Ranking every Midlands HS football playoff team by chances for state championship run
The S.C. High School League football playoffs kick off this week, while the S.C. Independent School Association’s postseason is in the semifinals.
The State is doing a power rankings list in order of the teams with the best chances to make a deep playoff run and possibly play for a state championship. Here is the list.
1. Hammond: The Skyhawks are two wins away from their eighth-straight SCISA state championship. Hammond gets a rematch with Augusta Christian this week, a team it defeated 51-16 this season, and has already beaten the other two 4A semifinalists Porter-Gaud and Northwood.
2. Dutch Fork: The Silver Foxes have looked like the best team in 5A all season and are coming off an impressive win over Irmo last week. Dutch Fork is in the 5A Division I Upper State bracket and might not be tested until a possible matchup with Spartanburg in the state semifinals. The Silver Foxes are going for their ninth title since 2013.
3. Irmo: Like Dutch Fork in the 5A Upper State, the Yellow Jackets are the favorite in 5A Division II Lower State. Irmo has the dynamic offense with AJ Brand and Donovan Murph and gave Dutch Fork all it could handle in the regular-season finale. The pieces are there for Irmo to make it to its first title game since 2006.
4. Richard Winn: The Eagles have been a dominant team in SCISA 8-man this season, outscoring their opponents, 533-160. Richard Winn has handed semifinal opponent Wardlaw its lone two losses this season and would likely get a tough Jefferson Davis team in the championship game.
5. Batesburg-Leesville: The Panthers have been one of the biggest surprises this season and completed their first unbeaten regular season since 2000. To make it to its first title game since 2013, B-L must navigate through a tough 2A Upper State bracket that features six teams ranked in the Class 2A top 10 poll.
6. Fairfield Central: While much of attention has been focused on Batesburg in 2A, the Griffins enter the playoffs on a nine-game winning streak and are title contenders. Fairfield is led by Shrine Bowl running back Tydarion Grier as it looks for its first championship appearance since 2013.
7. Saluda: The Tigers are another team capable of making a run in 2A Upper State. Saluda’s only loss came to Batesburg-Leesville, and that rematch would come until the Upper State championship game.
8. White Knoll: The Timberwolves made it to their first state championship game last season and have a favorable bracket in 5A Division II Lower State to do it again. Injuries are a concern, and would they be able to knock off Irmo if they meet in the Lower State title game?
9. Northside Christian: The Crusaders have won a school-record 10 games and are a win away from making it to the SCISA 3A championship. If Northside can find a win to stop Pinewood’s Jeremiah Simmons, it can make it to next week’s finals in Charleston.
10. Newberry: The Bulldogs won four straight to close the season and won their first region title since 2006. Now, Newberry hopes to make a run in 3A Lower State. They have a tough draw on their side of the bracket with a possible matchup with Dillon in the second round.
11. Ridge View: The Blazers have talent and a good draw in Class 5A Division I Lower State playoffs. The big challenge might be a third-round matchup with unbeaten Summerville.
12. Camden: The Bulldogs have made three title appearances in the last four seasons in 3A but face a tougher road in 4A. Camden is in the same bracket as defending champion Westside and could face the Rams in the third round.
13. Keenan: With two weeks off entering the 3A Lower State playoffs, the Raiders should be rested. Keenan overcame a coaching change to start the season and has the firepower on offense to make a deep playoff run.
14. River Bluff: At 8-2, the Gators have a chance to win nine games for just the second time in school history. They get Mauldin, coached by former River Bluff assistant Andre Cook, in the first round. River Bluff would get Rock Hill, a team they beat to open the season, in the second round. After that, a tough task against Dutch Fork looms.
15. Richland Northeast: The Cavaliers have won seven games in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11. They won a playoff game last year for the first time in almost a decade. RNE missed out on hosting a playoff game after an injury to QB Will Wilson, but the senior is back and hopes to lead the Cavs to a deep playoff run.
