Playoffs. Teams have fought and battled all year to reach this point. Tonight we reset the records and everyone starts over at 0-0. Every team playing tonight has a shot to be the state champion. For half of the teams playing tonight that dream and their season will come to an end.
Playoff time is a fun time. It has finally really gotten cold out and that means hot chocolate at the stadiums. It also means the best football because now every week you are playing to keep your season going. A loss and your season is done and for seniors your high school career will be over.
Dorman at TL Hanna is our Spartanburg Nutrition Game of the Week. The Yellow Jackets were cruising through the season but had a rough night last week against Hillcrest and lost the region title. Dorman played an epic game with Spartanburg and lost 28-24 after being up 24-7 in the 4th quarter. Both of these teams love to run the football and can be one dimensional at times. The Dorman defensive front is stout and kept Spartanburg from running most of the night last week. IF they can do that this week they will win and advance to the second round.
Pick: Dorman
Landrum at Newberry has the potential to be a very good football game. Landrum has had a rough few weeks, losing some very close games and having a chance to win the game in each contest. If Landrum wins tonight it will be the end of the road for the Newberry Bulldogs and their Hall of Fame head coach Phil Strickland. Coach Strickland announced a while back that this season would be his final one. Strickland has been a winner at every stop dating back to his time at Batesburg-Leesville and of course what he did as the head coach at Gaffney.
These two teams are pretty evenly matched in my opinion. I think the advantage tonight is that the game is at Newberry. In my experience that is a hard place to go and get a win.
Pick: Newberry
Other Picks:
I like Woodruff to beat a Southside team that I don’t believe has faced the tests that Woodruff has in the regular season. Woodruff will have to stop some big plays from some long Tiger wide receivers.
I think Chapman will get their offense rolling again against Blue Ridge and will move on to the second round.
Westside will avenge an early season loss to the Greer Yellow Jackets.
Byrnes will play a good game against Mauldin but should be able to pull out a win.
Gaffney will roll Rock Hill.
Boiling Springs got probably the toughest draw in the playoffs and they have to face a terrific Northwestern team in round one. I got the Trojans moving on to the second round.
Spartanburg needs to come out on a mission tonight agains Woodmont and not be content to rest on their laurels or they could get upset. I like Drek Carter to have a big night and the Vikings to win.
I think Powdersville and Broome will be an entertaining game. Lots of offense. Both have really good quarterbacks and running backs. Powdersville pulls it out in the end.
I like the Chesnee Eagles over Crescent tonight.
I went 6-2 last week in these high school picks. I ended the regular season with a 48-13 record. Let’s see what the playoffs have in store. So excited for hot chocolate and playoff football!
