JL Mann @ Spartanburg
The Spartanburg Vikings took care of business last week at home against the Byrnes Rebels by a final score of 37-17. The win moves the Vikings into the state quarterfinals, and gives them a shot at the team that knocked them out of the playoffs in 2023, the JL Mann Patriots.
Tre Segarra being back at running back for the Rebels proved to be a non-factor as the tough Spartanburg defense shut down Byrnes for most of the game. On the offensive side of the ball, the Vikings hit big plays through the air to WR Justin Rice who finished with four catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. RB Trenton Lynch notched a triple-digit rushing game on 17 carries and 107 yards.
Last season, Spartanburg went to JL Mann in each of the team’s second playoff game. This year the meeting will again be in both squad’s second playoff game, except at Viking Stadium and a step closer to the state championship due to the new playoff format.
The Patriots tout former Greer RB Ladannian Martin and a defense that hasn’t allowed more than 14 points for a month and a half. JL Mann is 10-2 and won the Region 1 title on a tiebreaker. The two losses came in Week 1 at home to Gaffney in overtime and in mid-October at TL Hanna by 22 points, and got to the state quarterfinals with a bye and a 30 point blowout of Clover last Friday.
TL Hanna @ Gaffney
The Gaffney Indians took their first round bye into the Division 2 playoffs, came out at the Reservation and beat up on the Riverside Warriors 41-21 to move on to the state quarters. With 332 yards of offense and RB Jaiden McDowell scoring two touchdowns, the now healthy Gaffney offensive unit is going through the postseason trying to prove it is not the same team it was in late October. They meet the TL Hanna Yellow Jackets at home this Friday night.
WR Shane Davidson added another game with a touchdown, catching just two balls for 17 yards, while WR Jamarcus Smith led the way through the air with nine catches for 199 yards and a touchdown. QB Jayvon Gilmore had three total touchdowns to help lead the Indians to the state quarterfinals.
The last time TL Hanna and Gaffney met in the playoffs was in the 2021 state quarterfinals, a 34-26 home win. The Indians went on to beat Northwestern, Spartanburg, and Dutch Fork to win the state title, its most recent in program history.
TL Hanna got here with a bye in the first round and a resounding win at home against a tough Catawba Ridge team 57-34. The Yellow Jackets have scored 40+ points in seven straight games, and have played three common opponents with Gaffney. The Indians and Yellow Jackets both beat JL Mann, Greenville and Byrnes this year.
