The high school football playoffs start Friday. Here’s who’s moving on, going home

Class 5A

Carolina Forest (5-5, 2-3 Region 6-5A) at Lexington (7-3, 4-2 Region 5-5A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Radio: WHSC-AM 1050/FM 101.9

Of note: Three straight losses to end the season have Carolina Forest on the road in first round. … QB Matt Beale has more than 2,000 yards of total offense this season. … Injuries have decimated the Panthers in recent weeks, not a good sign when going against a physical club like Lexington. … The Wildcats have given up 21 points or less in seven games this season. …. Former North Myrtle Beach head man Perry Woolbright is in his first season as Lexington coach. ... Fort Dorchester or Socastee awaits the winner.

Favorite: Lexington

Socastee (5-5, 1-4 Region 6-5A) at Fort Dorchester (10-0, 7-0 Region 7-5A) | Friday,7:30 p.m.

Radio: WSEA-FM 100.3

Of note: Socastee was awarded Lower State 5A’s at-large bid, allowing it to make the playoffs for the first time since 2014. … WR Devin Stamp is the area’s top receiver, catching 43 passes for 986 yards and 12 touchdowns. …. DB Edward Tucker leads the area in interceptions with six. … Fort Dorchester was unanimously voted the top team in Class 5A by prep media pollsters. … QB Dakereon Joyner has nearly 2,600 yards of total offense (1,812 pass; 743 rush). … Lexington or Carolina Forest awaits the winner.

Favorite: Fort Dorchester

Wando (5-4, 3-4 Region 7-5A) at Conway (9-1, 5-0 Region 6-5A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Radio: WGTR-FM 107.9

Of note: Conway won the teams’ first meeting earlier this season, 17-7. A different group of Tigers will roll into this matchup, one more reliant on the run. The Tigers average better than 212 yards per game on the ground. … Conway has given up 21 points or more twice this season — wins over Hartsville and Socastee. … Three out of Wando’s last four games have been decided by eight points or less. Winner gets Spring Valley or West Ashley in second round.

Favorite: Conway

Class 4A

Beaufort (7-2, 3-2 Region 8-4A) at Myrtle Beach (6-4, 3-1 Region 7-4A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Radio: WYNA-FM 104.9

Of note: Myrtle Beach earned the No. 2 spot in Region 7-4A courtesy of a 54-26 win over Wilson last week. The Seahawks have scored a total of 189 points in the last three games. … QB Lawson Cribb has thrown for 2,080 yards and 16 touchdowns this season. … Beaufort’s only losses this season were to Berkeley and Cane Bay. … Kyliek Middleton paces the Beaufort attack. He has rushed for 1,224 yards this season — 209 of which came last week against Hilton Head Island. The winner gets either Lower Richland or Darlington.

Favorite: Myrtle Beach

Colleton County (4-6, 2-3 Region 8-4A) at North Myrtle Beach (10-0, 4-0 Region 7-4A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Radio: WRNN-FM 99.5

Of note: North Myrtle Beach wrapped up a couple of firsts last week, earning its first undefeated regular season and an outright region title. … RB Kered Class has rushed for 1,090 yards and 12 touchdowns. … Defensive linemen Kwame and Marcelous Livingston are tied for the team lead with eight sacks apiece. … Colleton County has thrown the ball on 68 percent of its offensive snaps this season. QB Craig Grant has thrown for 2,550 yards and 25 touchdowns. … The Cougars have given up 30 points or more in five games this season — including 73 to Berkeley a few weeks ago. The winner gets Chapin or Crestwood.

Favorite: North Myrtle Beach

Class 3A

Aynor (6-4, 2-3 Region 6-3A) at Gilbert (10-0, 5-0 Region 5-3A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Of note: Aynor is back in the playoffs for the first time since 2014. … The resurgence has been keyed by its running game, led by junior RB Noah Seaver. He has rushed for 1,389 yards and 21 touchdowns. … Gilbert is led by running backs Cody Temples and DeAndre Cook, each of whom have rushed for 750 yards or more. QB Josh Strickland has thrown for 1,636 yards and 15 touchdowns. … Bluffton or Hanahan awaits the winner.

Favorite: Gilbert

Loris (4-3, 2-3 Region 6-3A) at Brookland-Cayce (6-4, 3-2 Region 5-3A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Radio: WLSC-AM 1240

Of note: Loris went from possibly being out of the playoff mix to Region 6-3A’s No. 3 spot with a 49-27 win over Aynor last week. … The Lions scored a total of 91 points the past two weeks — seven more than they had the rest of the season. … DL Andrew Wilson anchors a physical front for Loris. He has 105 total tackles — 33 of them coming in the opposing backfield. … Each of Brookland-Cayce’s losses have come to playoff teams. … Rasheed Taylor leads the Bearcats with 1,171 yards and 19 touchdowns. … Wade Hampton or Manning awaits the winner.

Favorite: Brookland-Cayce

Swansea (4-6, 3-2 Region 5-3A) at Georgetown (6-4, 4-1 Region 6-3A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Radio: WGTN-AM 1400

Of note: After losing its first three games, Georgetown has won six of its last seven games. The Bulldogs’ defense has been stout of late, allowing 12 points or less in three of their last four games — including two shutouts. … Swansea has the ability to put points on the board, as witnessed by its run through Region 5-3A. The Tigers scored 21 points or more in each of their league games. … The winner will either host May River or travel to Timberland.

Favorite: Georgetown

Class 2A

Garrett (2-3, 3-6 Region 6-2A) at Andrews (8-2, 5-1 Region 7-2A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Of note: Andrews enters the playoffs as Region 7-2A’s No. 2 seed, and riding a five-game winning streak. The Yellow Jackets have yet to score less than 28 points in any game this season. … R.J. Knowlin leads a bruising Andrews rushing attack with 1,254 yards and 20 touchdowns. Michael Pipkin has added 855 yards and 12 trips to the end zone. … Garrett comes into the playoffs on a three-game losing streak. … Winner of this game takes on Barnwell next week.

Favorite: Andrews

Calhoun County (2-8, 1-4 Region 5-2A) at Carvers Bay (9-1, 6-0 Region 7-2A) | Friday, 7:30 p.m.

Of note: Carvers Bay rides into the playoffs on a high note, scoring no less than 46 points during its six-game winning streak. … Toronto King has asserted himself as a combustible element in the Bears’ backfield, rushing for 1,144 yards this season to go along with 19 touchdowns. … One of the state’s more storied programs, Calhoun County, has fallen on hard times, suffering through its worst season since 2013. The Saints have given up 40 points or more in four out of their past five games. … The winner gets Woodland or Silver Bluff.

Favorite: Carvers Bay

Class A

Scott’s Branch (5-5, 2-2 Region 5-A) at Green Sea Floyds (5-5, 2-3 Region 6-A)

Of note: Green Sea Floyds plays host to its first home playoff game since 2003. … A week ago, the Trojans rode a strong running game and aggressive defense to a 22-6 win over Hannah-Pamplico. … Scott’s Branch has been up and down all season, with impressive wins over Bamberg-Ehrhardt and St. John’s, and bad losses to Timmonsville and Cross.

Favorite: Green Sea Floyds

This story was originally published November 2, 2017 at 8:35 AM with the headline "The high school football playoffs start Friday. Here’s who’s moving on, going home."