What To Watch: Big Games Highlight Week 0

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 0 used to be a novelty, a time to shoehorn in matchups that teams had to make to fill odd holes in the schedule. Now, well more than half the state squares off as early as possible. Still, not everybody will be playing on Friday. Here's a look at five of the best games across the Upstate, with a couple of heavy-hitting matchups, a playoff rematch, and a rivalry game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>4A No. 3 Greenville at 5A No. 7 (tie) Dorman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New head coach Dustin Curtis' tenure at Dorman sees the Cavaliers jumping right into the deep end. Greenville is one of 4A's best teams, despite the departure of a dynamic QB. They have game-breaking receivers in [player_tooltip player_id='91149' first='Tyler' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='163871' first='Mazeo' last='Bennett Jr'], a ton of talent up front and at RB, and standouts at all three levels defensively including DL [player_tooltip player_id='209617' first='Jayden' last='Wilson-Abrams'], LB [player_tooltip player_id='89334' first='Luke' last='Schuller'], and DB [player_tooltip player_id='276660' first='Christian' last='Henderson']. Dorman, meanwhile, could have one of the best OL groups in program history, led by [player_tooltip player_id='91355' first='Markee' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='202774' first='DJ' last='Geth']. They'll clear the way for talented dual-threat RB [player_tooltip player_id='262701' first='Demarius' last='Foster'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A No. 5 Brookland-Cayce at 5A No. 7 (tie) Byrnes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight year, the Rebels will take on a talented, highly-ranked 3A team early in the season. This year, it starts with Brookland-Cayce. The Bearcats have one of the top QBs in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='199432' first='Tanner' last='Staton'] (pictured). He had more than 3,000 yards of total offense, including more than 2600 passing, and 26 total touchdowns last year. A lot of that production went to RB/Slot [player_tooltip player_id='91137' first='Naahzeikial' last='Mays'], a fast, shifty player who can pinball off of defenders or simply run by them. Byrnes has a ton of talent back from last year's team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Texas Tech commit [player_tooltip player_id='204428' first='Miquel' last='Dingle'] is a burner at LB, [player_tooltip player_id='267454' first='Chris' last='Foster'] leads a deep and talented DL, and Dorman transfer [player_tooltip player_id='272705' first='Armoni' last='Weaver'] brings an immediate impact in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greer at 3A No. 1 Daniel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets go on the road to take on the two-time defending 3A champions, and will bring one of the area's best backs to the table. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012565' first='LaDainnian' last='Martin']</strong> was a standout for the Yellow Jackets a year ago, notching 894 yards and 11 TDs on the ground, and rushing for a 5.4 yards per carry average. Daniel put up absurd offensive numbers on the way to a second straight title, and while QB Trent Pearman is gone, the Lions have a bunch of talent back. [player_tooltip player_id='146355' first='Bryce' last='Smith'] returns to anchor a veteran offensive line, [player_tooltip player_id='91140' first='Eli' last='Merck'] and [player_tooltip player_id='204866' first='Jaylen' last='Brown-Wallace'] are legit home-run threats at WR, and [player_tooltip player_id='91144' first='Misun' last='Kelley'] can - and does - play just about anywhere.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A No. 4 Powdersville at Broome</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Powdersville lost one game last season, falling to Chester in the playoffs, and notching a couple of 40-point wins. Two of the closest games of the year came against Broome, as the Centurions led an early matchup at the half, and lost a playoff game by a single point. The Patriots have a strong core of returners back from that team, including LB [player_tooltip player_id='89333' first='Jalen' last='Rambert'], who notched triple-digit tackles last season, and RB [player_tooltip player_id='91152' first='Thomas' last='Williams'], who does a little bit of everything and who may be an even better defensive player than a running back. Broome lost a pair of offensive standouts, and will look to young players to fill those roles. Versatile, athletic QB <strong>Kamajay Brackett-Brannon</strong> will run a new-look Centurion offense, with <strong>Darrin Crooke</strong> stepping in at RB. <strong>Steven O'Dell</strong> is a 6-6, 300-pound standout on the offensive line for Broome.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Woodruff at Chapman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Upstate's longest-running rivalries is no longer a region game, but the Wolverines and Panthers will always find a way to play. Woodruff has an outstanding QB returning in <strong>Carson Tucker</strong>, and he's got no shortage of weapons around him, including dynamic CB/WR <strong>Nehemiah Cochran</strong>. Chapman will be breaking in a new QB, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='998700' first='Coleman' last='Gray']</strong> brings size, a big arm, and a willingness to take off to the position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142680' first='Rashawn' last='Cunningham']</strong> is a game-breaker at receiver, and the Panthers have a lot of guys back who played a bunch of snaps on defense, including DL [player_tooltip player_id='146361' first='Abraham' last='Fyffe']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->