Every team that made the postseason is now 0-0 and everyone of those teams now have new life. The most important "season of the season" is here as it is now do or die. Win and advance, or lose and pack up the football equipment.
I went 15-5 last week on my picks and now sit at 120-36 on the season. Here are my picks for what should be a fun round of playoffs on Friday night.
Williston-Elko at Southside Christian:
The Blue Devils & Sabres collide on Friday in Greenville with two teams that have had completely different seasons. Southside Christian rides a perfect 8-0 record while Williston-Elko comes into this game 4-7 on the season. To me, there isn't much to say about this one as I see this one being very one sided. The Blue Devils haven't won a game since the 15th of October and I think their season comes to an end on Friday.
Cole's Pick: Southside Christian 45, Williston-Elko 7
Blacksburg at Abbeville:
Again, these are two teams on the opposite end of the spectrum as you see alot in 1st round matchups. Blacksburg only has 1 win on the season while Abbeville is 10-0 and has rolled every opponent they played. Abbeville will get out to a fast start on Friday and never look back.
Cole's Pick: Abbeville 49, Blacksburg 10
Crescent at Chesnee:
Now here are two teams that are alot more even than the previous two matchups. Crescent comes into this game 4-5 while Chesnee comes in 3-7. The Tigers are riding a 2 game win streak while Chesnee comes off of a loss to Mid-Carolina. This one should be very close and very competitive but at the end of the day I like the home team to pull out a close one.
Cole's Pick: Chesnee 24, Crescent 21
Ninety Six at St. Joseph's:
The Catholic Knights are 7-2 on the season while Ninety Six sits at 5-4 on the regular season. St. Joseph's defense has been solid this season as they have held teams to just under 13 points per game in 2021. Ninety Six will have to create turnovers and play the best game of the season offensively. I just think the task is too tall for Ninety Six.
Cole's Pick: St. Joseph's 28, Ninety Six 14
Batesburg-Leesville at Christ Church:
Now we get back into a matchup that is not so even in my opinion. Christ Church ended the regular season 7-2 while the Panthers of Batesburg-Leesville have just 3 wins on the season. Christ Church has been so sound all season and has played good team ball, so I don't think anything changes on Friday night in Greenville.
Cole's Pick: Christ Church 40, Batesburg-Leesville 19
Landrum at Newberry:
Landrum went on a 3 game winning streak earlier in the season to now turn around and lose 3 in a row. This is not the time of the year to try and break a losing streak. Newberry is riding a wave that will soon land on the shore for long time Head Coach Phil Strickland as this is his final season leading Newberry before retirement. Both of these teams are 4-5 on the season so expect this one to be very competitive. I think the Cardinals keep this one close throughout, but Newberry pulls away at the end to win and advance.
Cole's Pick: Newberry 35, Landrum 22
Blue Ridge at Chapman:
One of these teams ended the season 2-7 while the other ended the season 7-2. The 7-2 Chapman Panthers have had a terrific season and the Panthers have won 6 in a row. Blue Ridge also comes off of a win in a close one against Berea but these two teams are not evenly matched at all. Panthers roll into the 2nd round on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: Chapman 45, Blue Ridge 14
Broome at Powdersville:
A rematch in the 3A ranks will go down on Friday in Anderson as the Broome Centurions look to get revenge from their season opener loss against Powdersville. The final score of that game was 46-28 however, the Centurions of Broome led at the half. The Patriots have not lost a game this season and I do not think they lose on Friday night. Broome has played really well at times this year, but they have also struggled at times. I like a more consistent Powdersville team at home this Friday in a close one.
Cole's Pick: Powdersville 40, Broome 35
Woodruff at Southside:
This matchup features two even teams on Friday night as Woodruff ended the regular season with a 4-5 record and Southside ended the season with a 4-6 record. Woodruff lost a few games mid-way through the season when QB Carson Tucker went down, but have bounced back as of late as they have won 3 out of their last 4. Southside comes into this game off of a loss to Powdersville. Woodruff's offense will be too much for Southside on Friday.
Cole's Pick: Woodruff 48, Southside 28
Palmetto at Clinton:
This game features a 9-1 Clinton team and a 3-6 Palmetto team. In my opinion, there isn't much to say about this game other than the score will be just as lopsided as the records. Clinton only has 1 loss and it is to a really strong Chapman team. Clinton rolls on Friday night at home.
