2A Final - Barnwell vs Saluda - Benedict College, 6 Dec 5PM

[*Topcat*]

Barnwell appears to be the overall stronger team here. Saluda is a very well coached, gritty team, has a good QB and super quick, fast receiver or two on offense...one in particular is very fast. Their defense is nothing special. They have scored a lot recently, playing well on offense, but their D gave up 42 to Southside Christian, 28 to us, should have been more. Anything can happen in one game, best team doesn't always win, proven last friday when Saluda pulled a rabbit out of the hat against us. I give them credit for winning, but we let them off the hook plain and simple. That and the incredibly bad interference call that went against us, we had intercepted too. That clown must have just been itching to throw his flag...IDK. We beat this team by 4 TDs a few weeks ago. I would be surprised if Barnwell doesn't win this game.

Pulled a rabbit out of the hat against you???? Quite simply we withstood your blows and when we hit y'all back we shook y'all up. I guess you forgot about the TD that they took away from us, when they threw a flag when we were already in the endzone and then the kick gets blocked the next play. Should have hung 39 on y'all. I was sitting right where the flag was thrown on that interference, and I agree it was questionable. But there was some contact. As for our defense, we spotted you 7, with the fumble on the handoff that y'all returned to the 1. You had a great play in the reverse that went for 78 yard TD. But other than that our defense flew at you and hit you in the mouth. Noah Bell ran over every single defender y'all had and there was nothing you could do to stop it. We took your game and threw it right back at you and y'all folded. I respect the hell out of you guys, but don't make excuses, you didn't do what it takes to win the game and we did. We've been creeping towards this moment. Lost by only 5 points in UpperState Title game in 2016 (21-16) and 2017 (20-15). Despite a bad performance in the regular season, we have improved as the season goes on and play our best ball in the playoffs.

I agree with you, Saluda made the plays to win the game, I give full credit to them for that. It was as if Saluda just wanted it more....hit us in the mouth and we just didn't respond. Saluda was also, certainly more adept at making in game adjustments than we were. Why we don't attempt to toss a few passes right over the middle, right over the top of 9 in the box is beyond me. The Saluda coach knows we won't do it and sells out against the run, which is smart. We've had close calls in playoffs the last 2 years due to this same situation, but, pulled it out due to some great athletes, not this time, it caught up with us. I would hope we would learn from it, but, I doubt it. Most of the time we just impose our will...but there comes a time when you need a hint of diversity, and that is our weakness. The penalty on that Saluda TD was a procedure penalty, they called a slew of them on us. The interference call was a game changer, like it or not. Without it, we likely win that game. Think about this for a minute...counting our 48-20 win earlier and a 21-3 lead early 3rd qtr this game...that's 69-23 through basically 6 qtrs of football this year. Then Saluda goes on a 29-7 run 2nd half to win. Kind of crazy. Look I respect Saluda very much because I know those boys will always play hard, and, are very well coached. You will never convince me the better team won..... but It really doesn't matter what I think, bottom line is Saluda did win the game. It's all about Saluda and Barnwell now. Both are equally deserving of a shot....good luck to both.

Well said and I appreciate the compliments of our team. I agree that if we played y'all 10 times, you win 9. Especially at Hite Stadium. It always puzzles me that Abbeville doesn't pass 8-10 times a game. With all that speed, you would think that they could run a few routes to keep teams on their heels.

It puzzles me too. For years. I would be happy with 5 or 6 passes a game. It wouldn't even be difficult to do to add a few pass plays every game. But you have to do it consistently before you can become efficient at it. I am convinced it would make us even better than we are. I'm tickled to death to be an Abbeville fan enjoying so much success, but, I'm convinced we can be even better. To me a program should always be looking for ways to get better. A few years ago we finally switched to more of a spread type running game out of the shotgun, and, it absolutely made us better. You do what you need to do....a little tweaking here and there.

[SCPrepTalk]

2A Final - Barnwell vs Saluda
Benedict College, Friday Dec 6th at 5PM


SCHSL 2A Press Conference
https://www.facebook.com/13189239687780 ... 922054789/

[SCPrepTalk]

Getting over the hurdle: Barnwell looking for elusive state title
By Mike Jakucionis |
Posted: Mon 7:25 PM, Dec 02, 2019
https://www.wrdw.com/content/sports/Get ... 10412.html

[SCPrepTalk]

Saluda shoots for a state title
The Saluda Tigers face Barnwell for the 2A state championship Friday night.
Published: 11:38 PM EST December 2, 2019
https://www.wltx.com/video/sports/high- ... 8b3058de0a

[spectator]

Barnwell appears to be the overall stronger team here. Saluda is a very well coached, gritty team, has a good QB and super quick, fast receiver or two on offense...one in particular is very fast. Their defense is nothing special. They have scored a lot recently, playing well on offense, but their D gave up 42 to Southside Christian, 28 to us, should have been more. Anything can happen in one game, best team doesn't always win, proven last friday when Saluda pulled a rabbit out of the hat against us. I give them credit for winning, but we let them off the hook plain and simple. That and the incredibly bad interference call that went against us, we had intercepted too. That clown must have just been itching to throw his flag...IDK. We beat this team by 4 TDs a few weeks ago. I would be surprised if Barnwell doesn't win this game.

