After a regular season that saw a plethora of games moved due to the impacts of Hurricane Helene, the playoffs are upon us. A programming note to keep in mind is that Byrnes vs Lexington will air on News/Talk 98.9 Friday night with coverage beginning at 7PM. Furman Basketball will air on the Fan Upstate, that's the reason for the station switch for Byrnes Football.
After the SCHSL realignment prior to this season, there's now 2 different playoff brackets for 5A, Division 1 and 2. Despite playing in the same region, some 5A teams find themselves in different playoff brackets. For instance, Gaffney who won Region 2 5A, is in the Division 2 bracket while their region mates are Division 1 (based on enrollment size). Also, for the 1st time I can remember some teams in the 5A class will have a bye in the 1st round.
Here's a look at the matchups around the Upstate.
Class 5A Division 2
Gaffney has a bye and will host the winner of Greenville at Riverside in Round 2.
TL Hanna has a bye and will host the winner of Catawba Ridge and Woodmont in the 2nd round.
Greenwood has a bye and will host the winner of Hillcrest vs Nation Ford.
Eastside is at Indian Land
5A Division 1
Byrnes hosts Lexington the winner will travel to take on Spartanburg in round two, the Vikings have a bye in the opening round.
As they continue to go through a renaissance period for their football program, JL Mann will have a 1st round bye and host the winner of Blythewood at Clover in round two.
Boiling Springs is at Dorman in the opening round. The winner gets a trip to take on perennial powerhouse Dutch Fork in the 2nd round.
Mauldin is on the road taking on River Bluff.
None of the other classes have built-in byes in the playoffs.
4A
Top ranked Westside will open their State Title defense hosting Lakewood.
Emerald is at AC Flora
Pickens is at former 3A power Camden
Wren hosts Lancaster
Fountain Inn is at Greer
Blue Ridge is at annual State Title contender South Pointe-Rock Hill
Seneca hosts Richland Northeast
Daniel hosts Dreher. The Lions look to prove that they can contend for the State Title in 4A after being moved up after winning the 3A State Title last year.
3A
It's a very interesting bracket, in 3A there's only 33 teams statewide and 32 make the playoffs. Thus, you have teams like Carolina and West Oak who didn't win a region game and weren't even competitive in any region games, making the playoffs. That's something many including myself have been criticized the SCHSL for, because it takes away any sense of earning your way to the playoffs.
Carolina will travel to take on #1 overall seed, unbeaten Mountain View Prep.
St. Joseph's of Greenville will travel to Oconee County to take on Walhalla.
Crescent hosts Union County
The previously mentioned West Oak Warriors will travel to take on Christ Church.
Region 2 Champs Powdersville hosts Broome
Chapman hosts Palmetto
2nd seeded BHP hosts Southside Christian
2A
Region 1 Champs Clinton hosts Pelion
Chester hosts Strom Thurmond
Liberty hosts Andrew Jackson
Chesnee hosts Ninety-Six
Landrum at Central
(The rest of the 2A games do not involved Upstate area teams)
1A
Powerhouse Abbeville got moved to 1A after being a perennial contender in 2A. The Panthers host C.A. Johnson in the 1st round.
McCormick is at Blackville-Hilda
Whitmire is at Lamar
Dixie hosts Williston-Elko
Calhoun Falls is at Lewisville
Ware Shoals hosts Ridge Spring- Monetta
The 2nd round will be played next week, Nov. 22nd and the 3rd round Nov. 29th (Black Friday). The State Semifinals are December 6th and the State Finals are December 13th.