Cole's Pick: Clinton 40, Palmetto 17
Walhalla at Greenville:
Copy & Paste. This one will be similar to the previous matchup. Greenville comes in 7-2 while Walhalla comes in 3-4. I do not think Greenville will have any trouble with this one on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: Greenville 39, Walhalla 14
Greer at Westside:
Another rematch from early in the season when Greer defeated Westside in Week 1 in a huge bounce back win after losing the season opener to Byrnes. However, this game is much different than that game. Westside had over 20 players out due to covid in Week 1 and with a fully healthy Rams roster, I think the Rams are the more talented team. The Greer defense will have to play its best game of the season to have a chance to beat Westside twice in the same season. It has been a good year for Greer, but I think this Zamora led offense will be too much for the Jackets to handle.
Cole's Pick: Westside 38, Greer 28
Laurens at Easley:
Easley ended the season with a big win over Travelers Rest and the Green Wave have also won 3 in a row. Laurens comes into this game 5-3 on the season and have reeled off 4 in a row. I think this should be a fantastic ballgame on Friday that will come down to the 4th quarter. I think Laurens is the more physical team and I think that will give them the edge on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: Laurens 30, Easley 24
Pickens at Greenwood:
Pickens comes into this game trying to pull the upset of the year by knocking off the 9-1 Greenwood Eagles. The Blue Flame ended the season 3-6 and the majority of their losses have not been close. Greenwood will dominate up front and that will give them the edge to do whatever they want offensively. I do not expect this one to be close.
Cole's Pick: Greenwood 45, Pickens 14
Riverside at Hillcrest:
Riverside ended the regular season 7-3 with losses to Dorman, Byrnes, & Spartanburg. Hillcrest ended the season 7-2 with losses to Greenwood and Spartanburg. Both of these teams are very solid and can play with just about anyone at the 5A level. My only concern with Riverside is that when it has played top teams this season, the games haven't been remotely close. With Hillcrest, they lost to Greenwood by 7 and Spartanburg by 8. I think the combination of Judy & Coldren will be too much to handle for Riverside. I think this would be a huge statement win for Riverside if they were able to pull off the upset. Speaking of upsets, Hillcrest has to forget about their huge upset win over T.L. Hanna last week and not allow that game hangover to bleed over into this one. I think the Rams may come out a little slow, but they will finish strong and get the win.
Cole's Pick: Hillcrest 45, Riverside 28
Woodmont at Spartanburg:
When Raheim Jeter came back healthy, this Spartanburg Viking team went on a tear. They have won 6 out of their last 7 and have had huge wins on the road against Byrnes & at home last Friday against Dorman. Spartanburg ended the season 6-3 while Woodmont ended the season 5-5. Woodmont ended the season on a 3 game losing streak and I think their season comes to an end on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: Spartanburg 38, Woodmont 21
Rock Hill at Gaffney:
This should be a somewhat easy win for Gaffney on Friday as the Bearcats of Rock Hill come into this game 2-6 on the season. Gaffney finished with a perfect 10-0 record and I think that they get to 11-0 on Friday. Loftis, Smith, & Littlejohn have big nights and may exit the game early to prevent injury.
Cole's Pick: Gaffney 45, Rock Hill 14
Dorman at T.L. Hanna:
This is probably the hardest game of the week to pick. T.L. Hanna got exposed big time last Friday against Hillcrest while Dorman comes off loss to Spartanburg where the Cavaliers blew a 20+ point lead in the 4th quarter. Dorman does matchup well against Hanna, but Hanna will out-scheme the Cavaliers at times with this wing bone attack. In the end, Dorman's defense makes enough plays to give Demarius Foster a chance to take the lead and the Cavaliers knock off T.L. Hanna in the 1st round of the playoffs.
Cole's Pick: Dorman 28, T.L. Hanna 24
Boiling Springs at Northwestern:
Polar opposites. Really all I can say about this one. Boiling Springs got into the playoffs due to their win over Fort Mill, but that is the only win that the Bulldogs have to show for. Northwestern finished the regular season 9-1 with a lone loss to South Pointe early in the season. This one will not be close.
Cole's Pick: Northwestern 45, Boiling Springs 10
Mauldin at Byrnes:
The storyline of this game changed on Tuesday when it was announced that Clemson commit DB Jeadyn Lukas of Mauldin was injured. The strong Mauldin secondary would have been a fun matchup to watch against a strong Byrnes passing attack led by Gabe Rogers. If the report is true that Lukas is hurt and will not play, I like the Rebel offense to be very pass heavy on Friday night. I expect this one to be very competitive but in the end, I think the Rebel offense will be too much for this Mauldin defense and on the flip side, this much improved Rebel defense will make it tough on Mauldin to get anything going on offense.
Cole's Pick: Byrnes 35, Mauldin 21
