Greenwood Christian (1-4, 0-1) at Thomas Sumter Academy (0-4, 0-1)
The Hawks are back on the road again this week at Thomas Sumter Academy. Right on cue, Kade Heaton spread around some touchdown love last week, throwing three TD passes to three different receivers after dishing all but one them to Owen Whittington through the first part of the season. Defensively, the Hawks have shown flashes of greatness, but can, at times, struggle tackling.
The Generals have not been afraid to put some air under the football this season. They have thrown the ball 52 times and rushed it 71. The big question isn’t why they have only run 123 plays through four games, but it’s a pretty low number of snaps. More concerning, however, are senior quarterback Noah Steele-Allen’s four interceptions while not throwing for a single touchdown. Combine that with an inefficient rushing attack averaging less than four yards-per-carry and the Generals could be in for a long night.
Prediction: Everyone in Hawk Nation has been waiting for senior running back Hamp Davis to notch a signature game. Davis and Bryson Dixon both go over a hundred yards on the ground and both McCall twins join Whittington in the end zone. Hawks big, 56-13.
Calhoun Falls (2-2, 0-1) at West Oak (3-1, 0-0)
The Blue Flashes have had a much better season so far in 2023 than they have in a few years. Kelly Bryant has been working with sophomore quarterback Kendraez Tatum and the youngster improves each week. Seniors Jamarri Norman and Da’Quean Lewis have provided stability for Tatum as he continues to learn the game.
West Oak has been a bit of a punching back the last few years. A glance at their record and it looks as though they have turned things around. A closer look reveals that the three teams they beat have a combined record of 2-12. One of those wins was a shocking upset of Ware Shoals a couple of weeks ago.
Prediction: Even though West Oak is a bit better than they were last season, the Blue Flashes have improved tremendously over 2022. Norman pretty much scores if he touches the football in this one and Tatum hooks up with Lewis late for a long touchdown to seal the win. Calhoun Falls wins on the road, 30-28.
Ware Shoals (1-3, 0-1) at Dixie (1-3, 1-0)
This game has big playoff implications for Region 1-1A. Check out our full preview of the Mitchell Enterprises Game of the Week!
McCormick (1-4, 0-1) at Christ Church (3-2, 1-0)
The Chiefs have to make the trip to visit the fourth-ranked team in Class 1A. Coach Collier has done a great job so far in his first year, especially having to navigate the loss of quarterback Markese Stevens literally minutes before kickoff. Camden Durant has been a stalwart at linebacker, which is why he was ranked as the top linebacker in the area in the SK Media Midseason Top 10 Linebackers rankings.
The Cavaliers are led by junior quarterback Tucker Hendrix and senior running back Dashun Reeder, a three-star prospect committed to Northwestern. Christ Church is not as dominant as they were a decade ago, but they are still a very dangerous football team.
Prediction: Check out the podcast for some thoughts on private schools playing 1A football. The Chiefs are outmatched in this one, Cavaliers take it 56-6.
Pelion (2-2) at Ninety Six (3-1)
It’s homecoming at Wilson-Campbell Stadium this Friday night and Pelion will be in town looking to spoil the party. The Wildcats have not been the same since losing quarterback Braden Mitchell to an injury, but backup Carver Davis has been coming along well since being pressed into service late in the Week 0 victory over Emerald. The three headed snake of Zay King, Briant Witherspoon and Gabe Hackett in the backfield has been making noise all season as well. To go along with that, the Wildcats possess one of the most lock-down secondaries in the area, featuring Ladarion Waldrop, Jabarion Dunlap and Evan Adams.
Pelion isn’t hitting on much in 2023. One of their two wins is over an Eau Claire team that has not won a game in four years. They also got shellacked by Columbia, who was blown out by Mid-Carolina, who Ninety Six defeated 21-0.
Prediction: The Wildcats aren’t going to let homecoming be spoiled. Expect 100+ yards on the ground from King, Witherspoon or Hackett as well as a big game from hot target Jaiden Hackett. Wildcats roll 49-6.
