Nov. 13—Class AAAA, Lower State
Gilbert (6-5) at North Augusta (10-1)
Last time they played
North Augusta defeated Gilbert 56-14 on Sept. 19, 2025.
Keys to the game
North Augusta already came into the season with one of the most dangerous defenses in Region 4-AAAA, and it showed against Midland Valley that it has risen to a new level of dominance. The Jackets will be facing another familiar foe in the second round of the Class AAAA playoffs, but head coach Richard Bush knows they’ll be facing a much-improved Gilbert team. Since losing to them on Sept. 19, the Indians finished the regular season with a 4-2 record to capture third place in the region. Bush said the biggest goal this week is to get the defense more comfortable recognizing Gilbert’s formations and responding accordingly. Staying in front of the chains is the priority again offensively and controlling the clock with North Augusta’s well-developed run game. Gilbert isn’t the only team that’s improved going into this game; the Jackets have been getting their receivers more involved, with quarterbacks AJ Hillary and Collin Tillman getting more comfortable throwing the ball. While the Indians have found more of a rhythm offensively at the end of the regular season, they’ve given up an average of 23.6 points a game compared to the 13.5 points a game that North Augusta gave up on average. The Jackets also have the edge on the other side of the ball, scoring an average of 45.6 points a game in the regular season, while Gilbert scored an average of 20.7. Both teams won their first-round playoff game comfortably, with the Indians taking down Bluffton on the road 38-21.
Class AAA, Lower State
Silver Bluff (7-4) at Dillon (8-3)
Last time they played
Dillon defeated Silver Bluff 15-13 on Nov. 14, 2008, in the second round of the Class AA playoffs.
Keys to the game
There aren’t many high school football matchups in South Carolina with as much historic name value as this one, and both side is very much aware of the other’s pedigree. Silver Bluff once again won the physical battle in last week’s first-round win over North Charleston, but the Bulldogs know seventh-ranked Dillon will require their best. The Wildcats have a balanced, explosive offense, with freshman quarterback Khayel Sam Fong-Talia playing at a high level to lead the charge. Senior receiver Zamaurious Robertson was chosen for the Mr. Football watch list, as was linebacker Daniel Capehart. Silver Bluff knows it can’t afford empty possessions like it had in the first half last week, but the Bulldogs did a good job of bouncing back to make sure they got into the end zone when they had the ball in the second. They’ve been strong closers in recent weeks to finish off victories, which should give them confidence on the road should they take care of business in the earlier stages of the game. They’ll look to get playmakers like Drelyn Brown and Dorian Jones going early, and they can keep the Dillon defense guessing with either Jordan Williams or Trellis Riley at quarterback.
Class AA, Upper State
Liberty (8-3) at Strom Thurmond (9-2)
Last time they played
This is the first meeting between the two programs.
Keys to the game
The strength of Class AA’s Upper State is on display in round two with four premium matchups, and this is certainly one of them. Liberty has won four straight since falling to second-ranked Clinton in the Region 1-AA opener, while No.1 Strom Thurmond is riding a six-game winning streak. The Red Devils have done it with defense and a powerful run game, allowing only 35 points during those four wins while rushing for just under 296 yards per game. Liberty has four different backs that have logged at least 88 carries this season, and the Red Devils as a team have run it 488 times compared to 20 pass attempts. Needless to say, the Strom Thurmond defense knows what it needs to do. Stops on first and second down will be key to force Liberty into third-and-long situations, otherwise the Red Devils can shorten the game and keep Strom Thurmond’s offense on the sideline. The Rebels feel comfortable with their offensive balance, and last week’s first-round blowout against Chesterfield was an opportunity to work a little more on the passing game. That versatility can go a long way toward cooling down a Red Devils defense that’s on a hot streak of late.
Class A, Upper State
C.A. Johnson (6-5) at Blackville-Hilda (6-5)
Last time they played
C.A. Johnson defeated Blackville-Hilda 8-7 on Oct. 23, 2009.
Keys to the game
It’s time to get right back to work for Blackville-Hilda after a first-round slugfest against McCormick, and another physical test awaits in C.A. Johnson. The Hornets flexed their muscle defensively in a 12-0 shutout of Calhoun County last week, with 14 tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries making life miserable for the Saints. That will be a big test for Jayden Dash and the Blackville-Hilda offensive line, and also for the Fighting Hawks’ running backs. Kaiden Aiken has stepped in at quarterback following an injury to Trevor Kinard, and Aiken has also starred at running back, safety, linebacker, and even as a kicking specialist. Kaiden Davis has turned in big scoring plays in recent weeks, and Blackville-Hilda has one of Class A’s biggest matchup nightmares in receiver Messiah McFadden. The defense will be tested by a C.A. Johnson offense that is pretty fairly balanced between the run and the pass, and the Hornets aren’t shy about throwing it deep early and often. They average more than 16 yards per completion, so the Fighting Hawks will have to make sure they tackle in space and don’t let the receivers get behind them.
Wagener-Salley (5-6) at Lamar (9-2)
Last time they played
Lamar defeated Wagener-Salley 52-28 on Nov. 20, 2020 in the first round of the Class A playoffs.
Keys to the game
It was an eventful finish in Wagener-Salley’s upset over Dixie to open up the Class A playoffs last week. After a player had to be taken to the hospital via helicopter at the end of the third quarter, the rest of the War Eagles came together to win the game for their teammate with two touchdowns in the final 12 minutes of the game. They’re bringing that same motivation to this week’s newest challenge against sixth-ranked Lamar on the road. The Silver Foxes kicked off the postseason with a 49-0 victory over Calhoun Falls. With them having so much speed offensively, Wagener-Salley head coach Blaze Gillespie said the defense will need to have another strong week to keep the season alive. Defense was the name of the game against the Hornets to keep the War Eagles in it going into the fourth quarter, but this week they’ll also need to put points on the board as quickly as possible against such an explosive team. Slowing them down will be crucial to keep the game close. A key turnover in the fourth quarter against Dixie gave them the chance to score their second touchdown, and plays like that will be important to disrupt Lamar’s rhythm. With how many injuries they’ve suffered in the past few weeks, several players have had to step up to fill in the gaps, and so far they’ve risen to the occasion.
