Non-Region Games To Watch in 2021 (Part 4)

Ian Guerin July 4, 2021 @ 09:00 AM

Many of the most anticipated non-region games that could have happened in 2020 were put on hold or cancelled outright in lieu of a shortened season focused on ensuring the playoffs could take place. This fall shapes up to be different. With months to plan and a whole bunch of one-off games needed before the next realignment window, we are going to be the beneficiaries of some awesome non-region games. Will they mean much toward the postseason? In most cases, no. But they’ll be fun to watch. In this four-part series, we’ll go from the opening week of the South Carolina slate right up to the final action prior to region play, breaking down the stars and supporting cast that will make a few contests talked about well outside their communities. Chapin at A.C. Flora, Sept. 24 There’s no denying that Flora lost a ton of talent from its Class 4A state championship squad after last season. Winning all their games the way they did in 2020, though, didn’t happen without some non-seniors paving the way. Among them is running back Markel Townsend, who will only be a junior this fall and will take on more of the workload. Chapin would love nothing more than to take down the defending champs - even one from a lower classification. And with a high-powered offense featuring quarterback [player_tooltip player_id="139289" first="Jayden" last="Bradford"], receiver [player_tooltip player_id="59482" first="Zavier" last="Short"], tailback [player_tooltip player_id="89315" first="Bennett" last="Galloway"] and lineman [player_tooltip player_id="89304" first="Chase" last="Sweigart"], that is certainly possible. T.L. Hanna at Westside, Sept. 24 The offensive styles of the two Anderson programs couldn’t look much different. Jason Tone’s T.L. Hanna rode the triple option all the way to the Class 5A state championship game last season, and senior running back [player_tooltip player_id="91225" first="Kamren" last="Johnson"] and some new backfield mates are going to be used extensively against this year. Over at Class 4A Westside, coach Scott Earley’s pass-happy bunch includes a quarterback already committed to Marshall in [player_tooltip player_id="91173" first="Peter" last="Zamora"] and four receivers who could all be playing at the college level soon in seniors [player_tooltip player_id="153261" first="Ryan" last="Brownell"], [player_tooltip player_id="153260" first="Owen" last="Skelton"] and sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="139296" first="Jimmar" last="Boston"] and [player_tooltip player_id="139314" first="Josh" last="Williams"]. Spartanburg at Dutch Fork, Sept. 24 [player_tooltip player_id="44974" first="Aliam" last="Appler"]’s transfer to Dutch Fork this spring could work out to be the missing piece of the puzzle for a Silver Foxes’ squad that is already comically loaded - even for a five-time-defending Class 5A champion. It doesn’t hurt that he’ll have a mega-target to throw to in [player_tooltip player_id="61070" first="Antonio" last="Williams"] (pictured). Coming into town for this game is the quarterback we already know can function at a super-high level. [player_tooltip player_id="89339" first="Raheim" last="Jeter"] - all 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds of a strong-armed signal caller - could advance his recruiting by managing the upset. His presence, and Dutch Fork’s longstanding success, will make this the game of the week for everyone in the Upstate and Midlands alike.