The Saluda TIgers (5-2, 1-1) will host the Silver Bluff Bulldogs (6-1, 2-0) Friday night in the Mitchell Enterprises Game of the Week! The Tigers come in limping after playing their worst game of the season last week against Strom Thurmond, putting up just three points in the blowout loss. Conversely, the Bulldogs come into the contest after winning in a dog fight against Batesburg-Leesville, 34-28.
The fourth-ranked Bulldogs have talent everywhere, especially the defensive side of the ball. That unit is led by three All-State performers in Georgia Tech commit edge rusher Jordan Boyd, Miami (Ohio) commit linebacker Jayden Fuller, and nose guard Jaydon Eason. They can be very disruptive and are stout against the run.
Offensively, Silver Bluff leans heavily on a huge offensive line anchored by Charleston Southern commit Christian Echols. They have two good running backs in Jonathan Peebles and Daniel Jones who can both break off a big run at any time. In last week’s narrow victory over Batesburg-Leesville, the Bulldogs pulled starting quarterback Mickenzie Atterberry in favor of junior DeAntray McCorkle, who plays a lot of snaps at safety. McCorkle promptly rewarded that decision with a long touchdown run on his first drive and a long touchdown pass to his brother DesJuan McCorkle on his second drive. It remains to be seen if head coach De’Angelo Bryant sticks with DeAntray McCorkle or if he goes back to Atterberry against Saluda.
The Tigers don’t have all the big name recognition the Bulldogs have and, apart from team leader Kenmane Brunson, and have juniors playing almost every key position. In the spring, this season was billed as mostly a rebuilding year, but the Tigers didn’t get the memo and, with the exception of last week’s loss, have played well this season.
The Tigers have not been able to find a reliable passing attack this season which forces them to lean heavily on the run. The loss of Kyree Etheredge in the Ninety Sis game hurt the depth of the running back room, leaving Kenmane Brunson and Brayden Williams to carry the load. They both also play a ton of snaps on defense, which has led head coach Stewart Young to start giving carries to freshmen backs Jaylen Bledsoe and Tristen Daniels. Both youngsters have been impressive and efficient with the touches they have been given.
Some cracks appeared in the Silver Bluff defense last week when the Panthers were able to keep the game within one possession for almost the entire game. The Panthers are a team on the rise, but they still have some improving to do to be competitive in the rough and tumble Region 3-2A. The Tigers can run the football well for the most part, but the running game really struggled against a very talented Strom Thurmond defense. Silver Bluff poses a very similar threat.
Saluda has been really good so far this season, but the Bulldogs are on a collision course with Strom Thurmond with the region potentially on the line. The Tigers could throw a huge monkey wrench into the postseason picture with a win over Silver Bluff, but the Buldo defense ultimately proves to be too much. Bulldogs over the Tigers in another close one for Silver Bluff, 31-27.
