The Westwood Redhawks (5-5) will host the Socastee Braves (4-6) in a home playoff game on Friday, November 15 at 7:30 PM. This matchup is part of the 2024 South Carolina Football State Championships (SCHSL) – Class AAAAA Football: Division 2 tournament. The game will take place in Blythewood, SC.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: South Carolina High School Football
Who: Westwood vs Socastee
When: Friday, November 15, 2024
Time: 7:30 PM
Bracket: 2024 South Carolina Football State Championships (SCHSL) – Class AAAAA Football: Division 2
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Game preview: Westwood vs Socastee

As the 2024-25 high school football season comes to a close, the Socastee Braves and Westwood Redhawks have shown a mix of performances, each striving for greater consistency and success. With different strengths and areas for improvement, let’s take a closer look at how these two teams compare in terms of overall records, scoring averages, and head-to-head matchups.

Overall Records and Performance

Socastee finishes the season with a 4-6 record, performing at a .400 win percentage overall and within their region (2-3). Their offensive and defensive numbers tell a story of a team that struggled to close out games but showed flashes of potential. The Braves averaged 16.0 points per game but allowed 21.2, putting them at a disadvantage in several matchups.

In contrast, Westwood ended with a slightly better record at 5-5, marking a .500 win percentage both overall and in the region. With a balanced performance on both sides of the ball, the Redhawks averaged 17.7 points per game while giving up 19.2. Westwood’s ability to remain competitive throughout the season was evident, though they too faced their share of challenges.

Scoring Averages: Where the Points Come From

The Braves’ scoring averages are spread out across the four quarters. They start strong with 7.0 points in the first quarter but struggle in the second, averaging just 0.6 points. Socastee’s third and fourth-quarter performances are more consistent, with 3.4 and 6.4 points per quarter, respectively. Despite their challenges, they have the ability to mount comebacks but are often too inconsistent throughout the game to get the win.

Westwood, on the other hand, has a more balanced approach to scoring, with their highest output coming in the second quarter, where they average 4.9 points. The Redhawks also face difficulty starting strong, with only 0.4 points in the first quarter. In the second half, they average 3.1 points in the third quarter and 3.9 in the fourth. While they score more evenly across the game than Socastee, Westwood’s inability to convert in the first and third quarters puts them in a similar position of having to catch up.

Record Breakdown by Category

Socastee:

• Region Record: 2-3
• Home Record: 1-4
• Away Record: 3-2
• Non-League Record: 2-2
• Playoff Appearances: 0-0

Socastee showed their strength on the road, finishing with a winning away record. However, their struggles at home were evident, as they only secured one win on their home turf. This inconsistency at home could be a key focus for improvement in future seasons.

Westwood:

• Region Record: 3-3
• Home Record: 3-2
• Away Record: 2-3
• Non-League Record: 2-2
• Playoff Appearances: 0-0

Westwood had a better balance between home and away games, performing better in front of their fans. Their region record was a step above Socastee’s, but they still faced challenges against tougher opponents. Like Socastee, the Redhawks were unable to make the playoffs, but their overall 5-5 record suggests they were competitive throughout the season.

Head-to-Head and Common Opponents

Neither team had any head-to-head matchups during the season, nor did they face any common opponents. This leaves the comparison primarily in the realm of overall team performance, where both teams have strengths and weaknesses that highlight areas for growth.

Conclusion: A Season of Building for Both Teams

As the 2024-25 season concludes, both Socastee and Westwood have their sights set on improvement. For Socastee, finding a way to perform more consistently at home and turning around their slow second-quarter scoring could be key to future success. Westwood, meanwhile, will look to boost their first-quarter and third-quarter scoring to avoid putting themselves in catch-up mode. With both teams showing glimpses of potential, the future remains bright for these high school football programs as they continue to build on the lessons of this season.