Thornwell (1-4) at Greenville Hurricanes (3-2)
The Saints continue their inaugural season as they travel to Greenville to take on the Hurricanes of the Pioneer League. The Saints have had a tough go of it in season number one. One of the bright spots has been junior Kaevon Washington. Washington leads Thornwell in rushing and has played a decent amount of snaps at quarterback as well as running back. The Saints will need his legs in a big way if they want to pull off the win Friday night.
Prediction: Year one is always a tough one and that looks to continue this week. Saints drop a tough one to the Hurricanes, 49-14.
Greenwood Christian (2-4, 0-1) at Colleton Prep (4-2, 1-0)
Rooney’s Road Dogs are playing their third straight game away from Victory Field Friday night and they will be looking for their third win on the season. Colleton Prep has scored a ton of points this season, averaging about 35 points per game. But they have also given up a lot of points, about 31 points per game in games against teams with at least one win on the season.
For the Hawks, Hamp Davis finally had a break-out game carrying the ball last week against Thomas Sumter Academy, earning himself SK Media Offensive Player of the Week honors, and GCS will need him to have another big game on the road again this week. But, ultimately, if the Hawks hope to pull off the upset Kade Heaton is going to have to find big play receiver Owen Whittington down the field for some chunk yardage.
Prediction: THe Hawks have never beaten Colleton Prep and it will be an uphill battle again this week. On paper, it seems like another win for Colleton Prep, but the Hawks have not had the explosiveness on offense like they have this year. They are also playing with a ton of confidence right now. Rooney’s Road Dogs earn the moniker and knock off Colleton Prep in an upset, 36-35.
Calhoun Falls (2-3, 0-1) at St. Joseph’s (5-1, 1-1)
The Blue Flashes continue their private school tour (yes, three of the teams in their region are private schools, not charter schools) when they travel to Greenville to take on the eighth-ranked St. Joseph’s Catholic Knights.
The Knights have run roughshod over their competition so far in 2023. The only team to score double digits apart from Southside Christian was Ware Shoals. Southside was able to put up 35 points and hold the Knights to just 14 points, but that’s another private school and a story for another day.
Prediction: The Flashes just don’t have the horses to keep up in this one. The travesty that is Region 1-1A continues again this week. Knights win, 56-13.
Ware Shoals (1-4, 0-2) at McCormick (1-5, 0-2)
The winner of this game is likely the last team into the playoffs in Region 1-1A and the loser is likely out. Check out our full preview of the Mitchell Enterprises Game of the Week!
Dixie (2-3, 2-0) at Southside Christian (2-2 1-0)
The Hornets find themselves sitting atop Region 1-1A alongside second-ranked Christ Church after rattling off back-to-back wins over McCormick and Ware Shoals the past two weeks. Brandon Nance has been a workhorse for Dixie and will have to have a career night for the Hornets to have a chance.
Prediction: Check out the podcast for some thoughts on private schools playing 1A football. Hornets cannot keep up with the Sabres. Southside Christian wins, 52-12.
Abbeville (4-1) at Liberty (4-1)
The journey to back-to-back titles for the Panthers starts in earnest when they head up to Liberty to kick off region play. Not all 4-1 records are created equal and these two records are as disparate as they come. Abbeville’s lone loss is to Westside, the seventh-ranked team in 4A and they have posted wins over 3A squads Powdersville and Crescent. Liberty’s wins include Dixie, Carolina Academy, and Blue Ridge.
The A Train just keeps on rolling, bullying opponents with their potent running game. Jay Harris and crew are fresh off a bye week and chomping at the bit to make their own mark in annals of Abbeville football.
Prediction: At least two Panthers, probably three, rush for over 100 yards as Abbeville rolls Liberty, 49-7.
Ninety Six (4-1) at Blacksburg (3-2)
The Wildcats have a ton of momentum entering region play, fresh off a huge homecoming win over Pelion. Things didn;t seem to be trending that way after quarterback Braden Mitchell went down in the Week 0 win over Emerald or when they were shut out by Saluda. But they find themselves in position to be facing Abbeville the final week of the season with an identical record and the region title on the line.
Wildcats head coach Matthew Bennett has the boys believing again and no one has ever specifically ruled Mitchell out for the entire season. Whether he is spotted in this contest or not remains a mystery, but the Wildcats are likely just fine with sophomore Carver Davis under center in this one.