Saluda (4-0) at Gilbert (4-0)
It’s a battle of unbeatens as the Tigers head down to Gilbert to take on an Indians team that just upset Lexington, the fifth-ranked team in 5A. Indians Coach Chad Leaphart has Gilbert playing very well and ranked fourth in 3A coming into the midpoint of the season.
The Tigers are undefeated, but have what may be their toughest test of the entire season Friday night. Drew Arant needs to get the Saluda passing attack rolling in order to keep the Indians defense from stacking up eight in the box against their potent rushing attack. Vic Gaines and Co. in the defensive backfield will be tested as well.
Prediction: The Tigers will fight all the way to the end, but the depth of Gilbert prevails in the end and Tigers drop a tough one, 35-21.
Strom Thurmond (3-1) at North Augusta (3-2)
Two longtime rivals enter this game with three wins and looking to make a statement with another one Friday night. The two communities have a lot of crossover, so bragging rights are definitely on the line. The Yellow Jackets had a big win over Greenwood on the road a couple of weeks ago and their two losses are to Dorman and Dutch Fork, both traditional 5A powers.
The Rebels lone loss of the season came against Midland Valley and arguably one of the best running backs in the state in Traevon Dunbar. Braylon Staley, Demarius Tolen, and Jay Sewell have been terrorizing secondaries with the area’s top-rated quarterback Quan Edmond dishing them the rock. Edmond is completing 72 percent of his passes with six touchdowns to just one interception and sits atop the midseason quarterback rankings. Their running game is anchored by Cam Blacks and Poodie Barnes, both of whom are capable of ripping off big runs at any time.
Prediction: There will be a lot of intensity in this one and both teams will be ready to play. Look for a big game out of the Rebels front seven shutting down the Yellow Jackets rushing attack and Braylon Staley has a signature game. Rebels swat the Yellow Jackets, 31-21.
Clinton (4-1) at South Aiken (0-5)
If you’re the Clinton Red Devils you have one mission this Friday night: Stop Terrence Smith Jr. Smith is averaging over 100 yards rushing and 190 yards passing on the season. The UConn commit has done everything but lead the band after a victory this season.
The Red Devils come into this one with the fresh sting of a one-point loss to Chapman in a game that saw them lose two more players to injury. Clinton continues to fill their gaps, however, with young players who are up to the task.
Prediction: Smith will throw for 150 yards and run for 100 yards, but will not be able to keep up with Tushawan Richardson and Co. in this one. Red Devils big, 56-6.
Emerald (0-4) at Crescent (3-1)
The Vikings may be the best winless team in the state. They have played well, but have not been able to close things down late in games. We have started to see more and more of Cody Scott at quarterback, allowing Key Holloway to be used in a variety of different ways. The Vikings have weapons offensively. The backfield is stacked with Christian Foster, A.J. Anderson, and K.D. Abney and Jordan Greene and Karson Wright are threats on the outside. They will need all of those weapons against a stingy Tigers defense that has not given up more than 14 points in a game this season.
Crescent pairs that defense with a run-heavy offense led by quarterback Dylan Dale. Dale and running back Darius Latimer anchor a solid rushing attack. Their offensive line is big and physical, particularly on the interior, and that leads to gaping holes for the two electric runners. But the Tigers have yet to see a front seven as good as the Vikings, led by DonTravis Jackson and K.D. Abney, who are ranked in the SK Media defensive lineman and linebacker rankings, respectively.
Prediction: This shapes up to be a game shortened by a lot of ground-and-pound by both teams. It likely comes down to who scores most efficiently with the opportunities they have. Tigers have the home field advantage and pick up a score late, but the Vikings finally put it all together and find a way to edge the Tigers, 24-22.
Laurens (0-5) at T.L. Hanna (4-1)
The Raiders have yet to look competitive this season, including in the 20-17 loss to a bad Union County team. Things just don’t seem to be gelling very well there in 2023. T.L. Hanna, on the other hand, has played high-level competition every week during their nonregion schedule and have looked pretty good doing it.
Prediction: This one gets away early from the Raiders. T.L. Hanna over Laurens, 63-7.