Week 12 preview/playoff predictions

The new season is upon us for everybody. Playoffs begin Friday for all 4A schools in SC, and for 3A and smaller schools, they will be in the second game of the playoffs. Anything can happen in the playoffs. Major upsets, surprise teams and players, and lots of great games.

49 games in SC this week: 49 predictions.

Fort Dorchester 28, Gaffney 21 (very close game, Gaffney will play tough)
Summerville 27, Sumter 26 (another one-possession game)
White Knoll 34, Lexington 21 (White Knoll with revenge after last week's tough loss to Lexington)
Ashley Ridge 35, Hillcrest 31 (Upset #1, AR on a lot of momentum after last week's W over Fort D)
Dutch Fork 38, Mauldin 13 (Dutch Fork is on its game)
Dorman 30, Fort Mill 24 (Dorman hasn't lost a road game all year, don't expect that to change)
Byrnes 38, Boiling Springs 10 (As region rivals, Rebels will be amped up)
Northwestern 35, Wando 7 (Northwestern has Dupree Hart, Wando has lots of banged up players)
Goose Creek 34, River Bluff 13 (Gators struggle early, pull away in 2nd half)
York 28, Westside 20 (Upset #2, York's won 3 of 4 while Westside is not used to big stage)
Colleton County 19, Westwood 14 (Upset #3, Cougars have steadily improved while Westwood is another school not used to big stage)
Greenwood 28, Laurens 16 (Greenwood is used to the playoffs, expect them to make run)
South Florence 34, Blythewood 6 (South Florence is one of best teams in state this year, and have won 9 straight since Fort D loss)
North Augusta 30, Cane Bay 14 (North Augusta has stronger players)
Stratford 27, Socastee 13 (Stratford has been one of most improved teams in Lowcountry from start of year, don't expect that to change)
Spartanburg 27, Riverside 20 (another close game between region opponents, will be a good one)
AC Flora 38, Lancaster 7 (AC Flora is one of best teams in Midlands, don't expect much to change in 2nd round)
Wren 48, Emerald 20 (Wren is undefeated, at a tough place to play, Hurricanes pull away in end)
Seneca 23, South Pointe 20 (Upset #4, Seneca upset Chapin in OT last week, expect their roll to continue)
Greer 13, Belton-Honea Path 3 (Undefeated Greer rolls on in defensive battle)
Hartsville 21, Georgetown 20 (Hartsville and Georgetown play in a very tough game, home team survives)
Berkeley 33, Midland Valley 27 (Berkeley has steadily improved this year after slow start, will take this one)
Marlboro County 14, Swansea 7 (Upset #5, Marlboro has been in playoffs each year since '04 and knows how to win)
Myrtle Beach 24, Hanahan 21 (Great game in the Grand Strand, Seahawks escape with late TD)
Fairfield Central 27, Strom Thurmond 6 (Fairfield with 10 wins in a row, will get #11)
Woodruff 38, Newberry 19 (Woodruff bounced back last week, expect it to continue)
Dillon 45, Waccamaw 0 (Dillon is one of the best programs in state regardless of classificiation)
Ridgeland-Hardeeville 24, Loris 19 (Loris's long bus ride will hurt them early, and R-H will prevail)
Chesnee 30, Keenan 13 (Chesnee hasn't lost since August 22)
Abbeville 14, Ninety Six 13 (Upset #6, Abbeville lost to Ninety Six by 3 points three weeks ago and will bounce back)
Andrews 21, Woodland 16 (Andrews rolls on after a nice win last week against Bishop England)
Timberland 40, Whale Branch 0 (Timberland may be most dominant team in state. Allowed 64 points all year)
Christ Church 34, St. Joseph's 7 (Christ Church has been dominant all season, don't expect that to change)
McBee 31, Williston-Elko 30 (Very close game between these two 1A schools, McBee escapes at home)
Bamberg-Ehrhardt 27, St. John's 21 (Bamberg-Ehrhardt is the better team even though they're at St. John's home field)
Allendale-Fairfax 27, Hemingway 0 (Allendale-Fairfax is a very dominant 1A squad)
Lamar 20, Ridge Spring-Monetta 8 (Lamar gets the win at home)
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler 24, McCormick 7 (McCormick only won three games this year before last week's upset, H-K-T is proven at home)
Timmonsville 20, Lake View 14 (Lake View not as strong as previous Lake View teams, Timmonsville blew out Military Magnet last week)
Estill 34, Cross 23 (Estill has been a very good team this year)
Richard Winn 49, Andrew Jackson 9 (Richard Winn has scored 660 points this year in 12 games)
Carolina Academy 45, Clarendon Hall 42 (Carolina Academy gets a win on the road)
Williamsburg Academy 34, Holly Hill 10
Curtis Baptist 39, Dillon Christian 19
Orangeburg Prep 28, Florence Christian 21
Northwood Academy 52, Calhoun Academy 6
Hammond 20, Ben Lippen 14
Laurence Manning 30, Wilson Hall 14

