Match Point

Hilton Head Christian formally announced its new head football coach early Wednesday morning, bringing on East Chapel Hill High School offensive coordinator Ryan Mitch. You can read our story on his hiring here.

Here are some quotes from Mitch that didn’t make it into the story...

On continuing the winning tradition established at Hilton Head Christian:

Hopefully by now you have read our feature story on Bluffton defensive end Shameik Blackshear, who is gunning to become the state’s top recruit in the next two years. If you haven’t read that piece, you can check it out by clicking here.

Below are even more quotes from Blackshear, Bluffton coach Ken Cribb, recruiting analyst Jim Baxter and York coach Bobby Carroll that didn’t make their way into the story. Enjoy.

Shameik Blackshear

NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. held a conference call with reporters Tuesday morning to discuss this year's crop of college standouts preparing for the next level, and Beaufort High graduate Devin Taylor was among those mentioned by the ESPN analyst.

Taylor, who has spent the last several seasons as a force on the South Carolina defensive line, didn't warrant much praise from the longtime evaluator. The redshirt senior has all the tools to be a productive player in the NFL, Kiper said, but hasn't seen those skills translate as much to the field.

Those around South Carolina might have expected coach Ken Cribb's Bluffton Bobcats to break out in song and dance after hearing nationally-ranked Goose Creek, their upcoming opponent in the Class 4-A playoffs, had been disqualified after using an ineligible player this season.

Not so much.

"Some of them were very disappointed they didn't get a chance to play Goose Creek," Cribb said. "They wanted to prove themselves. Others were like, 'Hey, this is an open door for us now. Let's make sure we maximize our opportunity.'"

The Class 4-A football playoffs have arrived. A home football game for the Bluffton Bobcats, though, hasn't.

After dropping its first game of the season last week at Summerville, the Bobcats (10-1) missed out on their first Region 8-AAAA championship and the right to host in the first round. Instead, they travel to South Florence (7-4) tonight at 7:30 for the right to advance to the second round.

The scenarios facing the Hilton Head Island High football team are pretty simple.

The Seahawks face four different outcomes over the next few days, three of which would send Hilton Head High to the playoffs while the other would send them home for the season.

For all you math students out there, that’s a 75 percent chance of making the playoffs. But the odds of the one “not so good” option are still pretty darn high.

Bluffton is on its way to the postseason, that much we know. Hilton Head Island High is hoping to get there.

The Bobcats are gunning for a 9-0 start with two games to play tomorrow night, as they host Fort Dorchester, where coach Ken Cribb coached the running backs three years ago before taking the Bluffton job.

Hilton Head High, meanwhile, is in a position to win Region 8-AAA. But the Seahawks could also fall short of the playoffs depends on how the next two weeks play off. Their future is as uncertain as it was before the season began.

Let’s take a look at both matchups...

We have crossed the halfway point of the season and are heading down the stretch run. The region standings and playoff pictures are becoming clearer, and those headed for the postseason are beginning to distance themselves from the rest of the pack.

Such is the case for Bluffton and Hilton Head Island High, who enter Friday night with plenty at stake. The Bobcats take their show on the road to Ashley Ridge while the Seahawks play host to Orangeburg-Wilkinson.