The high school football season came to an end for the Tri-County area last weekend, as none of the local teams advanced to the state championship games. The Northwestern Trojans, the Clover Blue Eagles, and the South Pointe Stallions all lost their third-round playoff games on Friday night, ending their hopes of bringing home a title.
The Trojans, who were the defending 5A state champions, faced a tough challenge from the Greenwood Eagles, who had won 10 straight games. The Trojans trailed by 14 points at halftime, but fought back to tie the game at 28-28 in the fourth quarter. However, the Eagles scored the go-ahead touchdown with less than two minutes left, and held on to win 35-28.
The Blue Eagles, who had reached the 4A state championship game last year, were also in a close contest with the A.C. Flora Falcons. The Blue Eagles led by three points at the end of the third quarter, but the Falcons scored 10 unanswered points in the final period to secure a 27-20 victory.
The Stallions, who had won four 4A state titles in the past decade, were up against the Myrtle Beach Seahawks, who had won the 4A state title in 2018 and 2019. The Stallions kept the game close in the first half, trailing by only four points at the break. However, the Seahawks pulled away in the second half, scoring 28 points and shutting out the Stallions to win 45-13.
With the losses of the Tri-County teams, the state championship games will feature teams from other regions. In 5A, the Greenwood Eagles will face the Dutch Fork Silver Foxes, who have won five consecutive state titles. In 4A, the A.C. Flora Falcons will take on the North Myrtle Beach Chiefs, who are making their first appearance in the state final. The state championship games will be played on Saturday, November 25, at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia.
The Tri-County teams may not have achieved their ultimate goal, but they still had impressive seasons and showed a lot of resilience and determination. They will look to regroup and prepare for the next season, hoping to return to the state championship stage.
