W.W. King Academy (1-3) at #6 Laurens Academy (3-2) {-6}
The Crusaders are six point favorites at home this week against King Academy and are coming off a tough loss to Richard Winn Academy. King comes into the game at 1-3, their only win a victory over a bad Oakbrook Prep team. LA will need standout quarterback Ethan Collins to manage the Crusaders’ weapons and the defense will need to shake off last week’s performance against a potent Richard Winn team to grab the W Friday night.
Prediction: The Crusaders are a much better team than King Academy and they will get plenty of juice from their home crowd. On a mission to get the taste of last week’s loss out of their mouths, the Crusaders start hot and never let up. They take down King 52-20.
#3 Orangeburg Prep (2-2) at #4 GCS (3-2) {-1}
It’s an early season heavyweight matchup at Victory Field this Friday night where Greenwood Christian School will be looking to grab their first ever win over Orangeburg Prep. The Hawks have mostly played well in 2024 and the offense looks just fine with sophomore Leland Reed taking over at quarterback for Kade Heaton, who slid over to running back. GCS decimated Whitmire last week and they appear to be clicking on all cylinders. OP will be their toughest test to date.
Prediction: It was OP who bounced GCS from the playoffs last season and a lot of these players remember that bitter taste. GCS has never defeated OP, but that changes Friday night. SOme late game drama, but Hawks defeat the Indians 35-28.
Andrews (NC) (2-1) at Calhoun Falls (1-2) {+10}
The Blue Flashes are coming off their bye week and looking to get back in the win column after a disappointing loss to Williston-Elko. Andrews (NC) rolls into town with a couple of guys with more than 250 yards each on the ground in three games. Calhoun Falls has shown both the ability to stymie opposing offenses and the ability to give up lots of points. They will need the stingy defense to show up Friday, particularly the front seven, if they want to even up their record Friday night.
Prediction: The Wildcats have a couple of really good linebackers so it will have to be the Kendraez Tatum show for the Blue Flashes to take down Andrews. He does just that and has a banner game in the win. Blue Flashes over Andrews 32-25.
#6 Dixie (3-0) at Anderson Cavaliers (2-3) {+10}
The Hornets make the short drive to Anderson to take on the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers are one of those teams that Forest Gump may have talked about in the barbershop in Greenbow, Alabama – you never know what you’re gonna get. They have lost their last three games and were shut out in two of those. Dixie do-it-all man Brandon Nance looks like a guy on a mission to be a player in 2026 NCAA football game. He has played extremely well on both sides of the ball and will be all over the field again on Friday night.
Prediction: Another big night for Nance as well as quarterback Dallas Dotson. Dixie routs the Anderson Cavaliers 49-7.
McCormick (0-4) at Edisto (1-3) {-20}
The Chiefs have had one heck of a schedule to kick off 2024. Their defense has struggled to find their groove and the loss of Camden Durant’s leadership on the field has been a hole they have yet to fill. Their offense has shown glimpses of promise and it will be up to Markese Stevens to lead the offense if they want to pick up a road win down in Cordova.
Prediction: The Chiefs are getting better each and every week and this week will be another step forward for the young team. The step forward is more than enough to cover the spread, but not enough to get the win. Cougars over the Chiefs, 35-24.
#2 Clinton (3-1) at #2 Daniel (2-1) {-16}
We are going to learn a lot about this Clinton team Friday night when the Red Devils (#2 in 2A) travel to Daniel (#2 in 4A) to take on yet another Lions squad that is highly disciplined on both sides of the ball. Their lone loss came last week to a very good J.L. Mann team, 28-23. Daniel defeated Chapman 41-21 back on Week 0. Clinton knocked off Chapman last week 49-27. Daniel’s offense is very balanced and the Red Devils defense will be tested mroe than it has yet this season. This may be the week we get to see Clinton quarterback Tushawan Richardson air the ball out if Clinton wants to pull off the upset.
Prediction: This is a really good Red Devils team thus far in 2024, but Daniel is also a really good team. The common opponent yielded similar victories for the two teams. This will be a game with lots of eyeballs on it around the state. Clinton puts on one heck of a show, but Daniel is too much in the end. Lions over Red Devils, 49-42.
Ninety Six (1-3) at Crescent (0-3) {-3}
It seems almost inconceivable that the Tigers come into this game without a win given they returned one of the better backs in the state in Daius Latimer. Crescent struggled to do anything on offense against Greenwood in the jamboree, but it’s Greenwood’s defense and it’s a jamboree. Saluda beat them handily even though they lost starting quarterback Drew Arant in the game and the losses have piled up to start the season. The Wildcats come into the game having learned that they have not one, but two top-shelf running backs in Zay King and Gabe Hackett. The Ninety Six defense has played pretty well, especially against the run.
Prediction: This is a very intense rivalry during wrestling season and that tends to spill over to other sports. Ninety Six is a hungry team, but Crescent is a team that may feel like it’s backed into a corner. Ultimately, that Wildcat offensive line paves the way for Hackett and King to lead the Wildcats to victory. Ninety Six over Crescent, 28-21.
#3 Saluda (3-0) at Southside Christian (1-2) {-1}
Southside Christian has been a perennial dominator in the 1A ranks over the past several years, but the recent realignment moved them up to 3A. They got blown out by Abbeville and Mountain View Prep and their only win came against the Anderson Cavaliers. Saluda, meanwhile, has adapted well to life with Brayden WIlliams at quarterback. The junior has looked decent, but tends to put the ball unnecessarily in harm’s way in the passing game when plays break down. Sophomore running back Tristan Daniels has proven he is ready for Friday night lights, leading the Tigers’ rushing attack and also flashing a great set of hands in the passing game. Defensively, J.T. Lott continues to be a nasty disruptor off the line and junior linebacker Akiem Mills continues to develop into a force in the middle of the defense.
Prediction: Saluda has already gone on the road in a game where their opponent was favored and came out with a win. This is not the SSC of old and the Tigers are ready to show they are legitimate contenders for the 2A state title. Saluda rolls SSC, 28-7.
Emerald (2-2) at #5 Strom Thurmond (3-1) {-10}
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T.L. Hanna at Greenwood (2-1) {+3}
The Eagles have absolutely dominated this series, stringing together 17 straight wins from 1998 to 2014. Since then, however, Greenwood is just 2-6 and they have lost the last two to the Yellow Jackets. The Eagles did not play particularly well in their loss to Dorman, but bounced back well with a shutout of Lexington last week. Greenwood’s defense has been incredible, turning opponents over seven times in just three games and they allowed just one–ONE–rushing yard against Lexington.
Prediction: The Eagles have a good team that has not yet put together a complete game. The Yellow Jackets being favored at the Babb is all the motivation Greenwood needs to come out and make a statement. It won’t be easy, but Greenwood sends T.L. Hanna back to Anderson with a loss. Eagles over Yellow Jackets, 31-24.