Enjoy the games!

Week 11 preview/wk 10 review

We are finally at the end of the season for 4A schools, while all other schools are in playoffs. The season in high school football goes by so fast, but it has been a very interesting one to date.

There have been many surprises this year, but Goose Creek and Stratford meeting up in an end of season battle royale for the Region 7-4A title is not one. Bishop England starting 0-6 was a surprise. Now, they are 4-6 and in the playoffs. Another surprise was Berkeley. They started 1-4, and people were looking to force Jeff Cruce to resign. Now, they finished the season 6-4, with a region title in hand, and will host a second round of playoffs if they beat Dreher Friday night.

Lincoln is in the playoffs for a second year in a row. St. John's is the top seed in the Class A Division I Lower State bracket, and has home field advantage throughout the playoffs. The SCISA bracket is also interesting. This week, I will change up from my normal preview style and focus on playoff scenarios for 4A teams. Ten of the eleven local 4A schools still have a chance at the playoffs. Only Bluffton has been knocked out.

Goose Creek, Stratford, Fort Dorchester, and Summerville have already clinched berths. The others will be decided this week. There are 27 automatic berths to the 4A playoffs, 5 at-large.

Many of these scenarios come from the posters at SCpreptalk who have made playoff scenarios. Per that scenario, six of the eight region champs would be in the Division I bracket of the playoffs. In order of likelihood:

Goose Creek- Host Stratford (4-0 in region) this week. With win, will likely be #1 seed in their section of the playoffs, with home field as long as they're in the playoffs. Would host last seed in their bracket, likely an upstate team. A loss would move them to the #3 seed, and two home playoff games.

Fort Dorchester- A win over Ashley Ridge would give the Patriots a #1 seed on their side of the playoffs, hosting throughout. Even a loss probably would keep them near the top of the line.

Stratford- Win, #1 seed likely. Loss, still a #3 seed in their bracket.

Summerville- In playoffs after last week's win at Ashley Ridge. A win against Bluffton, win less in region, would give them a likely first round home game. A loss could mean a road game.

Ashley Ridge- Likely in playoffs. A win against Fort Dorchester would help their seed a bit, in SCpreptalk's projections they are a 12 seed. A loss would likely hold their seed there.

Here is where it gets tricky:

Wando- Likely has enough points to get in as an at-large due to playing Lexington and White Knoll in non-region play. A win over James Island likely gives them a 9-11 seed, and a first round road game. A loss, and things could get tricky. A Cane Bay win and a Wando win gives Wando an automatic 3rd. Wando is likely in.

Cane Bay- Tricky here with Cane Bay. Multiple scenarios where they could be in or out. A Cane Bay win over West Ashley and a Wando loss, Cane Bay gets an auto bid for 3rd. A Cane Bay win coupled with a Wando win also gets them in. A loss to West Ashley, and they could be in trouble on points. Basically, Cane Bay needs a win to stay in comfortable position.

