By Thomas Grant Jr.
Aside from a two-hour trip to the Upstate, there’s little for the Airport football team to frown out its first playoff game in three years.
The Eagles (5-5) travel to Westside (9-1) for the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.
“Making the playoffs is an experience kids never forget,” Airport head coach Shane Fidler said. “Doing it year one in our program is definitely special, but it wasn’t our goal. Our goal is to hang banners at Airport. Success in the playoffs is one way to accomplish those goals – we are looking forward to the opportunity to compete in a new season against the great competition that 4A football has to offer.”
The Eagles look to snap a three-game losing streak. They are also 0-2 all-time against the Rams, the last meeting in 2013.
Westside is riding a nine-game winning streak led by quarterback Cutter Woods, who’s thrown for 2,350 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has a pair of All-Star wide receivers in Josh Williams, who was picked for the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl, and Jimmar Boston, who will play in the Shrine Bowl.
In the backfield, both running backs Dequirious Robertson and Sharode Richardson each have eight touchdowns through nine games. Defensively, the Rams are allowing 24.4 points per game.
“Last week was about getting healthy and continuing to work on fundamentals and technique,” Fidler said. “We put an emphasis on our JV team too as it was their last game. We did everything we could to try and recharge our varsity batteries as we head into the playoffs.”
Quarterback Jessie Ray Hoover (1,347 yards, 13 TDs), running back Amari Lewis (459 rushing yards, TD) and wide receivers Shiloh Perry (51 receptions, 626 yards, six touchdowns) and Avery Jones (29 receptions, 425 yards, five touchdowns) will look to lead the Airport offense.
To slow down the Westside offense, the Eagles will lean on linebackers Bryant Cherry (110 tackles, two sacks), Trey Neil (83 tackles, six sacks) and Montrelle Keys (77 ½ tackles, four sacks).
“We need to embrace the differences in how playoff football is,” Fidler said. “Longer bus ride to a new place, chillier weather, team we’ve never seen – all different things. We keep discussing how we have had so many wild things happen to us this year that is different from these new things won’t affect how we mentally prep or react to or during the game.”
The first-round game is available on the Palmetto State Sports Network. The app is available for download on Android or iPhone, and the website is https://network1sports.com/station/pssn.
S.C. High School League Class 4A rankings
1. South Florence (15) (10-0)
2. Northwestern (1) (9-1)
3. Irmo (10-0)
4. James Island (10-0)
5. Midland Valley (10-0)
6. Westside (9-1)
7. Lucy Beckham (8-1)
8. South Pointe (7-3)
9. North Augusta (7-3)
10. Hartsville (7-3)
Others receiving votes: Ridge View, Myrtle Beach, Greenville
PHOTO BY Velvet Maricle
