Top players to watch, game previews and predictions for SC football championships
A look at this week’s S.C. high school football state championship matchups, players to watch and our predictions for the games.
The games
Friday, at Benedict College
Class 2A: Saluda (11-3) vs. Barnwell (14-0), 5 p.m.
Saluda is in a championship game for the first time since 1963. The Tigers won back-to-back state titles in 1962-63. Barnwell is in the game for second straight year. (The War Horses lost to Abbeville last season in the finale.) Barnwell has won three state championships, the last coming in 1988. Barnwell averages 50 points a game and quarterback Craig Pender has thrown for 2,292 yards and 23 touchdowns.
Class A: Ridge Spring-Monetta (10-4) vs. Green Sea Floyds (11-1), 8 p.m.
Green Sea is going for its second straight Class A title, while Ridge Spring-Monetta is in its first championship game since 2006. RSM’s lone state title came in 1945. Green Sea Floyds have rushed for 3,834 yards this season.
Saturday, at Williams-Brice Stadium
Class 5A: Dorman (14-0) vs. Dutch Fork (13-0-1), noon
It’s the second time in three seasons these teams are facing off for the state championship. Dutch Fork won 28-27 in 2017 as it stopped the Cavaliers on a two-point conversion with 19 seconds left. Dutch Fork is trying to become the seventh team in state history to win four straight titles. The Silver Foxes are in their seventh title game in 10 seasons under coach Tom Knotts and are looking for their fifth state championship in school history. Dutch Fork has outscored its opponents 648-128 and has a 39-game unbeaten streak.
Class 3A: Chapman (14-0) vs. Dillon (12-1), 3 p.m.
It’s the third time in the last four years the two teams have played for the Class 3A title. They split the two previous matchups with Chapman winning in 2016 and Dillon in 2017. Dillon is making its eighth straight title game appearance and going for its ninth title in school history. Seven of Dillon’s state titles have come since 2008. Chapman averages 522 yards per game on offense.
Class 4A: Wren (12-2) vs. Myrtle Beach (13-0), 6:30 p.m.
Wren is making its first title game appearance in school history, while Myrtle Beach is going for its eighth championship and second straight. The status of Myrtle Beach quarterback Luke Doty is uncertain, and coach Mickey Wilson said the team will know later this week if he can play. Doty missed the past three games with a hand injury. Myrtle Beach has won 18 straight games.
Top players to watch
Barnwell: Jamari Chisholm (Sr./RB) and Deshawn Watson (Sr./LB)
Chisholm has 2,057 all-purpose yards and 38 total touchdowns this season. Barnwell coach Dwayne Garrick said Monday that Watson is the best defensive player he’s ever coached. Watson leads the team with 172 tackles and 14 sacks.
Chapman: Mikele Colasurdo (Sr./QB) and Dante Smith (Sr./RB)
Colasurdo, a Mr. Football finalist and Georgia State commit, threw for 2,855 yards and 35 touchdowns and rushed for 394 yards and 14 TDs. Smith leads the team with 1,806 yards rushing and 29 touchdowns.
Dillon: Ahmari Huggins (Jr./WR) and Tyquan King (St./RB-LB)
Huggins is the fifth-ranked prospect in the state for the Class of 2021, according to 247Sports. Huggins has 52 catches for 1,054 yards and 11 touchdowns. King, a Shrine Bowl selection, leads Dillon in tackles with 106 tackles, three sacks and two defensive touchdowns. He has a role on offense and had two touchdowns in last week’s Lower State championship win against May River.
Dorman: Kade Bowyer (LB/Sr) and (Hayden Lee (QB/Sr.)
Bowyer is the team leader in tackles with 90 and three interceptions. Lee has thrown for 2,367 yards, 24 touchdowns and also rushed for eight touchdowns.
Dutch Fork: Jalin Hyatt (Sr./WR) and Ty Olenchuk (Sr./QB)
Hyatt and Olenchuk rewrote the Silver Foxes’ record book. Hyatt, a Tennessee commit and Mr. Football finalist, has 59 catches for 1,196 yards and 23 touchdowns. Olenchuk, the school’s all-time passing leader and Clemson baseball signee, has thrown for 3,284 yards and 39 touchdowns this year.
Green Sea Floyds: AJ Campbell (Sr/DB) and Jaquan Dixon (Sr./RB)
Campbell, a North-South selection, had 76 tackles, sacks and 12 tackles for loss in the regular season. Dixon averages 12.2 yards a carry and has a team-best 1,684 yards and 29 touchdowns.
Myrtle Beach: Kenny Byrd (Sr/LB) and (Xayvion Knox (Sr./RB-DB)
Byrd leads the team with 22 tackles for loss to go along with 86 tackles and nine sacks. Knox should have a big role if starting quarterback Luke Doty can’t play and the Seahawks line up in their Rhino package with Knox carrying the ball. He has 860 yards rushing and 24 touchdowns, with more than half of that coming in the playoffs.
Ridge-Spring Monetta: Tre Dean (Sr./TE-DL) and Collier Sullivan (Sr./RB/LB)
Dean leads the team with 141 tackles, 22 for loss and seven sacks. Sullivan leads RSM’s ground attack with 1,462 yards and 23 total touchdowns.
Saluda: Noah Bell (Sr./QB) and Dallan Wright (Sr./WR)
Bell, a Mr. Football finalist, has thrown for 3,616 yards and 44 touchdowns to go along with 454 rushing yards and 15 scores. Wright is Bell’s top target and leads the team with 76 catches for 1,337 yards and 21 TDs.
Wren: Dez Frazier (Sr./RB-LB) and Joe Owens (Sr./QB)
Frazier is the team’s leader in tackles (146) and sacks (10½). Owens has put up huge numbers for the Hurricanes with 4,182 yards passing and 58 touchdowns. He also has rushed for 345 yards and 11 scores.
Predictions
See who The State’s Lou Bezjak and Chris Dearing picked to win the state title games.
Friday
Class 2A: Saluda vs. Barnwell (Lou-Saluda; Chris-Barnwell)
Class A: Ridge Spring-Monetta vs. Green Sea Floyds (Lou-GSF; Chris-GSF)
Saturday
Class 5A: Dorman vs. Dutch Fork (Lou-Dutch Fork; Chris-Dutch Fork)
Class 3A: Chapman vs. Dillon (Lou-Chapman; Chris-Chapman)
Class 4A: Wren vs. Myrtle Beach (Lou-MB; Chris-Wren)
Season Totals
Lou Bezjak: 270-76-1
Chris Dearing: 281-65-1
This story was originally published December 4, 2019 at 2:13 PM.
