Week 9 Preview: York and Lancaster Counties

The final two weeks of the 2021 regular season are upon us and there are several teams who can either improve their chances of getting into the playoffs or clinch a region championship with a win on Friday night. Boiling Springs (0-8, 0-3 region) at Fort Mill (1-6, 0-3 region) – You’ve got two teams who have struggled throughout the season and this game is about pride. And believe it or not, the winner can get into the playoffs. Fort Mill will be looking for their second win of the season led by QB [player_tooltip player_id="200762" first="Kyle" last="Neibch"] <a href="https://twitter.com/kneibch_11">(@kneibch_11)</a> and RB Michael Threatt <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelThreatt6">(@MichaelThreatt6)</a>, who has had a solid season. DE [player_tooltip player_id="118721" first="Miller" last="Shouse"] <a href="https://twitter.com/ShouseMiller">(@ShouseMiller)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="200700" first="Charlie" last="Veltri"] <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlieVeltri">(@CharlieVeltri)</a> have been the straw that stirs the drink on defense for the Yellow Jackets, and they’ll be looking to continue that on Friday night. Rock Hill (2-4, 1-1 region) at Ridge View (2-4, 0-2 region) – This is a critical game for both teams as the region race is still up for grabs in 4-5A. The Bearcats have won 2 of their last 3 contests and are doing it with a solid effort on defense, led by their two stars on the defensive line, [player_tooltip player_id="200721" first="Maurice" last="Bonneau"] <a href="https://twitter.com/MauriceB55">(@MauriceB55)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="103786" first="Luke" last="Bracey"] <a href="https://twitter.com/bracey_luke">(@bracey_luke)</a>. QB [player_tooltip player_id="139293" first="Matthew" last="Wilson"] <a href="https://twitter.com/matthew76905115">(@matthew76905115)</a> connected with WR/DB Cam Laymon <a href="https://twitter.com/Camlaymon">(@Camlaymon)</a> last week for a touchdown. If the offense can match the defense’s intensity, they should be in good shape. Ridge View desperately needs a win as they have dropped 4 straight. The talent is there to put up points for coach Derek Howard’s team with guys like QB [player_tooltip player_id="153263" first="Andre" last="Washington"] <a href="https://twitter.com/andrewash7ngton">(@andrewash7ngton)</a> and WR [player_tooltip player_id="92205" first="Chase" last="Smith"] <a href="https://twitter.com/chase_s3">(@chase_s3)</a>, but the Blazers can’t afford to turn the ball over and their defensive counterparts will need to do their part as they have given up an average of 38 points in the 4 losses. Indian Land (4-2, 0-2 region) at Catawba Ridge (4-4, 1-2 region) – One thing to watch in this matchup will be the status of Copperheads QB [player_tooltip player_id="91362" first="Jadyn" last="Davis"], who missed last week’s game against Lancaster with an injury. If he can’t go, look for Nate Thomas <a href="https://twitter.com/natethomas04">(@natethomas04)</a> to take the reins again this week and a heavy use of Tyler Jones <a href="https://twitter.com/TylerJones14_">(@TylerJones14_)</a> in the run game. Indian Land has only put up an average of 13 points in their losses so they’ll be looking to get back to the run game with [player_tooltip player_id="139305" first="Jaden" last="Singletary"] <a href="https://twitter.com/JadenSingletar6%5C">(@JadenSingletar6)</a> and have QB [player_tooltip player_id="200716" first="Blake" last="Goode"] <a href="https://twitter.com/BlakeGoode3">(@BlakeGoode14)</a> take some shots deep to [player_tooltip player_id="153270" first="Drew" last="Hardin"] <a href="http://twitter.com/drew_hardin13">(@drew_hardin13)</a>, but they’ll have to be mindful of [player_tooltip player_id="59504" first="Asa" last="Johnson"] <a href="https://twitter.com/Asajohnson55">(@Asajohnson55)</a>, who has had an active year on the defensive line. Lancaster (2-3, 0-2 region) at York (6-1, 3-0 region) – York needs to continue to make strides offensively this week. They were able to flex their muscles in a 56-14 win over Fort Mill. QB [player_tooltip player_id="208367" first="Ayden" last="Davis"] <a href="https://twitter.com/AydenDavis03">(@AydenDavis03)</a> could use another performance like last week. Bruin teams of the past have prided themselves on being physical and running the football and this will be an intriguing test for the linebacking core of Ashton Edington <a href="https://twitter.com/ashton_19">(@ashton_19)</a> and [player_tooltip player_id="91189" first="Mekayle" last="Burris"] <a href="https://twitter.com/k8_Officiall">(@k8_Officiall)</a>. Lancaster DE [player_tooltip player_id="200706" first="Fred" last="Twitty"] <a href="https://twitter.com/FredTwitty1">(@FredTwitty1)</a> will be looking to make it a challenge for Davis on Friday night. Gaffney (8-0, 2-0 region) at Clover (3-4, 2-0 region) – Whoever walks out of Clover Memorial Stadium with a win Friday evening will strengthen their grip on region 3-5A. Gaffney is loaded with offensive talent like RB [player_tooltip player_id="31310" first="Tyler" last="Smith"] and QB [player_tooltip player_id="89340" first="Grayson" last="Loftis"] and can score points in bunches. Clover will have their work cut out for them on defense but if they can create turnovers with guys like LBs Zaske Her <a href="https://twitter.com/Zaske04441344">(@Zaske0441344)</a> and Cooper Zohner <a href="https://twitter.com/cooperzohner">(@cooperzohner)</a>. The run game for the Blue Eagles with RB Elijah Farmer <a href="https://twitter.com/elijahfarmer13">(@elijahfarmer13)</a> will be critical to shorten the game and keep Gaffney’s offense on the sideline.