By Thomas Grant Jr.
After a tough way to end the regular season, Northeast teams look to restart in the playoffs.
At least one of the teams are guaranteed to advance into the second round. It’s because Spring Valley will travel to rival Ridge View in the opening round of the Class 5A Division I Lower State playoffs.
It’s a rematch of their Region 5-5A matchup on Oct. 4 won by the Blazers 54-14. Quarterback Tre Howard threw for 300 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 74 yards and two scores.
The Vikings lead the series 10-7, but Ridge View has won the last two meetings.
The Blazers (6-4) are coming off a 49-6 home loss to undefeated Sumter in a matchup which determined the Region 5-5A champion. Starting quarterback Tre Howard was held out due to injury and All-State wide receiver Jordon Gidron continued to work his way back into the lineup after missing time with an injury as well.
Spring Valley is not only seeking to snap a 23-game losing streak but earn its first playoff win since 2021. The winner travels to fourth seed Cane Bay in the second round.
In the same bracket, Blythewood (6-4) heads on the road to face Clover (7-3) in the Upper State playoffs. The two teams met last season in a game won by the Blue Eagles 24-7.
After a 4-0 start, the Bengals have dropped their last three games. Their last game was Nov. 1 in a 21-7 loss to Ridge View. Clover has won three straight and four of its last five games to finish third in Region 3-5A.
The winner travels to J.L. Mann for the second round.
In Class 4A, Richland Northeast (7-3) is tentatively scheduled to travel to Seneca. They look to rebound from a 56-6 loss to South Pointe to end the regular season.
The current bracket could change, however, depending on the outcome of Tuesday’s Gray Collegiate Academy hearing with the S.C. High School League executive committee regarding a player eligibility.
Should the War Eagles prevail, the RPI ratings which determines playoff seedings will revert to how it looked prior to Gray Collegiate’s exclusion.
Season ends for Cardinals
For the second straight week, Cardinal Newman was defeated by longtime nemesis Hammond School.
The 35-6 loss in the first round of the SCISA Class 4A playoffs ended the Cardinals’ season at 3-7.
Senior running back Caleb Ford accounted for the lone touchdown. He also had 201 rushing yards to finish the season with a Palmetto State-leading 2,346 yards.
South Aiken’s Jevon Edwards is currently second with 2,308 yards. The Thoroughbreds are currently scheduled to face Bishop England Friday.
Photo by Thomas Grant Jr. – Ridge View players bring down Sumter’s John Peeples.
