Week 10 Preview: York and Lancaster Counties

The final week of the 2021 high school football regular season has arrived and we’ve got teams who have already clinched a spot in the playoffs which begin next week and at this point, it’s all about seeding. But they’ll want to take care of business this week with some intriguing games on tap. Northwestern (8-1, 3-0 region) at Rock Hill (2-5, 1-2 region) – The Bearcats and Trojans are both in the playoffs regardless of Friday’s result, but this game is the annual crosstown rivalry showdown, and there will be no shortage of energy. Northwestern defeated Rock Hill, 48-14 in a non-region matchup that was set up with a one day notice due to COVID-19 cancellations back in late August. Two turnovers, including an [player_tooltip player_id="200747" first="Austin" last="Wilkes"] <a href="https://twitter.com/daanswer_5?lang=en">(@DaAnswer_5)</a> pick six contributed to the Trojans’ rout. The Bearcats will need to get the run game going with QB [player_tooltip player_id="139293" first="Matthew" last="Wilson"] <a href="https://twitter.com/matthew76905115">(@matthew76905115)</a>, Chandler Hayes <a href="https://twitter.com/ChandlerHayes8">(@ChandlerHayes8)</a> and Brandon Watson on Friday in order to keep the Trojans’ offense with QB [player_tooltip player_id="89316" first="Will" last="Mattison"] <a href="https://twitter.com/Will1Mattison">(@Will1Mattison)</a> and WR [player_tooltip player_id="146372" first="Elijah" last="Caldwell"] <a href="https://twitter.com/7Caldwell_">(@7Caldwell_)</a> on the sidelines. York (7-1 overall, 3-0 region) at South Pointe (5-1, 3-0 region) – This is the game of the night in the area and perhaps in the state of South Carolina. Both teams have been on a roll since losing in non-region matchups. For the Cougars defense, as we have written in previous previews, has been a force led by LBs [player_tooltip player_id="91189" first="Mekayle" last="Burris"] <a href="https://twitter.com/k8_Officiall">(@k8_Officiall)</a> and Ashton Edington <a href="https://twitter.com/ashton_19">(@ashton_19)</a>. One key matchup to watch on Friday will be Stallions WR Waymond Jenerette <a href="https://twitter.com/WaymondJeneret3">(@WaymondJeneret3)</a> against York’s Zy Brown <a href="https://twitter.com/zybrown04">(@zybrown04)</a>. QB [player_tooltip player_id="208367" first="Ayden" last="Davis"] <a href="https://twitter.com/AydenDavis03">(@AydenDavis03)</a> and the Cougar offense will face their biggest test and will probably try to get the run game going with [player_tooltip player_id="59495" first="Frank" last="Thompson"] Jr. <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankThompsonJ1">(@FrankThompsonJ1)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="153267" first="RJ" last="Glasgow"] <a href="https://twitter.com/RivilisG">(@RivilisG)</a>. But they will have their work cut out for them going up against the Stallion defensive front which includes A.J. Miller <a href="https://twitter.com/Ajmiller92">(@Ajmiller92)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="139304" first="Chris" last="Dixon"] Jr. <a href="https://twitter.com/Cjdixon_417">(@Cjdixon_417)</a> Clover (3-5, 2-1 region) at Nation Ford (4-4, 2-1 region) – This game has intrigue because the winner takes second place in the region, which can have a huge impact towards determining their path in the playoffs. The Blue Eagles fell 21-3 to Gaffney last week, but played well <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/10/week-9-game-balls-york-lancaster-counties-and-around-the-state/">on defense in spots, especially DE Omari Davis (@Omari_Davis12)</a>. Nation Ford will present another challenge for the Clover defense with QB [player_tooltip player_id="91150" first="Carson" last="Black"] <a href="http://twitter.com/CarsonBlack16">(@CarsonBlack16)</a> looking to continue his rhythm with WRs Kenan Bowman and [player_tooltip player_id="59496" first="Jerrick" last="Foster"] <a href="https://twitter.com/FosterJerrick">(@FosterJerrick)</a>. The question is whether or not Clover’s offense will be able to keep up with QB [player_tooltip player_id="202766" first="Joe" last="Boyd"] <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeBoyd123">(@JoeBoyd123)</a> and WR [player_tooltip player_id="153265" first="Darius" last="Bowser"] <a href="https://twitter.com/BowserDarius">(@BowserDarius)</a>? Fort Mill (1-7, 0-4 region) at Gaffney (9-0, 3-0 region) – The Yellow Jackets head into the final game of the 2021 campaign against one of the top teams in the state in Gaffney. Everyone expects the Indians to roll but if Fort Mill can force turnovers like they did last week against Boiling Springs with guys like [player_tooltip player_id="118721" first="Miller" last="Shouse"] <a href="https://twitter.com/shousemiller?lang=en">(@ShouseMiller)</a> and Anthony Palermo, they can make this one interesting. But it will be a tall order against [player_tooltip player_id="89340" first="Grayson" last="Loftis"] and [player_tooltip player_id="31310" first="Tyler" last="Smith"]. The Yellow Jackets will lean on Michael Threatt <a href="https://twitter.com/ThreattMichael">(@ThreattMichael) </a>and J.J. Ogwal <a href="https://twitter.com/jj_ogwal">(@jj_ogwal)</a> this week with their starting quarterback out with an injury. Lancaster (2-4, 0-3 region) at Indian Land (4-3, 0-3 region) – The Warriors fell in a 17-13 heartbreaker in overtime last week to Catawba Ridge and will need a win and likely some help to make it into the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id="153270" first="Drew" last="Hardin"] <a href="http://twitter.com/drew_hardin13">(@drew_hardin13)</a> continues his stellar season at wide receiver and he will be a critical part of the offense along with [player_tooltip player_id="200716" first="Blake" last="Goode"] <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeGoode3">(@BlakeGoode14)</a>. DT J.T. Knight <a href="https://twitter.com/JTKnight20">(@JTKnight20)</a> will be a guy to watch for the Warrior defense as well as he looks to <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2021/10/week-9-game-balls-york-lancaster-counties-and-around-the-state/">continue his strong season.</a>