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FIRST THINGS FIRST: EATING SOME CROW
So, my pick record took a little bit of a hit last night as I went 13-7 to take me to 108-20 overall in the playoffs. The first thing I want to do is step up and own my picks I got wrong and salute those teams.
In 5A, Gaffney showed up to play football and cost me a game. It’s not that I don’t think Gaffney has the talent to win these big games, after all, I had them at No. 2 in the preseason. It’s just that they don’t always show up to play ball. The past two weeks, they have played lights out and I comment them on that. Also, Carolina Forest, I should have never doubted you and I certainly never should have gone against my No. 2 QB, Mason Garcia.
In 4A, Hartsville squeezed out a win by going for 2 with 2:39 in the game and knocked off Brookland-Cayce. Jeff Calabrese did an amazing job making adjustments and doing some uncharacteristic things – like throw the football – in the second half. Great job!
In 3A, Camden went on the road and knocked off Union, who I had picked. I struggled with picking this game anyway because I felt they were so evenly matched but ended up going with Union County as the home team and I paid for it. Congratulations to Camden. Dillon got me too, knocking off Gilbert in the closing moments of the game to advance to the semi-finals.
In 2A, Saluda got revenge for an earlier season loss against Southside Christian. This was another game I struggled with picking but went with the wrong one.
1A is always tough to pick but I did have Blackville Hilda beating Ridge Springs-Monetta and was wrong as RSM got the win in the third overtime.
STRENGTH IN AREAS
Taking a look at the number of teams remaining in the playoffs based on the areas they are in is pretty interesting. Here’s a breakdown.
Midllands – 6 teams remaining if we count Wagener-Salley and Ridge Springs Monetta, which are both within the same area (distance) as the other Columbia perimeter schools we have. (Dutch Fork, Ridge View, Camden, Saluda, Ridge Springs-Monetta, Wagener-Salley)
Pee Dee – 6 Teams remaining. (Carolina Forest, Myrtle Beach, Hartsville, Dillon, Lake View, Green Sea Floyds)
Upstate – 5 Teams Remaining (Gafnney, Dorman, Wren, Chapman, Abbeville)
Lower State – 3 Teams remaining (May River, Barnwell, Oceanside Collegiate)
THE SCORES FROM THIRD ROUND
Class 5A
Upper State
GAFFNEY 34, BYRNES 20
DORMAN 45, CLOVER 42
Lower Stat
DF 48, FORT DORCHESTER 0
CAROLINA FOREST 41, GOOSE CREEK 14
Class 4A
Upper State
WREN 17, GREENVILLE 7
RIDGE VIEW 35, DANIEL 28
Lower State
MYRTLE BEACH 34, AIRPORT 10
HARTSVILLE 22, BROOKLAND-CAYCE 21
Class 3A
Upper State
CHAPMAN 49, WOODRUFF 0
CAMDEN 42, UNION COUNTY 27
Lower State
MAY RIVER 21, STROM THURMOND 17
DILLON 41, GILBERT 34
Class 2A
Upper State
SALUDA 56, SOUTHSIDE CHRISTIAN 42ABBEVILLE 38, GRAY 35
Lower State
BARNWELL 49, TIMBERLAND 19
OCEANSIDE 56, WOODLAND 42
Class A
Upper State
RSM 26, BLACKVILLE 24 3 O/T
WAGENER SALLEY 24, LAMAR 12
Lower State
LAKE VIEW 50, CROSS 8
GREEN SEA FLOYD 46, CE MURRAY 6
