Wow! Here we are at the final week of the regular season. It seems like just yesterday we were impatiently waiting for kickoff to the 2023 season. It’s been a great ride this season and the playoffs promise to be as exciting as they have ever been. But before we start talking playoffs (insert Jim Mora imitation here), let’s get to these final regular season games.
Thornwell (1-7) at Ware Shoals (1-8, 0-6)
The Hornets have had a rough 2023 season unser first-year head coach Chris Dodson. The season started off on the wrong foot when the Hornets put on pads too early and nearly found themselves with a postseason ban. They won their opening contest against Whitmire and have not been able to get back in the win column since. Justice Lomax has largely carried the offense and, as he goes, so goes the Hornet attack.
Saints head coach Charlie Washingotn said last week’s weather-shortened contest in Conway was “all about the experience” for his guys in their first year back playing varsity football. There are some pieces in place for Thornwell to competitive in region play next season when they join the SCHSL ranks officially. Playmaker Kaevon Washington is weapon with the ball in his hands and he will need the best game of his young career to beat Ware Shoals.
Prediction: The Hornets are down, but they are not out. They missed the playoffs so this is the last hoorah for their senior class and they know it. The emotion of the night carries the Hornets to victory 34-22.
Greenwood Chirstian (4-5, 1-1) at Orangeburg Prep (3-6, 1-1)
Rooney’s Road Dogs travel away from the friendly shores of Victory Field in search of gridiron glory and a region championship Friday night down at Orangeburg Prep. The Hawks are winners of two straight and the Indians, losers of two straight. A third straight win for the Hawks would give head coach Will Rooney a region title in his first year at the helm.
All the talk has been about Kade “Heave-It” Heaton and his prize winning, pass catching stallion Owen “Legatron” Whittington. And rightfully so. The duo have connected 36 times for 1,013 yards and 16 touchdowns. But it’s the Hawks defense that has allowed them to improve so much over last season. GCS has turned over their opponents a total of 19 times this season, 12 interceptions and seven fumbles. That defensive unit, led by Cason Goff, will need to have a big night for the Hawks to be crowned region champs.
Prediction: Rooney’s Road Dogs take care of business on the road and come with the title champion. Hawks over the Indians 27-21.
Dixie (3-6, 2-2) at Calhoun Falls (3-6, 1-3)
The Flashes lost a tough last week to McCormick, but they can potentially salvage that loss with a win over Dixie. Beating the Hornets would likely catapult Calhoun Falls into fourth place in the region behind only the three private schools (assuming McCormick loses to St. Joe’s). The Flashes will need to pull together and have a big game from everyone to tack on another win in 2023.
The Hornets control their own destiny and a win over the Flashes would secure fourth place in the region. A win for either team would likely set up a date with No. 8 Hunter-Kinard-Tyler in the first round of the playoffs. Brandon Nance has been more and more impressive as the season has gone along and will be the x factor in this contest.
Prediction: This one will be tight most of the way, but Dixie finds a way late and defeats Calhoun Falls 28-24.
McCormick (3-6, 2-3) at St. Joseph’s (7-2, 3-2)
The Chiefs are coming off a big win over Calhoun Falls last week, but they have to travel up to St. Joseph’s for the third leg of the Greenville private school tour. The Chiefs had a heck of a season under first-year coach Leroy Collier, but the wildly unfair advantage of private schools is just not something they can overcome.
We seriously wish we didn’t have to write about these games.
Prediction: Chiefs drop a tough one to St. Joe’s 49-6.
Ninety Six (8-1, 4-0) at Abbeville (8-1, 4-0)
Oh buddy, this is one that folks have been talking about for several weeks. One of the area’s oldest rivalries renews for its 73rd edition Friday night and it is your Mitchell Enterprises Game of the Week! Check out our full game preview here!
