Week 5 Preview: York & Lancaster Counties

We have reached the final week of the non-region schedule as teams in the York and Lancaster County area begin region play next Friday. There are teams who are playing well defensively and can score points in bunches, while others are still trying to find their footing in particular areas. Harding University High (NC) at Nation Ford – Nation Ford’s 2021 campaign is off to a shaky start but they can write the ship before region play begins next week aided by a solid offensive performance, but they’ll have to do it against another tough non-region opponent from across the state line. Harding is currently 2-3 and will be hungry for a win as well. York at Westwood – Coach Dean Boyd’s team received votes in this week’s statewide media poll and they will have a chance to further impress by hitting the road to Columbia and getting a win on Friday night. The Cougar defense is led by linebackers [player_tooltip player_id="91189" first="Mekayle" last="Burris"] <a href="https://twitter.com/k8_Officiall">(@k8_Officiall)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="200766" first="Ashton" last="Eddington"] (pictured above) <a href="https://twitter.com/ashton_19">(@ashton_19)</a>, who are both tackling machines. A question is how Cougars sophomore quarterback Ayden Davis <a href="https://twitter.com/AydenDavis03">(@AydenDavis03)</a> will handle his first road test? If he can manage the game and continue to make plays with his feet, the Cougars should be in good shape. Andrew Jackson at Indian Land – Indian Land is now ranked in the Top 10 in this week’s statewide 4A media poll as their offense is averaging 39.6 points per game and they pitched a shutout in last week’s win over East Clarendon. QB [player_tooltip player_id="200716" first="Blake" last="Goode"] <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeGoode3">(@BlakeGoode14)</a> continued his impressive play on the year and you could also include [player_tooltip player_id="153270" first="Drew" last="Hardin"] <a href="https://twitter.com/drew_hardin13">(@drew_hardin13)</a> who has made an impact and we expect that to continue on Friday. Rock Hill at Clover – Clover will resume play on Friday after a two week COVID pause and the Bearcats are coming off another tough loss as they sit at 0-3. Clover lost two straight before the pause so something has to give. Can QB [player_tooltip player_id="139293" first="Matthew" last="Wilson"] <a href="https://twitter.com/matthew76905115">(@matthew76905115)</a>, RB Chandler Hayes <a href="https://twitter.com/ChandlerHayes8">(@ChandlerHayes8)</a> and the Rock Hill offense get things kick started or will Clover QB [player_tooltip player_id="202766" first="Joe" last="Boyd"] <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBoyd123">(@JoeBoyd123)</a>, WR/RB [player_tooltip player_id="202768" first="Ron" last="Johnson"] <a href="https://twitter.com/ron_john54">(@ron_john54)</a> and WR [player_tooltip player_id="153265" first="Darius" last="Bowser"] <a href="https://twitter.com/BowserDarius">(@BowserDarius)</a> be too much on Friday night? Northwestern at River Bluff – The Trojans are coming off an impressive 35-7 win on the road to Greenville last week and senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="89316" first="Will" last="Mattison"] <a href="https://twitter.com/Will1Mattison">(@Will1Mattison)</a> is playing well as he’s thrown for 17 touchdowns so far in 2021. But they ran for nearly 200 yards last week and 117 yards were combined between running backs Turbo Richard <a href="https://twitter.com/TurboRichard1">(@TurboRichard1)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="202758" first="Qua" last="Howard"] <a href="https://twitter.com/qua4k">(@qua4k)</a>. If they can keep that going, they will be dangerous heading into region play. Defensive linemen William Monroe <a href="https://twitter.com/WillMonroe33">(@WillMonroe33)</a> and Isaac McClellan <a href="https://twitter.com/isaac_mclellan">(@isaac_mclellan)</a> have both been active on the defensive front in topping the run and that will serve them well in Columbia on Friday. Spring Valley at South Pointe – Coach DeVonte Holloman and the Stallions are currently unbeaten on the year and a lot of it has to do with the duo of senior QB [player_tooltip player_id="200727" first="Zay" last="McCrorey"] <a href="https://twitter.com/ZayMccrorey1">(@ZayMccrorey1)</a>, who just picked up an offer from Virginia State University this week and senior WR Waymond Jenerette <a href="https://twitter.com/WaymondJeneret3">(@WaymondJeneret3)</a>, who have been virtually unstoppable over the first few weeks. Junior DL AJ Miller <a href="https://twitter.com/Ajmiller92">(@Ajmiller92)</a> has combined for 9 sacks in the first 3 games. That’s not a misprint. That will need to continue against Spring Valley’s [player_tooltip player_id="59480" first="DeQuandre" last="Smith"] <a href="https://twitter.com/iamdequandre?lang=en">(@iamDequandre)</a>, who will be eager to get on the field after a two week COVID pause.