The state football playoffs will begin in about four weeks, and CoachesAid.com is looking at the key races, the locks, and the teams on the bubble.
AAAA
The top three teams in each region make the playoffs with Region V getting four teams because it has more teams than the other regions. The remaining seven teams are placed based on a points system. This is where it gets a little bit tricky. The 16 schools with the largest enrollments will play for the Division I AAAA title, while the next 16 play for the Division II title.
Right now, it looks like Dorman, Summerville, Fort Dorchester, Byrnes, Mauldin, Gaffney and Irmo are locks for Division I. Teams such as Rock Hill and Clover are in limbo between the two divisions because of size. They fall just outside of being in the top 16 normally, but with Boiling Springs suspended from the playoffs, one of those will definitely be bumped up.
Greenwood, Wren, Blythewood, South Pointe, Lancaster, North Augusta, Hartsville, Berkeley, Goose Creek and Beaufort all seem to be locks for a playoff spot.
AAA
In AAA, the top four teams in each region make the playoffs. Regions one through four play for the Upper State title, while five through eight go to the Lower State. Generally, the Region I teams play Region II in the first round, while three and four, five and six, seven and eight pair off against each other.
In Region I, Daniel and Belton-Honea Path will be first and second with the winner of this Friday’s game deciding the order. West-Oak looks like a lock for the third seed. Fourth place is somewhat up in the air between Pickens and Seneca.
Greenville looks like the only lock in Region II. After that, the best shots are Mann, Eastside and Berea.
Region III is pretty wide open at this point with Clinton being the favorite on talent, Union being the favorite on playing well right now, Blue Ridge being the best offense and Riverside just playing better than it has in the past.
Region IV is very tough to call. Chapin has been fantastic, but still must play Chester and Fairfield Central. Those three teams are locks, and the winner of the A.C. Flora/Lugoff-Elgin game will decide who finishes fourth.
My overall prediction is Daniel plays Chester for the Upper State title.
Region V belongs to Airport at this point. Midland Valleys should grab second. South Aiken and Swansea should finish out this section.
Marlboro should win Region VI with Wilson and Camden following the Bulldogs. Crestwood will edge Darlington for the fourth spot.
Myrtle Beach should win Region VII, and Lake City should come in second. The rest of the teams all have shots for the final two positions.
In Region VIII, North Charleston is the only lock. Hilton Head, Bluffton, Battery Creek and Lake Marion have shots for the final three spots.
Marlboro and Myrtle Beach should meet in the finals.
AA
In AA, the top four teams in each region make the playoffs. Regions one through four play for the Upper State title, while five through eight go to the Lower State. Generally, the Region I teams play Region II in the first round, while three and four, five and six, seven and eight pair off against each other.
Abbeville and Pendleton play this Friday essentially for the Region I crown. Holding off on saying who will win , but they will be the top seeds. Walhalla is a lock on a third. Right now, Emerald looks like the fourth seed.
Region II looks to go to Woodruff with Chesnee, Broome and Southside rounding out the playoffs.
We’re still predicting Strom Thurmond wins Region III with Newberry coming in second. Batesburg-Leesville and Mid-Carolina have the lead for the final two spots, but Gilbert is a very strong team.
In Region IV, Columbia and Central should split the top two spots. Keenan, Andrew Jackson and Lee are battling for the final two spots.
Going out on the limb and predicting Woodruff and Pendleton for the Upper State final.
Silver Bluff is the top team in Region V right now and should win the conference. It is a five way-race for the rest of the three spots.
Burke leads in Region VI, but Cane Bay and Ashley Ridge are in contention. Woodland looks to grab the fourth seed.
Timberland should win Region VII, but the Wolves have to get past Waccamaw this weekend. Manning and Hanahan will round out this region.
In Region VIII, it looks like Dillon, Cheraw, Marion and Loris.
In the Lower State final, it will be Dillon and Waccamaw.
A
This may be the most confusing since the playoff seedlings are dictated by points earned by place in region, wins over larger schools, losses to larger schools and the record against winning and losing teams. The 16 schools with the largest enrollments play for one title while the next 16 play for the other A title.
We will have more on Class A later this week.
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