Colleton County- Most of the media thought the Cougars had clinched last week. That is not the case. They still have to rely on getting enough points in order to get in. From EHSMeanGreen on SCPT: One particular scenario has Mauldin tied with Colleton County for the last At-large spot in the playoffs (32.5 pts).
(If Mauldin loses to Boiling Springs they will have 32.5 pts; CC has finished their season and are in the clubhouse at 32.5 pts.)
--The tiebreakers could get very deep for these teams.--
Colleton County needs to pull for 3A opponents Beaufort and O-W in the 3A playoffs. (They could make the difference)
---opponents wins and losses could determine the last spot. So Colleton County could have to rely on 3A schools in their playoffs to get in the 4A playoffs.

West Ashley- Rather simple scenario for West Ashley. If they beat Cane Bay, and Wando beats James Island, the Wildcats are in the playoffs.

James Island- If the Trojans beat Wando, and West Ashley beats Cane Bay, the Trojans are in the playoffs due to the head to head tiebreaker (beat West Ashley).

You got that all straight?

Now onto everyone else. From Doodle's Doodles. Favorite is first team listed. 3A:

Hartsville 285.8 Or'burg-Wilkinson 209.9 38
Georgetown 203.6 Airport 199.7 2
Berkeley 239.4 Dreher (15th in MaxPreps 3A poll)
Beaufort 213.6 Marlboro County 209.4 3
Hanahan 236.2 Lakewood 199.2 19

2A:

Lake Marion 192.1 Waccamaw 177.4 8
Ridgeland-Hardeeville 200.3 Garrett 169.9 15
Woodland 198.2 Johnsonville 177.3 11
Andrews 199.2 Bishop England 181.7 9
Whale Branch 189.1 Barnwell 179.8 5
Timberland 260.1 Academic Magnet 170.1 45

1A:

St. Johns 185.3 Latta 180.1 3
Hemingway 220.5 Calhoun County 151.9 35
Timmonsville 137.2 Military Magnet 119.2 9
Cross 178.6 Branchville 145.6 17
Estill 205.9 Lincoln 131.6 38

SCISA:

Hammond 205.9 Pinewood Prep 137.6 34
Ben Lippen 174.5 Porter-Gaud 159.8 8
Laurence Manning 191.6 Cardinal Newman 157.4 18
Wilson Hall 163.5 Heathwood Hall 130.3 17

SCISA CLASS 2-A QUARTERFINALS
Florence Christian 200.6 St. Andrews 68.2 67
Hilton Head Christian 142.4 Orangeburg Prep 130.1 6
Northwood 187.2 Thomas Sumter 113.1 37
Calhoun Academy 137.8 Bethesda 118.7 10

SCISA CLASS 1-A QUARTERFINALS
Williamsburg 149.1 Dorchester 112.7 18
Hilton Head Prep 150.9 Holly Hill 131.7 10
Curtis Baptist 142.1 Trinity-Byrnes 118.2 12
Dillon Christian 134.5 Colleton Prep 123.7 6

SCISA 8-MAN QUARTERFINALS
Richard Winn 133.1 St. Johns Christian 84.1 25
Andrew Jackson Ac. 138.4 Faith Christian 97.9 20
Patrick Henry 139.5 Carolina Academy 130.1 5
Clarendon Hall 123.4 Cathedral 96.5 13 

Enjoy the football!

Hartsville 285.8 Or'burg-Wilkinson 209.9 38     Georgetown 203.6 Airport 199.7 2     Berkeley 239.4 Berea 183.3 28 - See more at: http://www.hssr.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=741#sthash.3viKXZva.dpuf

Hartsville 285.8 Or'burg-Wilkinson 209.9 38     Georgetown 203.6 Airport 199.7 2     Berkeley 239.4 Berea 183.3 28 - See more at: http://www.hssr.com/NewsArticle.aspx?id=741#sthash.3viKXZva.dpuf

Stretcher and paramedics called to Detroit Red Wings dressing room?

In a very cryptic tweet from Ottawa Senators play by play guy Dean Brown, a stretcher and paramedics have been called to the Detroit Red Wings dressing room.

@PxPOttawa: A stretcher and paramedics have just been called to the Detroit dressing room??

@detroithockey96: Postgame interviews on FSD don't look like anyone is being carted off on a stretcher.

@Pammerhockey: Paramedics have left the #Wings area and thankfully the stretcher is empty. Do not know exactly what occurred. All is quiet. @PxPOttawa