Rematches take center stage in playoffs

With playoffs underway, it’s a new season for the 12 remaining Pee Dee squads.

But for six of the them, Friday will probably seem a little too familiar.

Four games will feature rematches from region contests earlier this season, with Carvers Bay and Hemingway topping the list.

Trailing 8-7 in the fourth quarter Sept. 26, a 41-yard touchdown run by James Flowers helped Hemingway earn a 13-8 victory.

“Every year, it’s a knock-down, drag-out defensive struggle, and whichever team makes the most plays and the fewest mistakes usually wins,” Hemingway coach Ken Cribb said. “It’s usually decided by one or two plays, and it’s always a hard-hitting football game.

“It’ll definitely be a challenge, like it always is.”

Aside from hard-hitting defenses, the Tigers and Bears shared another common thread in that game — first-time quarterbacks.

Carlton Linnen made his first start at quarterback after Arlington Scott was sidelined for the season the previous week against Latta. For Hemingway, Quintin Brown also made his first start of the season.

So while both offenses were going through transitions then, neither coach expects the same to be true on Friday.

“I think both teams (offensively) should be a little more in sync,” Carvers Bay coach Nate Thompson said. “We had to throw Carlton in there against two of the toughest teams we faced all season. But he gained a lot of experience and has played well for us down the stretch.

“We just have to make sure we play at our best and not turn the ball over.”

On Oct. 17, Lamar held off a late push by Hannah-Pamplico to earn a 14-12 win and, at the time, stay unbeaten in Region 7-A.

But the Silver Foxes suffered two straight losses before last week’s 45-20 win over St. John’s.

“We’ve gotten a little tougher at practice,” Lamar coach J.R. Boyd said. “We just have to get our kids to play at a high level in all three phases of the game for 48 minutes.”

Lamar jumped to 14-0 halftime lead against the Raiders the first time before a second-half rally. A missed first-half field goal and unsuccessful two-point conversion helped the Silver Foxes hang on.

“Our kids have to step up and play all four quarters,” Boyd said. “Hannah-Pamplico is a good team, and we have to keep our intensity up the entire game.”

In what turned out to be the Region 7-A title game, Scott’s Branch scored five touchdowns in a 38-18 romp against Timmonsville on Oct. 17.

The Whirlwinds were behind 32-18 in the fourth quarter despite Antonio McAllister rushing for 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Since that loss the Timmonsville defense has played better, allowing an average of just nine points during their last three games.

In SCISA, Dillon Christian will face Richard Winn, perhaps their toughest opponent this year with the exception of Lake View.

Two Ray Thomas touchdowns paved the way for the Warriors, who finished the season undefeated in SCISA Region 1-A.

The Warriors will have the home-field advantage this time around.