By Carson Lambert

clambert@civitasmedia.com

WINNSBORO — The Newberry Bulldogs will take on the Fairfield Central Griffins in an away contest tonight with a state championship berth up for grabs. Kick off is at 7:30 p.m.

The Bulldogs will be looking for revenge after the Griffins edged past them by just two points earlier this season.

Newberry head coach Phil Strickland said he likes the way his team is playing and there’s no need for a strategy overhaul even considering the result of their previous meeting.

“Our main focus will be to cut out mistakes in the kicking game,” said Strickland, who attributed the cause of defeat to losing the crucial battle of field position.

Since that loss, however, Newberry has outscored their opponents by an average of 32 points per game, including the first two stops of the playoffs.

“We have to stop their quarterback,” Strickland said of the Griffin’s Stanley McManus.

He also said that other than a few “bumps and bruises” his squad is healthy and anticipates that all starters will compete in the bracket’s penultimate contest.

Should the Bulldogs leave Winnsboro victorious, they will face the winner of Lake Marion vs. Dillon in the AA State Championship next week at Columbia’s Benedict College.