night, hammering a good Edisto team, 45-7
How big will the region showdown between D.W. Daniel and Belton-Honea Path be? Wow. Lions hang 49 up last night and the Bears put up 84. Something tells me when they meet, there won't be nearly as many points scored by either team.
Brookland-Cayce may very well be the cardiac kids. They are 5-0 headed into a bye week and 3 of the five games they had to come from behind late in the game to win. That is the difference in this Bearcat team and Bearcat teams of the past - they do not quit.
Marlboro County got a solid win over rival Conway, though Coach Dean Boyd wasn't happy with the Bulldogs play. "We have a lot to work on," Boyd told us on the SC High School Scoreboard Show on 107.5 The Game, Friday night.
How about the North Myrtle Beach Chiefs? 5-0 for the first time since 1997 (they also did it in 1995). Lets hope they don't repeat those season, where they went on to win just one more game. This team is different and Coach Woolbright has them fired up. (note: Coach W's pop was my football and track coach my freshman year of high school)
The Gilbert Indians continue to roll, knocking off rival Pelion last night behind a three rushing TD performance by QB Mitch Spires. Jakaus Leaphart rushed for 170 yards in that game. Gilbert is hanging a lot of offensive points up and is going to challenge these other Region V defenses.
Strongest Region in 3A? Gotta go with Region VI right now, with Hartsville, Marlboro County, Crestwood, and Darlington leading the pack there.
CLASS 2A
There is no doubt that the top two teams in the Class 2A are Fairfield-Central and Dillon. Both teams continue to overpower their opponents. Looking forward to a rematch from last season's finale.
The Panthers of Batesburg-Leesville are going to be a tough playoff team. These guys could very easily be unbeaten right now and the flexbone offense is working fine. Look for them to be tough to stop when region play begins.
Someone asked me last week why I had Newberry ranked so high in the polls. Go watch the Chapin film, friend. This team is for real.
Crescent moved into the top ten last week and they did not disappoint this week, hammering Blacksburg. These guys are going to be contenders in the playoffs.
Ninety Six got the biggest win over the class, knocking off highly ranked Lincoln Cty (Ga) on Thursday night. That is a solid win for the Panthers and if they play like that through region play and playoffs, watch out!
CLASS 1A
There is one important to mention here in 1A: Christ Church. This team has the potential to go all the way this year. Actually, I'll go ahead and say it. Christ Church WILL go all the way (again).
Hemingway got a solid win over Johnsonville last night but for this team to make a run, DaQuann Casey must remain healthy.
I like where Lamar is at right now in their play.
Sleeper? I don't know if there is a true "sleeper" but Carvers Bay and Allendald-Fairfax both have the potential to get to the big dance. C'MON GUYS; GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK; GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS, TOO.
This post was edited on 9/21 8:56 AM by JB@Rivals
As I peruse over the scoreboard for the week, here's some thoughts that come to mind:
CLASS 4A:
There is little doubt that we have the 4A Top Ten right. The teams here continue to showcase why they are where they are. Everyone gets a quality win, except for Dorman, who made a game of it with No. 5 Dutch Fork.
Dutch Fork's Matt Colburn is the real deal. To steal some baseball terminology, he's a five tool guy - balance, power, speed, vision, and heart. The only thing this kid doesn't have is a 6-foot-plus frame but it is not stopping him from shredding defenses. 287 yards and five scores against a top ten opponent is pretty good, folks.
North August "they are who we thought they were." This team continues to impress with outstanding play from quarterback Trib Reece and a solid ground attack. I can't wait for the region match up with Dutch Fork, as these two teams are heavy favorites in the 4A Class playoffs (DF Div I, NA in Div II).
Irmo appears to be mailing it in, guys. They are playing horribly on defense and are sputtering on offense like an old jaloppy that has jumped time. They have a winnable football game coming up next week but if they lose to Aiken, they can go ahead and put the envelope in the mailbox.
