Abbeville used to get playoff rematches routinely with Batesburg-Leesville, but this week, the Panthers play host to Woodruff in a rematch of their 21-19 win on Sept. 12.

In that game, Abbeville used two fake punts, including one for a touchdown, to overcome a late interception. Woodruff picked off a pass with three minutes to go, and returned it 48 yards for a score, but the two-point conversion attempt failed.

Still, Abbeville coach Jamie Nickles said he doesn’t have any more confidence this week because of the Week 3 win.

“I have confidence it’s going to be one whale of a game,” Nickles said. “Just from looking at two football teams who are evenly matched. We just got whipped last time. It wasn’t us playing that bad, they’re just that good.”

Woodruff outgained Abbeville 384-312 as Wolverines’ quarterback Jake Lambert was 22-of-43 passing for 271 yards and a touchdown. Running back Maurice Gilliam had 17 rushes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Gilliam has rushed for 948 yards, while Lambert has passed for 2,726 yards and 30 touchdowns.

Woodruff (10-2) hasn’t lost since the Abbeville game, winning nine straight, including playoff wins over Batesburg-Leesville and Crescent. The teams have common opponents in Chesnee and Crescent, with both sides beating those teams by at least 10 points.

One theory to decide the game could for Abbeville to use a more physical style since Woodruff employs a finesse spread offense, less smash-mouth than the Panthers’ A-bone attack.

“They’re just so good of athletes, it’s hard to do that,” Nickles said. “But that’ll be a challenge for our kids, can we do that.”