Some thoughts on a few 5A Upper State matchups!

[Rebel-Fan-74]

Region 1 #1 H Hillcrest
Region 2 #4 Riverside

Hillcrest surprised most folks with the win over T L Hanna, who had all they could have asked for and then some, two weeks in a row with a really tough game the week before with Byrnes pulling out a 28-22 win in the final seconds at Nixon Field. Hillcrest hadn't really been that impressive during the season when you look at the other six wins, but the won when it mattered, in Region. Non-region wins over Woodruff, Boiling Springs and Wren with losses to Greenwood and Spartanburg. Riverside was the poster child for misleading records with wins over Travelers Rest, J L Mann, Berea, Eastside, Southside and Eastside, teams that are mostly 3A and 4A with not a winning record amongst them. Many would say Hillcrest in a rout; however, while those wins over teams are somewhat misleading, Riverside did gain a lot of momentum and they learned how to play together and how to win. I think this one will be much closer than you would expect in a #1 -vs- #4 and if Riverside plays like they did against Dorman in Roebuck, the Rams will have all they can handle.


Region 2 #1 H Spartanburg
Region 1 #4 Woodmont
One thing to note in this game that the Vikings were a few plays away from the #2 seed when all of a sudden, lightening struck and they were Region Champions. Now, this #1 -vs- #4 is more like you expect and I fully expect the Vikings to be excited about being a #1 seed and I see them playing like a #1 and taking charge early and being fully in control before halftime and I don't expect quite as much drama as last Friday night at the stadium.


Region 3 #1 H Gaffney
Region 4 #4 Rock Hill
My pick for the Upper State Champions, the Injuns open with what over the years has been a game filled with some great defense. This game however, may feature a Rock Hill Bearcat defense in trouble. Gaffney is solid in the passing game and the running game and can move the ball quick strike, or march it down the field. The O-Line can open the hole for the running back and protect the QB as well. I look for this game to be controlled by the Injuns from the opening kick to the final buzzer.


Region 1 #2 H T L Hanna
Region 2 #3 Dorman
Just a few days ago, we thought this would make a good match up for week three... but then WHAM, and it's an opening week game! That shouldn't change anything else about the match up as it will be a huge challenge for the Dorman defense facing that potent Wing T (with some spread thrown in when you need it) down in Anderson. Dorman is not the Dorman of the past few years, starting the season with a loss at home to Clover 20-7 that shocked many people. Then losing to Gaffney 42-35 in a thrilling game that had many folks thinking that they had found their game; however, Region losses to Byrnes and then to Spartanburg after having a huge lead going into the 4th quarter and the Cavs find themselves on the road in Round One. T L Hanna looked like the best chance to be the Upper State representative in Columbia until they went to Duncan and had to score with less than 30 seconds to pull out a 28-22 win over the Rebels and then losing the following week to Hillcrest in the final game to end up as the #2 seed from Region One. I'm thinking they shake off the cobwebs and come out full speed and look more like the team from Week Zero through Week Eight and send the Cavs home with the loss.


Region 4 #1 H Northwestern
Region 3 #4 Boiling Springs
Now this game will be the typical #1 -vs- #4 match up. The Bulldogs won the game against Fort Mill, but this is their reward, facing what many folks think is the best team in the Upper State on the road. The Trojan Offense should score early and often and the Trojan "D" starters may not even be tested. The Bulldogs are not on par with with the Trojans and unless the Trojans don't show up and play, this one is the type of match ups that folks calling for the smaller bracket point to as an example of why 32 teams shouldn't make the playoffs.


Region 2 #2 H James F Byrnes
Region 1 #3 Mauldin
As a life-long Rebel Fan, I've never seen anything like this season's team. We have looked so bad at times that you think we are not a playoff team, yet we beat Dorman, took the Vikings to the final play before losing, T L Hanna scores with less than 30 seconds to eek out a win, and somehow, we are a #2 seed. Mauldin is the #3 from Region One but when you look at the record, there are some things to compare. Mauldin beat Spartanburg, although the Vikings were without the starting QB, while both lost to T L Hanna, Mauldin 43-33 and Rebels 28-22 heartbreaker. About the only thing that could be a difference maker is the fact that the game is at Byrnes and the Rebels have played a much more difficult schedule which "SHOULD" mean they are more prepared for the playoffs. However, as I stated before, we have looked so bad at times that it actually brings pains to the fans. We have a tendency to be our own worst enemy by making really bad mistakes at very critical times (should have put away the Spartanburg game in the forth quarter but made several bad penalties and other mistakes, T L Hanna game we gave up a scoring drive in the final 1:25, on two different occasions this season, the punter ran out of the end zone after bad snap and gave up a TD instead of a safety, multiple drive killing penalties in critical situations like a TD pass called back against T L Hanna due to lineman downfield that led to a blocked FG attempt, and many more). As a fan, I want to think we have this one under control and we can use all those lessons from that difficult part of the Non-Region schedule we faced, {at Chapman, at Gaffney, Dutch Fork, T L Hanna} and take charge of this game and play some good football.... we shall see!

[Rebel-Fan-74]

Share your thoughts on these games, or better yet, share some thoughts on other games!

[Onion Rings]

thoughts...hmmmm - Not nearly as detailed as Rebel 74 but here goes

Hillcrest vs Riverside - Have not seen either team but Hillcrest seems to be surging. Greenville county is only big enough for one of these teams (Hillcrest wins)

Spartanburg vs Woodmont - Woodmont is improved but that Spartanburg QB is big and bad. Hodge has the Vikes playing very well (Vikings win)

Gaffney vs Rock Hill - Gaffney seems loaded and RH seems a little down, but remember Gaffney has blown games like this before. Gaffney too big and strong for RH now (Gaffney wins)

TL Hanna vs Dorman - These teams are very similar in that 10 of the 11 players are in the box. I mean, this game could be played in a phone booth. It will be like an inside drill with all 11 players (Dorman wins in an upset) (all players will have sore feet from getting stepped on)

Northwestern vs Boiling Springs - Coach Wofford has the Trojans returning to glory, and he is the best interview out there. Look for the Trojans to start fast and speed up from there. A good tune up for the men of Troy (NW wins big)

Byrnes vs Mauldin - I'm really at a loss here. Byrnes has a great running game, but Mauldin seems to be an up and comer. Byrnes at home I guess (Byrnes wins it or not)