Week 0 Preview: Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union Counties

Rivalries everywhere. That’s what’s on tap for Week 0 matchups in Spartanburg, Cherokee, and Union counties, as historic, cross-region, and cross-classification rivalries make up the bulk of the seven-game schedule. One matchup that will draw a ton of attention is Gaffney at Spartanburg. The rivalry is one of the state’s fiercest and oldest, and when the teams share a region it’s usually the last game of the regular season. This year, though, it’s first out of the gate as the Indians and Vikings inhabit different 5A regions. This one isn’t about the history, it’s about the present. Two of the state’s most highly heralded QBs in the 2023 class will square off, in different spots from where they were expected to be. Spartanburg’s [player_tooltip player_id="89339" first="Raheim" last="Jeter"] has a big body and a big arm to go with it, and settled into the Vikings’ job after transferring from Greer, then taking over for an injured [player_tooltip player_id="42758" first="Seth" last="Smith"] a year ago. Meanwhile, [player_tooltip player_id="89340" first="Grayson" last="Loftis"] transferred from Blue Ridge, and has stepped into the starting QB role for the Indians. Both are highly sought-after recruits, both had major college offers before taking a high school snap, and both look to be gems in a deep, talented QB class in 2023. When their high school careers began, they were slated to share a region. Now, they’ll share the Week Zero spotlight. There’s ranked talent all over the field for both teams, too. Gaffney RB [player_tooltip player_id="31310" first="Tyler" last="Smith"] will share the backfield with Loftis, with [player_tooltip player_id="89326" first="Sawyer" last="Whitman"] anchoring the offensive line. [player_tooltip player_id="59498" first="Jesus" last="Dowdle"] will lead Gaffney’s defense from the LB position, while Spartanburg’s [player_tooltip player_id="89301" first="Judah" last="McJimpsey"] is a playmaker for the Vikings at LB. While there’s not as much at stake as there would be if this was a region matchup there’s still plenty of pride on the line, and the game could be a measuring stick for the season. Other area matchups include: <strong>Byrnes at Greer</strong> - Separated by about seven miles and one classification, there’s plenty of good, old-fashioned hate in this one. When Byrnes had success during last year’s shortened season, it was behind a mammoth offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id="59465" first="Eli" last="Henderson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="89309" first="Dakota" last="Quinonez"]. Look to see plenty more of that this season, but the Rebels will add an improved vertical attack as <strong>Gabe Rogers</strong> has  full summer of 7-on-7 under his belt. Greer’s <strong>Hollis Crosby</strong> is back at quarterback, and he’ll be surrounded by a lot of new faces on offense. The Yellow Jackets’ strength is on the defensive side, where they return eight starters from their 3-4 attack, including the entire defensive line of <strong>Jerrell Robinson</strong>, <strong>Marquarious Parks-Higgins</strong>, and <strong>Laybryis Cohen;</strong> and all four in the secondary with <strong>Israel Rhodes</strong>, <strong>Peyton Diggins</strong>, <strong>Alston McGee,</strong> and <strong>Malakye Pearson</strong> all back. <strong>Clover at Dorman</strong> - The Cavaliers are expected to contend for a title this year, behind an experience offense with [player_tooltip player_id="91355" first="Markee" last="Anderson"] up front. Dorman has worked three QBs in the pre-season, and must replace [player_tooltip player_id="59302" first="Chance" last="Black"] in the backfield. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id="89299" first="Hudson" last="Lee"] is a force for the Cavaliers. Brian Lane’s Clover team is capable of scoring points in bunches, and in a hurry. <strong>Broome at Powdersville</strong> - This game presents one of the most intriguing matchups of Week Zero. Broome’s [player_tooltip player_id="91250" first="Dylan" last="Ramirez"] is a do-everything kind of quarterback, capable of staying patient in the pocket but taking off when he needs to. Across the line for the Patriots is [player_tooltip player_id="89333" first="Jalen" last="Rambert"], the PRZ’s No. 1 recruit in the state in the 2023 class. <strong>Chesnee at Woodruff -</strong> The Eagles will look to defend their Region I-2A title despite heavy graduation losses, and will count on new faces including RB <strong>Bryson Thompson.</strong> For Woodruff, QB <strong>Carson Tucker</strong> had a breakout season last year, and will be counted on to lead the way after the loss of Shamare Dendy, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven games. [player_tooltip player_id="89306" first="Jailen" last="Tribble"] is back to lead the defense for the Wolverines. <strong>Seneca at Blacksburg</strong> - The Wildcats will be in their second year under Jet Turner’s double-wing offense, an attack that usually takes a giant leap from year one to year two. The Bobcats are looking to rebound from a tough season, and hope to take advantage of the talents of WR [player_tooltip player_id="59470" first="Elijah" last="Evett"]. &nbsp;