What To Watch: Big Games Highlight Week 0
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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…
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Continue ReadingWeek 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.
4A No. 3 Greenville at 5A No. 7 (tie) Dorman
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 Tyler Brown Tyler Brown 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Greenville | 2023 State SC and Mazeo Bennett Mazeo Bennett 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Greenville | 2024 State SC , a ton of talent up front and at RB, and standouts at all three levels defensively including DL Jayden Wilson-Abrams Jayden Wilson-Abrams 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Greenville | 2024 State SC , LB Luke Schuller Luke Schuller 6'0" | 205 lbs | LB Greenville | 2023 State SC , and DB Christian Henderson Christian Henderson 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC . Dorman, meanwhile, could have one of the best OL groups in program history, led by Markee Anderson Markee Anderson 6'5" | 280 lbs | OL Dorman | 2023 State SC and DJ Geth DJ Geth 6'4" | 300 lbs | OL Dorman | 2023 State SC . They’ll clear the way for talented dual-threat RB Demarius Foster Demarius Foster 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Dorman | 2023 State SC .
3A No. 5 Brookland-Cayce at 5A No. 7 (tie) Byrnes
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 Tanner Staton Tanner Staton 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Brookland-Cayce | 2023 State SC (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 Naahzeikial Mays Naahzeikial Mays 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Brookland-Cayce | 2023 State SC , 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 Miquel Dingle Miquel Dingle 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Byrnes | 2023 State SC is a burner at LB, Chris Foster Chris Foster 6'0" | 205 lbs | DL Byrnes | 2024 State SC leads a deep and talented DL, and Dorman transfer Armoni Weaver Armoni Weaver 5'11" | 170 lbs | ATH Westside | 2025 State SC brings an immediate impact in the secondary.
Greer at 3A No. 1 Daniel
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. LaDainnian Martin LaDainnian Martin 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB JL Mann | 2025 State SC 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. Bryce Smith Bryce Smith 6'4" | 265 lbs | OL Daniel | 2023 State SC returns to anchor a veteran offensive line, Eli Merck Eli Merck 6'1" | 180 lbs | WR DW Daniel | 2023 State SC and Jaylen Brown-Wallace Jaylen Brown-Wallace 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Daniel | 2023 State SC are legit home-run threats at WR, and Misun Kelley Misun Kelley 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB DW Daniel | 2023 State SC can – and does – play just about anywhere.
3A No. 4 Powdersville at Broome
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 Jalen Rambert Jalen Rambert 6'1" | 240 lbs | LB Powdersville | 2023 State SC , who notched triple-digit tackles last season, and RB Thomas Williams Thomas Williams 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Powdersville | 2023 State SC , 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 Kamajay Brackett-Brannon will run a new-look Centurion offense, with Darrin Crooke stepping in at RB. Steven O’Dell is a 6-6, 300-pound standout on the offensive line for Broome.
Woodruff at Chapman
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 Carson Tucker, and he’s got no shortage of weapons around him, including dynamic CB/WR Nehemiah Cochran. Chapman will be breaking in a new QB, as Coleman Gray Coleman Gray 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Chapman | 2024 State SC brings size, a big arm, and a willingness to take off to the position. Rashawn Cunningham Rashawn Cunningham 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Chapman | 2024 State SC 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 Abraham Fyffe Abraham Fyffe 5'10" | 230 lbs | DL Chapman | 2023 State SC