Region play is winding down as the playoffs are nearing, some teams are sitting pretty while some teams are looking to make a push for the playoffs. Let’s take a look at the matchups from the 2A/3A games in our local listening area.
TR @ Chapman
Tr is coming off a region win last week as they defeated Carolina by a final score of 47-14. It was a win that TR needed to help position themselves into making the playoffs. But Travelers Rest will have a really tough matchup against the Chapman Panthers on Friday night.
Chapman is coming off their bye week and entering this game with a 6-1 record and is looking for another win to further increase their chances of winning another region title.
The reality is this region is a two-team race between Broome and Chapman and I just don’t see any other team in this region being able to beat them and I see Chapman rolling to another victory on Friday Night.
Blacksburg @ Chesnee
Blacksburg has started region play 0-2 with their latest loss last week to Liberty as they fell 33-29. Blacksburg needs a win desperately if they are going to have a shot at the playoffs.
Chesnee had a rough night last week against a very good Abbeville squad as they fell 56-14, Chesnee is looking to pick up their second region win and keep themselves in the playoff picture.
Blacksburg has improved from the previous few seasons but I think Chesnee has really played some solid football this year and I think that continues on Friday night. I look for Chesnee to win this game and pick up their second region win of the year.
The Eagles have been able to get their passing game going as of late which is giving them a whole new dimension on offense and I see them continuing to have a balanced attack that gives Blacksburg some fits.
Abbeville @ Landrum
The Landrum Cardinals are one of those teams that have started 0-2 in region play. Last week they started off the game well and had a 14-7 lead, which they took into the half. I did feel they had more opportunities to distance themselves from 96 after several turnovers but they didn’t convert them into points, but they still had that seven-point lead.
In the second half the game simply got away from them as they would be outscored 35-0 in the second half. This Landrum team was playing well coming into region play and they will need to find that groove once again to make a push.
Abbeville as mentioned earlier won big against Chesnee last week to remain unbeaten in region play. They have flat-out dominated in their two region games so far outscoring their opponents 96-18. To beat them is no simple task and Landrum will have to do a lot of things well.
The Cardinal’s defense like last week in the first half needs to force turnovers but they must convert off those turnovers to really make it sting. Offensively they must control the clock and finish off drives, If they do that they will have a great chance to pull off the upset, if they can’t then this one can turn ugly.
Clinton @ Woodruff
Woodruff is coming off a wild game against Emerald last week to win their first region game 36-35. This game was the definition of back and forth as neither team could get separation and in the end, it was Woodruff that made enough plays to win it. Another win should pretty much be enough to get Woodruff in the playoffs for sure.
Clinton is coming off a bye week as they are currently 1-0 inside the region with a win over the Union County Yellow Jackets a couple of weeks ago. The Red Devils will look to keep pace for a region title with another win and improve to 2-0.
It was a nice win last week for the Wolverines but defensively the Wolverines have to string together several stops giving up 35 points to Emerald was enough to get the win but I don’t believe that will be a recipe for a vicotry this week, especially when the Red Devils are averaging 44 points per game.
I just not sure if Woodruff can get consistent stops and I am leaning towards Clinton winning this game.
