Upstate Playoffs – State Championship Capsules

Note: All state championship games will be played at South Carolina State’s Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg. All will be televised locally by WMYA My40.

CLASS 4A

Westside (13-1) vs. South Florence (14-0)

When: Saturday, noon

Series record: First meeting

Last week: Westside defeated Greenville 42-35 in overtime; South Florence defeated Irmo 28-21

Radio: Westside – WANS 1280 AM

Who to watch for Westside: WR/DB Jimmar Boston, QB Cutter Woods, RB Sharode Richardson

Who to watch for South Florence: LB Terry Gordon, RB Zion Gilbert, DB Quincy Rhodes

What’s at stake: Westside is going for its first SCHSL state championship in its second trip to the finals. The Rams lost to Hartsville, 29-10, in the 1987 Class 4A Div. II state championship.

South Florence is trying to make it back-to-back state crowns by extending its winning streak to 30 consecutive games. In the Bruins’ first ever state title appearance last season, they defeated Northwestern, 57-30.

How they got here: Westside saw a 35-21 fourth quarter lead disappear against Greenville last week, but persevered and pulled out the overtime win. After Richardson scored to put the Rams ahead to start overtime, Boston ended the game with an interception – the Rams’ fifth turnover forced on defense.

Boston, an N.C. State commit, had eight catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns, while fellow receiver Josh Williams – a Chattanooga commit – had seven receptions for 135 yards and two scores. In addition to those two and 3,000-yard passer Cutter Woods – who threw four touchdowns and ran for another last week, Westside also has a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Richardson and Marco Evans.

In a battle of unbeatens last week in Florence, South Florence held Irmo 30 points below its scoring average to secure the win. It was easily the lowest scoring output this season for Irmo, which opened the playoffs with an 85-0 win. South Florence’s 28 points were also the most allowed by the Yellow Jackets this season.

South Florence’s offense set an early tone when Syree Livingston rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the first quarter. Livingston, who’s rushed for 13 touchdowns and three two-point conversions in the playoffs – finished with 164 yards. Gilbert, the Bruins leading rusher this season, had 158 yards and a touchdown last week.

CLASS 3A

Daniel (14-0) vs. Camden (11-3)

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

Series record: Daniel leads 7-1, all of which have been in the playoffs. The last two meetings were Class 3A state title wins for the Lions in 2020 and 2021.

Last week: Daniel defeated Belton-Honea Path 28-23; Camden won at Brookland-Cayce 46-30

Who to watch for Daniel: RB Ja’Kari Bennett, QB Kolton Chapman, OL Watson Young

Who to watch for Camden: QB Grayson White, WR Jaquarius Mayrant, WR Aidan Heriot

What’s at stake: A Daniel victory would be the school’s eighth state championship in 11 appearances. In addition to the wins over Camden in 2020 and 2021, the Lions also won state in 1966, 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1998. Daniel is 50-1 over the past four seasons and is 72-4 since going 2-9 in 2017.

Camden is going for its seventh state title in 16 tries. The Bulldogs last state crown came in a 24-21 win over Union in 2001. Camden also won state titles in 1931, 1936, 1957, 1964 and 1990.

How they got here: In another battle of unbeatens last Friday, Daniel truly had a case of “survive and advance.” Trailing 28-23 with 3:32 remaining, Belton-Honea Path had a strip sack fumble recovery at the Daniel 29-yard line. The Bears drove to the Lions’ three-yard line. On first-and-goal, BHP fumbled and Daniel’s Jamarion Williams recovered with 1:16 left to preserve the victory.

The Lions rallied from an early 10-0 deficit thanks to three touchdowns by Chapman (one passing, two rushing) to take a 21-17 lead into halftime. Daniel pushed the lead to 28-17 entering the fourth quarter before hanging on.

Young is a Mr. Football finalist who anchors the line and can play all positions up front. He helps lead a balanced offensive attack as the Lions have 3,165 yards and 56 touchdowns rushing, and 3,030 yards and 30 touchdowns passing this season.

White has done it all for Camden this season and last Friday was certainly no exception. White completed 21-of-27 passes for 309 yards, and rushed for 69 yards and four touchdowns, as Camden’s punting unit never took the field. White also ran for a pair of two-point conversions.

For the season, White’s thrown for 3,755 yards and 37 touchdowns, while rushing for 777 yards and 15 touchdowns. Mayrant and Heriot are his top two targets, as each have more than 1,000 yards receiving.

CLASS 1A

Christ Church (12-2) vs. Johnsonville (11-2)

When: Friday, 2 p.m.

Series record: Christ Church leads 2-0, with both coming in state finals. The Cavaliers defeated Johnsonville, 43-20, in last year’s championships and won 27-18 in 2012.

Last week: Christ Church defeated St. Joseph’s 53-20; Johnsonville won at Bamberg-Ehrhardt 20-10

Who to watch for Christ Church: RB Dashun Reeder, QB Tucker Hendrix, WR Jackson Repp

Who to watch for Johnsonville: QB Malik Shippy, RB/LB Neal Martin, WR/DL Travis Wilson

What’s at stake: Christ Church is looking to move to 7-0 in state championship games and make it back-to-back titles for the first time since winning four consecutive state crowns from 2011-14. The Cavaliers’ first state title came in 1977.

Johnsonville is seeking its second state championship in its sixth appearance. The Flashes’ lone championship win came in their first state title appearance when they defeated Buford, 26-7, in 1993.

How they got here: Hendrix completed 15-of-18 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns as Christ Church crushed rival St. Joseph’s last Friday.

After starting the season 2-2 with losses to Gray Collegiate and Class 4A member Riverside, the Cavaliers closest game was a 35-21 win over St. Joseph’s in the regular season. Christ Church’s roll has coincided with Hendrix seemingly getting better each week. He’s thrown for 2,539 yards and 37 touchdowns. His top target is Repp, who’s caught 57 passes for 1,391 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Christ Church’s passing numbers should not make anyone forget about Reeder (pictured above), who’s committed to Northwestern. After rushing for more than 2,100 yards and 42 touchdowns last season, Reeder’s ran for 1,619 yards and 24 scores this season.

Johnsonville rallied from a 10-0 second quarter deficit thanks to its quarterback. Shippy threw a long touchdown pass to Wilson just before halftime to cut Bamberg-Ehrhardt’s lead to 10-7. In the third quarter, Shippy ran for a pair of touchdowns. That completed the game’s scoring as the Flashes shut out the Red Raiders in the second half.

Shippy’s thrown for 1,649 yards and 22 touchdowns this season, while averaging nearly seven yards per carry. Martin has rushed for 1,318 yards and 16 touchdowns, while averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. Wilson has been Shippy’s top target as he’s caught 36 passes for 731 yards and 13 scores.

Johnsonville’s defense includes seven players with at least 10 tackles for loss this season, led by Taysawn Brown’s 29 and Wilson’s 23.