Week 2 Preview: Midlands Area

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's still the early part of the schedule but the third week of games offers several intriguing matchups across the Midlands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at a few must-see games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chester (1-1) at Class 2A No. 5 Fairfield Central (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one has a chance to be a shootout. Chester QB <strong>Trooper Floyd</strong> threw for 296 yards in his one game this season while talented freshman <strong>Cam McMillon</strong> has thrown for over 700 yards and 10 touchdowns in two games for the Griffins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reggie Heath</strong> has been the top receiving threat for the Cyclones with over 200 yards on the season. <strong>Malik McCullough</strong> has been the top ground-gainer. Chester's defense relies on LB <strong>DJ Stevenson</strong> and freshman sensation <strong>Terry Radford</strong> on the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McMillon has three receivers with over 100 yards each with <strong>TyDarian Greer</strong> leading the way. <strong>Jai Boyd</strong> and <strong>Donovan Watkins</strong> are also threats. <strong>Stephen Gadsden</strong> and <strong>JaShawn Manning</strong> anchor the Griffins defense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 3A No. 6 Hartsville (2-0) at Class 2A No. 2 Camden (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one has the makings of a classic. Last year, these teams played a 43-37 thriller, and we might have much the same this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139311' first='Grayson' last='White']</strong> has been spectacular through two weeks. The junior QB has thrown for 441 yards and rushed for 230 yards and accounted for nine touchdowns so far. But he isn't the only offensive weapon. <strong>Averee Hickmon </strong>has rushed for a team-best 234 yards while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139303' first='Cortez' last='Lane']</strong> has added 162 rushing yards. <strong>Ja Mayrant</strong> has been White's favorite target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, it starts up front with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='89338' first='Xzavier' last='McLeod']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91155' first='David' last='Copley']</strong> and <strong>Shymeik Jones</strong> but the back seven has played well. LB <strong>Wilson Nash</strong> is the leading tackler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Foxes will try to counter with a power running game led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202738' first='J'Shawn' last='Anderson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel']</strong>. In Hartsville's two victories, they outscored their opposition 109-17.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A No. 7 Irmo (2-0) at River Bluff (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the biggest test for either team so far. Irmo has faced the tougher competition so far and that might help the Yellow Jackets in this road test.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> has been as good as advertised at QB, but Irmo needs to be more consistent offensively. <strong>Erick Tucker</strong> has been a boost for the running game. Brand is still searching for his top target at wide receiver. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets have been solid.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Bluff has the makings of a team on the rebound. The Gators won just two games last year and have already matched that total. QB <strong>Parker Murray</strong>, RB <strong>Cooper Johns</strong> and WR <strong>Stephen Collier</strong> are a big reason for that. Lineman <strong>AJ Colter</strong> and LB <strong>Connor Clamp</strong> have led a revamped defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A No. 10 Ridge View (1-1) at Lower Richland (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a matchup of two teams with a lot of promise, but they have to figure it out offensively for that to happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262637' first='Chris' last='Lawson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202775' first='Zion' last='Agnew']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202731' first='Adonis' last='McDaniel']</strong> on offense but so far, they haven't broken out. They've combined for 27 catches but only three touchdowns. Transfer <strong>David Tomlin</strong> has seemed to have won the QB battle and has four touchdowns but two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View has been solid defensively, allowing 14.5 points per game. The linebacker group of<strong> Myles Brown</strong>, <strong>Mycah Cummings</strong>, <strong>Kenneth Jackson</strong> and <strong>David Matthews</strong> all are around 20 tackles for the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lower Richland has leaned heavily on the running of <strong>Lamarion Pearson</strong>, who has 261 yards and five touchdowns. But the Diamonds have completed just a dozen passes on the season and that must improve with the talents of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202736' first='Nate' last='Branch'] </strong>and <strong>Mekhi Campfield</strong> at WR. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='411696' first='Deamonti' last='garrett']</strong> has four sacks and leads the defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westwood (0-2) at Blythewood (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals seemed to find their way last week in a blowout win over Richland Northeast. Backup QB <strong>David Herden</strong> had a solid game as did RB <strong>Kinson Holland</strong>. The defense has been good in both games so far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Redhawks have struggled out the gate. They're still trying to figure out the QB position and how to get the ball in <strong>Noah Jennings</strong> hands more often. Until they settle those two items, Westwood might struggle offensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday, September 3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A No. 1 Dutch Fork (2-0) vs Creekside, Ga. (0-1) and Class 2A No. 6 Gray Collegiate (0-2) vs South Atlanta (1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork and Gray Collegiate will travel over to Atlanta to play in the two Georgia schools in the Cam Newton Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Silver Foxes have won two games by a combined five points. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91136' first='Jarvis' last='Green']</strong> has been the bulk of the offense, rushing for 375 yards so far. Dutch Fork has an injury situation at QB and that has forced safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262550' first='Landon' last='Danley']</strong> to take a lot of snaps from center.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This should be a hard-hitting affair. The Dutch Fork linebacker group of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='132398' first='Chandler' last='Perry']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336148' first='John' last='Buetow']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262678' first='Jaylen' last='Hinton']</strong> is one of the best.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Creekside will counter with RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='137487' first='Roderick' last='McCary']</strong> and defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='34043' first='Daiquan' last='White']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray Collegiate has stumbled out of the gate but not because of the play of QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton']</strong>. The junior has thrown for nearly 500 yards and 5 touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord']</strong> has been his top target.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the War Eagles have allowed 42.5 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='220721' first='Keyjuan' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>Jontez Adams</strong> each rushed for over 100 yards and combined for five touchdowns last week for South Atlanta.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->