2A/3A First Round Preview

Round one of the High School Football playoffs will begin on Friday night. I know it’s crazy to think that the playoffs are already here it doesn’t feel like there have been 11 weeks of the season already. Let’s take a look at the matchups from the 2A/3A games in our local listening area.

Pendleton @ Broome 

Broome finished their regular season with a win over the Chapman Panthers by a final score of 36-33.  With the win, they finished the regular season with a 5-5 record and went 2-2 inside the region, which was good enough to place them in third place. Broome will obviously be the home team in this game, but surprisingly, they have not fared well at home this season, with a 1-4 record. However, they will look to change that narrative this week and secure a win.

Pendelton also went 5-5 in the regular season and 2-2 in their region. Their latest game was a loss to Crescent, 28-21, and they are currently on a two-game losing streak. They are coming into this game with a 2-2 road record and a lot of hunger to stay alive and snap the losing streak.

I think this will be a tight, contestant football game as I feel Pendelton has the advantage defensively, but I think Broome, despite the injuries, has the advantage on offense. I am leaning towards Broome to win a close one.

Union @ Crescent 

The Union Yellow Jackets went winless in their region, but in 3A everyone makes the playoffs, and they will be on the road taking on Crescent. Union’s final game of the year, they took on Woodruff and lost 43-6. And they are currently on a six-game losing streak.

Cresecent is coming into this game with a 7-3 record and went 3-1 in their region, which was good enough to finish second. They are currently on a two-game winning streak, and they will look to remain hot and advance to the second round of the playoffs.

Union has shown no signs of improving on the defensive side of the ball, and because of that, it’s hard to pick them to win a football game. I feel like the same problems will emerge, and that will give this Crescent team a comfortable victory.

Chapman @ Southside Christian

The Chapman Panthers have had a rough year as they enter this game with a 1-9 record and went 1-3 inside the region. They are currently on 2 2-game losing streak and found themselves in a tough matchup on the road, taking on a solid Southside Christian team.

Southside Christian finished the year at 5-5, but they played a tough non-region schedule as they faced teams like MVP, Abbeville, and AC Flora. The result of playing tough competition really helped prepare them for a run in their region, where they went 4-1 inside region play and got second place.

Now, Southside is not the most potent offense in the state, but they do have a solid defense. I think this is a game that Chapman will have some opportunities to win, but right now I am leaning towards the better defensive team here to win it, and that is Southside Christian

West Oak @ Woodruff 

West Oak finished the year going 4-6, but were 0-4 in region play and finished fifth in their region. Their reward for everyone making the playoffs is going up against a loaded Woodruff team. Not a fun thing when you are currently on a four-game losing streak and you have to face the Wolverines.

Woodruff finished the year 9-1, with their only blemish coming against a 4A school, the Wren Hurricanes. Woodruff averages 40 points of offense and only surrenders 18 points per game.

There is no sugar coating this. Woodruff is going to crush them; they are the better team, and this game is about getting up and getting their stars out and keeping them healthy the deeper they go.

St. Joseph’s @ MVP 

MVP finished the regular season going 8-1 and 3-1 inside their region to earn second place.  They will now be matched up against a St. Joseph’s squad this Friday Night.  MVP has shown once again that they are built to make a deep run, as their only loss came at the hands of a really good Woodruff Wolverine team.

St. Joes is coming into this game with a 5-5 record and a 2-3 record inside their region, where they finished fourth. St. Joe’s has shown the ability to score as they put up 33 points per game, but they have their issues defensively as they allow 35 points per game.

Having issues on defense is not a recipe for success, facing an MVP Squad that could put up a lot of points and yards in a hurry. I look for MVP to win this game and move on to the second round.

Chesnee @ Fairfield Central 

The Chesenee Eagles snapped their losing streak last week and did it in dominating fashion. Yes, the game did go back and forth til about the second quarter, but then from there it was all Chesnee that would go on and beat and eliminate the Landrum Cardinals by a final score of 70-18.

Now the Eagles will be on the road to face a Fairfield Central squad this Friday Night in the opening round of the playoffs. Fairfield Central went 7-3 overall and 3-1 in their region, which was good enough to finish in a tie for first and a share of a region title.

Fairfield Central is a solid team on both sides of the ball. They average around 34 points per game and allow just 16, so the Eagles will have their hands full, but like I always say about this Chesnee team, they are going to be up for the fight. I just feel like in the end Fairfield will be a little too much to handle and win it.