Batesburg-Leesville (4-5, 2-2) at Saluda (7-2, 3-1)
This game could really cause a mess for second place in Region 3-2A if the Panthers can pull off a win at Bettis Herlong Stadium. The Tigers’ only loss in region play was to region champs Strom Thurmond. They beat Silver Bluff in a rainy nail-biter and a loss to B-L, who lost to Silver Bluff back in Week 7, would create a three-way tie for second place. Finishing second means a home playoff game so both teams will be looking to capitalize on that opportunity in Week 10.
Saluda’s offense has struggled to get in gear at times, but there is no denying they have tons of talent at the skill positions. Drew Arant had a good game last week and leaned heavily on emerging star Vic Gaines. Kenmane Brunson and his fellow seniors will want to make sure this final ride as a Saluda Tiger last as long as possible.
Prediction: The Panthers are very clearly heading in the right direction after several uncharacteristically bad years. But that will not be enough to overcome a hungry Saluda Tiger team. Brunson shows out in his final regular season home game and makes sure there is at least one more football game in Saluda County this year. Tigers over the Panthers 31-13.
Strom Thurmond (7-2, 4-0) at Fox Creek (2-7, 0-4)
The Rebels put their undefeated region record on the line in North Augusta when they visit cross-county rival Fox Creek Friday night. The Predators have had a tough run in 2023, winning just two games and almost certainly missing the playoffs barring scenarios that possess only the slimmest of possibilities.
It would seem appropriate to call for four-star receiver Braylon Staley to have a huge game because there aren’t three players combined together who can cover him, but the reality is Staley may not play much in this one. More games of Spades on the sidelines are likely in store for all of Thurmond’s starters. This one is out of hand before the game is halfway through the second quarter.
Prediction: Long night for the Predators. Rebels huge, 52-7.
Clinton (7-2, 3-0) at Emerald (1-8, 1-2)
This game is moot in the terms of the playoff picture and that creates some potential for an interesting game. Emerald picked up their first win of the season last week against Union County which locked them in for the playoffs. That likely means a trip to BHP to face one of the best rushing attacks in the state. Key Holloway had a phenomenal game against Union, earning himself Offensive Player of the Week honors. However, it will likely be up to the defense to stop an explosive Clinton offense. Dontravis Jackson and K.D. Abney will need to play well to contain the Red Devils.
For Clinton, their defense is clicking on all cylinders. There may be no player in the state more fun to watch play linebacker than Brett Young. He plays sound defense, flies to the point of attack, and is a textbook tackling machine. Nyze Byrd continues to quietly have a solid season. He and Young are joined by Kadon Crawford and Cincinnati-commit Zay Johnson on a defense that turned Chester over on downs five times last week. Offensively, Tushawan Richardson leads an offense that lost a lot of pieces ot injury but has found a way to score points and win games.
Prediction: This is a potential trap game for the Red Devils. It has no bearing on the final region standings at all. Clinton head man Corey Fountain will have his guys ready to play and they roll Emerald 42-13.
Pickens (1-8, 0-4) at Greenwood (4-5, 2-2)
The Eagles lost their bid to host a playoff game with their loss to Greenville. The loss wasn’t just a loss. It was a dismantling at the hands of a Greenville offense that was clicking on all cylinders. The Eagles are , however, in the playoffs and nothing eases the sting of a loss than a date with a struggling opponent.
Enter Pickens. First-year Blue Flames coach James Reynolds has his work cut out for him. Pickens has not finished above .500 since 2013. The Blue Flames are 15-33 over the five seasons prior to this one and are 3-7 all time against the Eagles. Most of the games were played in the 1990s. The two teams met as region opponents for the first time this century last season. Greenwood handed Pickens a first-round playoff loss in 2021 by a score of 49-3. The last time Pickens beat Greenwood, moviegoers were flocking to theaters to see films like “The Usual Suspects,” “Braveheart,” and “Mortal Kombat.”
Prediction: Triston Lewis and Co. will be carve up a Blue Flames defense that has given up 28 points or more in eight of their nine games this season. This one is over at halftime and Greenwood wins easily, 49-6.