On the subject of Lexington, those kids played hard last night. Will Hunter is the key cod. Anyone with the Wildcats on the schedule, here's a tip: Stop #1. Solid play from all of those guys and I was impressed with the secondary and linebackers on defense. Granted, it was a sloppy Irmo offense they faced but the Wildcats played well.
Hillcrest bounced back from a narrow defeat at the hands of Dorman to anhialate Riverside, 44-3. I really believe this team has a shot at their region crown.
Spartanburg continues to roll. This game tells us two things: Spartanburg is getting better and Greenwood is not prepared for a run to Clemson (yes, the Weekend of Champions is back at Clemson, but that's a topic for another day.)CLASS 3A
This Class continues to impress with the caliber of competition and I really believe the 3A playoffs will be the best of any bracket (probably because they don't divde up in to two divisions)
Hartsville got a first half scare from rival Cheraw, held scoreless in the first half of their game. But the Red Foxes put up 28 in the second half behing the running of Brian Rivers (this kid is the real deal and just a sophomore) to win 28-0.
I've said since August that the sleeper in 3A is Hanahan and boy did the Hawks continue their quest to be a contender last night, hammering a good Edisto team, 45-7
How big will the region showdown between D.W. Daniel and Belton-Honea Path be? Wow. Lions hang 49 up last night and the Bears put up 84. Something tells me when they meet, there won't be nearly as many points scored by either team.
Brookland-Cayce may very well be the cardiac kids. They are 5-0 headed into a bye week and 3 of the five games they had to come from behind late in the game to win. That is the difference in this Bearcat team and Bearcat teams of the past - they do not quit.
Marlboro County got a solid win over rival Conway, though Coach Dean Boyd wasn't happy with the Bulldogs play. "We have a lot to work on," Boyd told us on the SC High School Scoreboard Show on 107.5 The Game, Friday night.
How about the North Myrtle Beach Chiefs? 5-0 for the first time since 1997 (they also did it in 1995). Lets hope they don't repeat those season, where they went on to win just one more game. This team is different and Coach Woolbright has them fired up. (note: Coach W's pop was my football and track coach my freshman year of high school)
The Gilbert Indians continue to roll, knocking off rival Pelion last night behind a three rushing TD performance by QB Mitch Spires. Jakaus Leaphart rushed for 170 yards in that game. Gilbert is hanging a lot of offensive points up and is going to challenge these other Region V defenses.
Strongest Region in 3A? Gotta go with Region VI right now, with Hartsville, Marlboro County, Crestwood, and Darlington leading the pack there.
CLASS 2A
There is no doubt that the top two teams in the Class 2A are Fairfield-Central and Dillon. Both teams continue to overpower their opponents. Looking forward to a rematch from last season's finale.
The Panthers of Batesburg-Leesville are going to be a tough playoff team. These guys could very easily be unbeaten right now and the flexbone offense is working fine. Look for them to be tough to stop when region play begins.
Someone asked me last week why I had Newberry ranked so high in the polls. Go watch the Chapin film, friend. This team is for real.
Crescent moved into the top ten last week and they did not disappoint this week, hammering Blacksburg. These guys are going to be contenders in the playoffs.
Ninety Six got the biggest win over the class, knocking off highly ranked Lincoln Cty (Ga) on Thursday night. That is a solid win for the Panthers and if they play like that through region play and playoffs, watch out!
CLASS 1A
There is one important to mention here in 1A: Christ Church. This team has the potential to go all the way this year. Actually, I'll go ahead and say it. Christ Church WILL go all the way (again).
Hemingway got a solid win over Johnsonville last night but for this team to make a run, DaQuann Casey must remain healthy.
I like where Lamar is at right now in their play.
Sleeper? I don't know if there is a true "sleeper" but Carvers Bay and Allendald-Fairfax both have the potential to get to the big dance. C'MON GUYS; GIVE ME SOME FEEDBACK; GIVE ME YOUR THOUGHTS, TOO.
This post was edited on 9/21 8:56 AM by JB@Rivals