Pulled a rabbit out of the hat against you???? Quite simply we withstood your blows and when we hit y'all back we shook y'all up. I guess you forgot about the TD that they took away from us, when they threw a flag when we were already in the endzone and then the kick gets blocked the next play. Should have hung 39 on y'all. I was sitting right where the flag was thrown on that interference, and I agree it was questionable. But there was some contact. As for our defense, we spotted you 7, with the fumble on the handoff that y'all returned to the 1. You had a great play in the reverse that went for 78 yard TD. But other than that our defense flew at you and hit you in the mouth. Noah Bell ran over every single defender y'all had and there was nothing you could do to stop it. We took your game and threw it right back at you and y'all folded. I respect the hell out of you guys, but don't make excuses, you didn't do what it takes to win the game and we did. We've been creeping towards this moment. Lost by only 5 points in UpperState Title game in 2016 (21-16) and 2017 (20-15). Despite a bad performance in the regular season, we have improved as the season goes on and play our best ball in the playoffs.

I agree with you, Saluda made the plays to win the game, I give full credit to them for that. It was as if Saluda just wanted it more....hit us in the mouth and we just didn't respond. Saluda was also, certainly more adept at making in game adjustments than we were. Why we don't attempt to toss a few passes right over the middle, right over the top of 9 in the box is beyond me. The Saluda coach knows we won't do it and sells out against the run, which is smart. We've had close calls in playoffs the last 2 years due to this same situation, but, pulled it out due to some great athletes, not this time, it caught up with us. I would hope we would learn from it, but, I doubt it. Most of the time we just impose our will...but there comes a time when you need a hint of diversity, and that is our weakness. The penalty on that Saluda TD was a procedure penalty, they called a slew of them on us. The interference call was a game changer, like it or not. Without it, we likely win that game. Think about this for a minute...counting our 48-20 win earlier and a 21-3 lead early 3rd qtr this game...that's 69-23 through basically 6 qtrs of football this year. Then Saluda goes on a 29-7 run 2nd half to win. Kind of crazy. Look I respect Saluda very much because I know those boys will always play hard, and, are very well coached. You will never convince me the better team won..... but It really doesn't matter what I think, bottom line is Saluda did win the game. It's all about Saluda and Barnwell now. Both are equally deserving of a shot....good luck to both.

Saluda carried Abbeville to the woodshed in the 2nd half and that was the difference in the game. The last 5 minutes of the game Abbeville was completely worn out, Saluda had worn them down to a crawl. No fluke here at all.

[*Topcat*]

Abbeville lost. Yes it was an upset. It happens. The thing is, we aren't going anywhere....IDK what anybody else will have...but we will be right there next year too, count on it. We will reload.

[spectator]

Abbeville lost. Yes it was an upset. It happens. The thing is, we aren't going anywhere....IDK what anybody else will have...but we will be right there next year too, count on it. We will reload.

So will Gray Collegiate, and possibly others. The level of competition in 2-A is improving tremendously. There has been little there for the last 6 or 7 years.

[No Fly Zone]

Abbeville lost. Yes it was an upset. It happens. The thing is, we aren't going anywhere....IDK what anybody else will have...but we will be right there next year too, count on it. We will reload.

Abbeville will be state title contenders every year Nickles is there.

[spectator]

Abbeville lost. Yes it was an upset. It happens. The thing is, we aren't going anywhere....IDK what anybody else will have...but we will be right there next year too, count on it. We will reload.

Abbeville will be state title contenders every year Nickles is there.

I agree. Smith is a big factor too. I do think the level of competition in the future will be much stronger than what we have seen in the past years, which is good for the sport.

[AHS14]

I'd like to hear the abbeville poster AHS14's opinion about this particular match up. He had no problem chiming in when greenwood lost. I wonder where he went?

I'm here!!! I think it will be a good matchup! Hate that my team isn't there but oh well, it happens. I would expect a lot of points in this game. Both of these teams have really great offenses that are able to score quickly. Last year when we played Barnwell we forced Pender into some mistakes that we were able to cash in for points. I think it will come down to who can run their offense the best.