Week 1: Midlands Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opening week across the Midlands had several games that featured highly ranked programs squaring off. This week, that has dropped off a bit but there's still several intriguing matchups that should entice fans out to the stadiums.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have a couple of rivalry games, two battles that should go a long way in determining the pecking order in Class 5A and 2A and a solid top 10 showdown. Here's a glance at what to watch across the Midlands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A #3 AC Flora at Dreher</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The schools are less than three miles apart so there is similarity, friendly thrash talking and some downright hostility.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons have owned this rivalry in recent years. And they are loaded once again this season. A.C. Flora knocked off a strong Greenwood team 38-20 in the opener.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202733' first='Carew' last='Bates']</strong>&nbsp;threw touchdown passes to&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409839' first='Jack' last='Purdy']</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202725' first='Chris' last='Lofton']</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202726' first='Markel' last='Townsend']</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Noah Kelson</strong>&nbsp;ran for scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dreher opened new coach Corey Jenkins era with a 29-22 win over Keenan. Quarterback&nbsp;<strong>Colby Fuller</strong>&nbsp;scored a rushing touchdown and added another through the air.&nbsp;<strong>Caleb Timmons</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Kaleb Berry</strong>&nbsp;each had solid nights at the wide receiver spot. Linebacker&nbsp;<strong>Willie Simmons</strong>&nbsp;and defensive back Jaden Haygood will need solid nights to try and slow the Falcons attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Airport at Class 3A #10 Brookland-Cayce</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams offer another backyard style rivalry. They are less than four miles apart and don't care for each other.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearcats have gotten the best of Airport in recent years. Both schools are coming off disappointing efforts in the season opener – Airport lost 19-7 to Swansea and Brookland-Cayce dropped a 62-7 contest on the road at Byrnes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Airport must find a way to be more explosive on offensive. The lone score last week was a 66-yard pass from&nbsp;<strong>Kyle Chavis</strong>&nbsp;to&nbsp;<strong>Jalen Stephens</strong>. Wide receiver&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202727' first='Apollos' last='Cook']</strong>&nbsp;and running back&nbsp;<strong>Marcus Dwyer</strong>&nbsp;must play larger roles for that to happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brookland-Cayce must get quarterback&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='199432' first='Tanner' last='Staton']</strong>&nbsp;and WR/RB&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91137' first='Naahzeikial' last='Mays']</strong>&nbsp;going. Those two will lead the Bearcats offense.&nbsp;<strong>Jayden Johnson</strong>&nbsp;will play on both sides of the ball and is another key clog.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A #7 Fairfield Central at Andrew Jackson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one should be a fun one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Griffins had an offensive explosion in a 62-14 win over Carvers Bay. Freshman&nbsp;<strong>Cam McMillon</strong>&nbsp;threw for five touchdowns and&nbsp;<strong>Ty Grier</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Jai Boyd</strong>&nbsp;both went over 100 yards receiving. But the defense was just as impressive –&nbsp;<strong>Josh Green</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>JaShawn Manning</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Donovan Watkins</strong>&nbsp;each recorded interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrew Jackson had a bye last week but could be good offensively. The quarterback spot will be between&nbsp;<strong>Hammond Wren</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Brady Williams</strong>. Running back&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='317140' first='Trey' last='Thompson']</strong>&nbsp;ran for over 1,200 yards last year.&nbsp;<strong>Banks Helms</strong>&nbsp;will lead the wide receiver corps. Linebacker&nbsp;<strong>Fuller Sims</strong>&nbsp;was the leading tackler last season and he returns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A #10 Spring Valley at White Knoll</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146359' first='Evan' last='Javis']</strong>&nbsp;ran for 105 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 38-18 win over Westwood.&nbsp;<strong>Nigel Ancrum</strong>&nbsp;added a kick-off return for a touchdown. The defense was led by defensive lineman&nbsp;<strong>Jonas Wilson</strong>&nbsp;(13 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss) and defensive back&nbsp;<strong>Greiman De Los Santos</strong>&nbsp;(8 total tackles, 3 tackles for loss).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Timberwolves got three scores from&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336147' first='Jesse' last='Ross']</strong>&nbsp;in a 21-13 win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson. He will be key as the rest of the offense catches up. Quarterback&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']</strong>&nbsp;will have to play better and make better decisions with the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marcus Domenech</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Nate Thomas</strong>&nbsp;will be key to a much-improved White Knoll defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A #6 Sumter at Class 4A #10 Ridge View</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one has the potential to be a close one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks defense will be led by linebackers&nbsp;<strong>John Peeples</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Jamal Taylor</strong>. But look for the battle in the secondary.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202743' first='Zyeir' last='Gamble']</strong>&nbsp;will lead a talented group against the Ridge View wide receiver trio of&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202775' first='Zion' last='Agnew']</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262637' first='Chris' last='Lawson']</strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202731' first='Adonis' last='McDaniel']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback play will also be key. Sumter will turn to&nbsp;<strong>David Merchant</strong>&nbsp;while the Blazers will rely on transfer&nbsp;<strong>David Tomlin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->