It's playoff time, a time that Yellow Jackets swarm.

Union County (5-5) travels to Woodmont (7-3) on Friday night. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Woodmont

The Woodmont Wildcats call Piedmont home. They've got a new school, new stadium - Whitt Memorial Field - and a pretty good team to boot.

It's the first playoff appearance for Woodmont since 2003 and the first playoff game in Piedmont since 2002. WHS is undefeated at home this year.

Woodmont finished second in Region I-A with a 13-11 victory over Belton-Honea Path on Friday. Quarterback Johnnie Houston threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Vintize Strong and later ran for a 3-yard score to put the ‘Cats up 13-9 at halftime.

BHP had first-and-goal at the 4 late, but WHS' defense held. The ‘Cats took an intentional safety with 2 minutes left. Okoye Houston's interception sealed the win with 37.9 seconds left.

Johnnie Houston ran 13 times for 54 yards and was 4-of-10 for 59 yards, and two interceptions. Shundrez Smoot had 10 carries for 40 yards, Nathan Croft and Okeye Houston also had a few yards on the ground. Strong, Okoye Houston and Treis Suber caught passes.

The Wildcats use an offset I with three wide receivers and a gun with two backs and three receivers on offense. On defense, WHS bases from a split 4.

“(Johnnie Houston) is very athletic and makes plays,” said UCHS coach David Lipsey. “He's good at scrambling and can throw the ball deep. They've got good receivers. A lot of speed. We can't allow Houston to get out of the pocket and make deep throws.”

The Wildcat wins were: Carolina (40-7), Southside (27-26), Wren (28-21), Hillcrest (28-11), West-Oak (28-0), Pickens (29-26). The loses were: Palmetto (28-13), Daniel (41-6) and Seneca (14-7).

Union County

As for the Yellow Jackets, they looked impressive in last week's 34-14 win over Blue Ridge. UCHS' offense is more comfortable in its double wing formation and the defense bends, but doesn't break. As usual, Union County is playing its best football headed into the playoffs.

Against Blue Ridge, UCHS put up 416 yards offense, 395 yards on the ground. Lamont Edney rushed 18 times for 195 yards. Michael Mebane rushed eight times for 111 yards. Each rushed for two touchdowns.

Nick Monroe completed one pass, a touchdown to Tate Knox. But the Jackets really didn't need an air attack on this night.

The defense gave up 259 yards, shutting out the Tigers in the first half.

In the end, UCHS has the playoff experience to get it through to the second round and a possible rematch with Chester.

--

Final Region III-3A Standings

Greer 9-1, 5-0

Clinton 7-3, 4-1

UCHS 5-5, 3-2

Blue Ridge 5-5, 2-3

Chapman 1-9, 1-4

Riverside 2-8, 0-5

__

Union County players of the week are: Lamont Edney (offense), Kendrick Brewton (defense), Tevin Thompson (special teams) and Zack Ledford (scout team)

__

Season Stats

Lamont Edney has rushed 151 times for 964 yards and 12 TDs