16. Swansea: The Tigers have made great strides in Willie Fox’s first season. Swansea went from 0-10 in 2023 to seven wins this year, the most since 2014. The Tigers haven’t won a playoff game since 2018.
17. Chapin: After a strong start, Chapin struggled during region play but got a big win last week against White Knoll to secure a home playoff game. If the Eagles get their first playoff win since 2021 against Goose Creek, a matchup against Irmo follows.
18. Westwood: The Redhawks haven’t won a playoff game or had six wins in a season since 2019. Westwood can accomplish both this week.
19. AC Flora: The Falcons are at home to start the 4A playoffs, but a matchup with defending state champ Westside could be on the horizon in round two.
20. Blythewood: The Bengals lost three straight to close the season but are looking to win a playoff game for just the second time since 2017.
21. Lexington: The Wildcats get Byrnes in the opener. Lexington’s coach Dustin Curtis and Byrnes’ Reggie Shaw worked together at A.C. Flora. Lexington struggled late in the year and lost its starting quarterback to injury.
22. Gilbert: The Indians get a home playoff game in Ozzie Exume’s first year but face a tough road if they get past Lower Richland in round one.
23. Lower Richland: The Diamond Hornets bounced back from a two-win season a year ago and are looking for a first-round playoff win for the third time in four seasons.
24. Lugoff-Elgin: The Demons are fun to watch with their passing attack under first-year coach Leon Boulware, but they get a tough task against White Knoll’s defense in the opener.
25. North Central: The Knights are making consecutive playoff trips for the first time since 2020-21 and get region champion Manning in the opener.
26. Brookland-Cayce: The Bearcats have won a playoff game in eight of the last nine seasons. That streak will be tested against South Florence, which is looking to make it to the state championship for a third straight year.
27. Mid-Carolina: The Rebels have won five games for the first time since 2014 and will try to beat Saluda for a first playoff win since 2011.
28. Columbia: The Capitals have won five games for the first time since 2011 but draw a tough playoff opener at Fairfield Central.
29. Dreher: The Blue Devils are in the playoffs in consecutive years for the first time since 2017-18 but face powerhouse Daniel as they go for their first postseason win since 1994.
30. Airport: The Eagles have made the playoffs in coach Shane Fidler’s two seasons and face region foe and champion North Augusta in round one.
31. CA Johnson: The Green Hornets get top-ranked Abbeville in the first round of Class A playoffs.
32. Pelion: The Panthers are in the playoffs for fourth time in five years but must face state title contender Clinton.
33. Spring Valley: At 0-10, the Vikings are the only winless team to qualify for the S.C. playoffs, making it in with a higher RPI than Stall. Spring Valley faces region foe and Richland 2 school Ridge View in the postseason opener.
Game schedule, predictions
(Winner picks in bold face caps)
——SCHSL Playoffs——
Mauldin at RIVER BLUFF
Blythewood at CLOVER
Lexington vs BYRNES (at Presbyterian College)
Spring Valley at RIDGE VIEW
Goose Creek at CHAPIN
Socastee at WESTWOOD
Lugoff-Elgin at WHITE KNOLL
Emerald at AC FLORA
Pickens at CAMDEN
RICHLAND NORTHEAST at Seneca
Dreher at DANIEL
Brookland-Cayce at SOUTH FLORENCE
Lower Richland at GILBERT
Airport at NORTH AUGUSTA
North Charleston at KEENAN
Georgetown at NEWBERRY
SWANSEA at Waccamaw
Pelion at CLINTON
Columbia at BATESBURG-LEESVILLE
Chesterfield at FAIRFIELD CENTRAL
Mid-Carolina at SALUDA
North Central at MANNING
CA Johnson at ABBEVILLE
——SCISA Playoffs——
Augusta Christian at HAMMOND
Northside Christian at PINEWOOD PREP
Wardlaw at RICHARD WINN
▪ Last Week: 15-3
▪ This Season: 227-47
This story was originally published November 14, 2024 at 9:00 AM.
