The Catawba Ridge Copperheads face their biggest challenge of the season on Friday as they travel to take on the Northwestern Trojans in the second round of the SCHSL 5A-D2 playoffs.
The Trojans (9-1) enter the contest boasting a stellar record and significant momentum, while the Copperheads (6-5) are fighting to prove they can contend with one of the state’s top teams. Northwestern has not just beaten Catawba Ridge in their previous four matchups, but has done so convincingly, including a bruising 56-20 victory earlier this season. That prior meeting highlighted the primary obstacle for the Copperheads: the dual-threat capability of Northwestern quarterback Xavier Means. In the first contest, Means threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns, completing 82.4 percent of his passes, while also adding 64 rushing yards and a score on only five carries.
Means has only sharpened his edge since. In the Trojans’ most recent 51-13 demolition of Indian Land, he completed 93.1 percent of his attempts for 311 yards and one touchdown, complementing the passing game with 80 rushing yards and a second score. Means was supported by receiver Payton Vining, who hauled in 112 yards and three touchdowns. Northwestern has won seven of its games this year by a margin of twenty or more points, illustrating a pattern of overwhelming offensive output that Catawba Ridge must find a way to contain.
The Copperheads, however, enter the rematch with fresh confidence following a gritty 13-3 playoff win over Fort Mill last Friday. The victory continues a seven-game winning streak for Catawba Ridge against the Yellow Jackets and bumps the team above .500 for the first time in several weeks. For Catawba Ridge to flip the script on their 0-4 series record against the Trojans, the defense will need a historic effort to limit the game-breaking ability of Means and Vining.
