Class 1A football title games set in South Carolina, semis for others

Two state champions will be declared this week, as the Class 1A titles are on the line Friday at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.

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It's become quite easy to predict the teams playing for the Class 1A Div. II title as Scott's Branch (Summerton) and Williston-Elko play each other for the third straight year for the crown, Friday at 3 p.m. Two years ago, Scott's Branch won the title with a 14-6 win, but last year it was Williston-Elko that took home the title with a 34-26 win.

"This is kind of the rubber match," Williston-Elko coach Dwayne Garrick told the Augusta Chronicle. "They know what we do and we know what they do."

Williston-Elko got to the finals this year with a 27-21 road win over previously unbeaten Christ Church. Dexter Staley led the way with 180 yards rushing on 21 attempts while Kendric Salley added 108 yards, also on 21 carries. Each had two touchdowns.

The Eagles, led by 285 rushing yards on 50 carries, downed Hardeeville 36-20 to earn their spot in the title game. The defense of Scott's Branch had one of its best nights. It held Hardeeville's rushing attack, which averaged nearly 300 rushing yards a game, to just 19 yards.

In the the Class 1A Div. I state finals, it will be Abbeville and Bamberg-Ehrhardt playing at noon for the title.

It's been 20 years since Bamberg-Ehrhardt has played for a state title and it took a 22-yard field goal by Randon Sandifer as time expired to get the 17-14 win over previously unbeaten Hemingway.

"This feels amazing," Sandifer told the Orangeburg Times and Democrat. "I've never been to a football state championship before, so I don't know how it feels. We haven't been this far in 20 years so it is amazing."

Abbeville used 181 rushing yards and two scores from Ashton Heard to beat Lamar 20-12. Abbeville hasn't won a state title since the 2A crown in 1996, but played for the 2A title in 2000 and 2002.

COULD IT BE DILLON-CENTRAL, ROUND 3?
Dillon and Central (Pageland) each need one more win to set up a third straight meeting in the 2A state finals.

Dillon, which has won the last two state titles, has a rematch with Manning this week for the lower state championship. Last season, Dillon won 30-14 over Manning and then beat Central 21-20 for the state championship.

Central has a familiar foe too, as the Eagles travel to Woodruff. Two years ago, Central beat the Wolverines 48-14 in the upper state finals.

THIS TIME IS MORE IMPORTANT
South Pointe (Rock Hill) and Fairfield Central (Winnsboro) played a region game earlier this year. Friday's game has a lot more on the line.

The Stallions knocked off the Griffins 17-7 on Oct. 15 and they'll play for the 3A upper state title on Friday.

The winner will face the winner of the Bluffton vs. Myrtle Beach game for the title on Dec. 4 at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.

Fairfield Central is trying to regain some of its past glory, having won the state title in '96 and '97, but the Griffins haven't played for a title since then. They haven't played in the state semifinals since 1998.

South Pointe is in its first season in 3A, having won the 4A Div. II state championship two years ago.

COLUMBIA SCHOOLS INVADE SPARTANBURG
Two Columbia-area schools will travel to Spartanburg County for the 4A Div. I state semifinals on Friday.

Lexington, which upset Summerville 45-14 last week, will play at Byrnes (Duncan) and Irmo (Columbia), a 12-9 winner over Gaffney, will travel to Dorman (Roebuck).

Last year Dorman (a 49-28 winner over Fort Dorchester last week) and Byrnes (a 31-14 winner over Dutch Fork last week) played for the state championship, with Dorman winning.

Lexington is in its first season under coach Scott Earley, who guided Myrtle Beach to a state title two years ago.

WORLEY BREAKS RECORD
Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley threw four touchdowns last week in a 49-35 win over Ashley Ridge. Those touchdown tosses increased his number to 56, which gives him the record for touchdown passes in a season.

He broke the mark held by former Byrnes quarterback Willy Korn, who threw 53 scoring passes in 2005. With one more win, Worley, who threw for 349 yards in the win, can take his team to the 4A Division II state championship game for a third straight year. The Trojans lost the past two years.

Video of Worley

STARS FROM LAST WEEK
Dorman wide receiver Charone Peake, a Clemson commitment, scored three times in the first 14 minutes of the Cavaliers' 49-28 win. Two touchdowns were on receptions and he also returned a punt 70 yards for a score. He caught eight passes for 119 yards. ... Myrtle Beach quarterback Everett Golson threw for five scores in the 42-28 win over Berkeley. Golson was 25 of 40 for 381 yards. ... Lexington running back K.J. Miller had 31 carries for 230 yards with three touchdowns in the Wildcats' 45-14 win over Summerville.

Video of Peake

Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettotalkblog@gmail.com.