Prediction: Wildcats pound the rock on the ground and dominate Blacksburg whistle to whistle, 35-6.
Strom Thurmond (3-2) at Batesburg-Leesville (2-3)
The Rebels have played just one team more than the 52 times they have played the Panthers (Saluda, 59). The Rebels hold a 12-2 advantage since 2003, including a 40-0 thumping of the Panthers last season in the Peach Fields.
But the Panthers run the football. And run defense has been the Achilles heel of the Rebels so far this season. Thurmond gave up 315 yards on the ground to stud running back Traevon Dunbar of Midland Valley and last week North Augusta sophomore back Michael Doe had a coming out party, trampling the Rebel defense for 165 yards.
Fortunately, the Panthers are not the Yellow Jackets. The Panthers don’t have much of a defense and Quan Edmond should not have much issue getting the ball to playmakers Braylon Staley, Demarius Tolen, and Jay Sewell. This would also be a good night to try to get Cam Blacks and Poodie Barnes going on the ground.
Prediction: The Rebel offense is just too much in this one. If the Panthers fall behind by more than a score, it will be very difficult for them to mount a comeback in their run-heavy offense. Batesburg-Leesville head coach Greg Lawson has the program aimed in the right direction, but it won’t be enough Friday night. Rebels big in this one to open region play, 35-13.
Saluda (4-1) at Pelion (2-3)
The Tigers are eager to get back on the field and wash out the bitter taste of last week’s loss at Gilbert. The game was stopped with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter after a series of highly suspect unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Pelion is the perfect opponent to help with that.
Pelion is coming off a 40-7 loss to Ninety Six in which their offense managed just a single yard in the first half. The seven points that scored came on a snap that went over Wildcat quarterback Carver Davis’ head and led to a scoop and score for Pelion. Other than that, the Panthers could do nothing against the Wildcats.
Prediction: The Tigers open up region play by getting back on track. Offensive fireworks all over the field for the Tigers and they win big, 45-7.
Union County (1-5) at Clinton (4-2)
Union County pulled off a shocking upset over Laurens a couple of weeks ago for their lone win of the season. The Yellow Jackets would love nothing more than to notch another victory over a Laurens County team and kick off region play with a bang.
The Red Devils come limping into the contest, both figuratively and literally. A team that looked poised to make a run at a 3A state title has been decimated with injuries to key players and they have lost two in a row.
Prediction: This is just what the doctor ordered for the Red Devils. Tushawan Richardson and Kadon Crawford wreak havoc on the Yellow Jackets as Clinton rolls, 56-6.
Eastside (3-2) at Emerald (0-5)
The Vikings have struggled to get over the hump and secure a victory this season. This matchup with Eastside is their last shot to get in the win column before a very tough region slate begins next week. They have been competitive, but there seems to be a play or two late in the game that ends up costing them.
Eastside has a potent rushing attack led by senior running back Kalvin Banks. They will look to feed him early and often when they visit Frank Hill Stadium. That plays right into the hands of the two biggest playmakers on the Viking defense: defensive lineman Dontravis Jackson and linebacker KD Abney.
Prediction: The Vikings desperately need a win. Even though non region games mean nothing in terms of the postseason, slipping to 0-6 would not bode well entering region play. The troops rally to pick up their first win. Emerald over Eastside, 24-16.
Greer (1-5) at Laurens (0-6)
The Raiders have just not been able to get in gear at all in 2023 and that task won’t get any easier against Greer. In spite of their unsightly record, the Yellow Jackets have played some of the toughest teams in all classifications in the Upstate.
Prediction: Greer hands Laurens a loss to open region play, 28-17.
Greenwood (2-3) at Berea (1-4)
Most Eagles fans would have taken a 2-3 record when they looked at the nonregion slate for Greenwood in 2023. After grabbing huge victories over A.C. Flora and Dorman, however, the expectations rose a little bit. A 3-2 finish was within reach but for a puzzling loss to North Augusta.
But all that matters not as region play gets underway. The Eagles will have to move through Greenville and Westside, two of the top teams in 4A, to get to a region crown.Tank Gary is having a solid start to his season and Triston Lewis has really grown into his role as the starting quarterback. That, coupled with a typical Liner-led defense that is hard-nosed and stingy, and Greenwood should get off to a good start in region play.
Prediction: Tank Gary carries the Eagles to victory, literally. He has 150+ yards on the ground and the Eagles win easily, 31-14.