BLACKVILLE -- Since 1981, the road to the Class A championship for Blackville-Hilda and Lake View has often gone through each other.

The two tradition-rich programs have met in the postseason eight times, seven taking place with a berth in the title game on the line. On four occasions, including last year, the winning team has gone on to claim the state title.

Although tonight the Hawks (11-0) and Wild Gators (10-1) are playing for a berth in the Class A Division II Lower State final game, the stakes remain high for both teams.

"We expect it to be a physical contest," Blackville-Hilda head coach David Berry said.

Blackville-Hilda currently owns the Palmetto State's longest active winning streak at 15 games. Among those victories was a 27-7 win at Lake View in last year's Class A Division II Lower State final. The Hawks stunned the favored Wild Gators with a kickoff return TD to open the game and got 154 and 158 yards, respectively, from Desmond Brown and Joe Thomas.

This year, Thomas is back and is leading The T&D Region in rushing with 1,778 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Hawks are even stingier on defense this season, holding opponents to 7.7 points per game.

Longtime head coach Jewel McClaurin's retirement has not prevented Lake View from missing a beat. Under first-year coach Daryl King, the Region 8-A champion Wild Gators have won nine straight games since a 44-0 setback to Class 2-A Dillon in Week Two and have scored 40 of more points in seven of their 11 games.

Operating out of the wishbone, Lake View is led at fullback by Clemson commitment Quandon Christian (6-3, 210), who's rushed for over 1,000 yards and is the team leader in tackles at defensive end with 72.

Tailbacks Kentell Kelly and Timar Jones and fullback Desmond Johnson play alongside Christian in the backfield and have combined for over 1,500 yards. Defensively, North-South All-Star Paul Thompson is second in the team in tackles with 70.

"We just hope we can do the best we can (slowing them down)," Berry said. "We've worked all week long on what they do and it's not much different from what we do week in and week out. It's not like we haven't seen a mirror on the other side. But they've got some good backs back there and they've got several good linemen up there that do a good job of getting on you and controlling you at the line of scrimmage. Those backs are dangerous."

The winner will face either Scott's Branch or Great Falls in the Class A Division II final. Should Blackville-Hilda and Great Falls win, the game would take place in Blackville.

Blackville-Hilda vs.

Lake View playoff history

(Playoff rivals Blackville-Hilda and Lake View are meeting for the nine time overall and eighth time in the Class A Lower State finals. The two teams have won four times each.)

1981 -- Lake View 7, Blackville-Hilda 6 (Class A Lower State finals)

1982 -- Blackville-Hilda 20, Lake View 14 (Class A Lower State finals)

1984 -- Blackville-Hilda 22, Lake View 8 (Class A Lower State finals)

2002 -- Lake View 21, Blackville-Hilda 6 (Class A Lower State finals)

2003 -- Lake View 6, Blackville-Hilda 3 (Class A Lower State finals)

2004 -- Blackville-Hilda 41, Lake View 7 (Class A playoffs -- second round)

2006 -- Lake View 21, Blackville-Hilda 20 (Class A Lower State finals)

*2007 -- Blackville-Hilda 27, Lake View 7 (Class A Division II Lower State final)

*winner eventual state champion

You must be logged in to comment.