Week 4 Preview: Midlands Area
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Week four has it all – a backyard brawl, a SCISA contest that features two teams on the rise, ranked teams playing each other and believe it or not, a region contest. Here is a look at the top games…
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Continue ReadingWeek four has it all – a backyard brawl, a SCISA contest that features two teams on the rise, ranked teams playing each other and believe it or not, a region contest. Here is a look at the top games in the Midlands area.
Class 3A #7 Camden (2-2) at Class 4A #3 AC Flora (3-0)
These two teams played a 3-0 game last season. There should be more offense this time around, but the marquee matchup will be in the trenches instead of the skill players in this one.
Camden has a defensive front that includes South Carolina commitment Xzavier McLeod Xzavier McLeod 6'5" | 320 lbs | DL Camden | 2023 State SC , David Copley David Copley 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Camden | 2023 State SC and Shymeik Jones. A.C. Flora will feature an offensive line with Wofford commitment Ben Holmes Ben Holmes 6'7" | 285 lbs | OL AC Flora | 2023 State SC , Kendarious Kinard and Alexander Koutrakos.
That’s not to say there aren’t a bunch of skill position guys that could steal the spotlight. Camden QB Grayson White Grayson White 6'0" | 240 lbs | QB Camden | 2024 State SC has accounted for over 1,120 yards of total offense while Falcons signal-caller Carew Bates Carew Bates 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH AC Flora | 2023 State SC is completing over 70% of his passes with eight touchdowns. A.C. Flora RB Markel Townsend Markel Townsend 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2023 State SC went for over 200 yards last week and three touchdowns. Averee Hickmon is a solid counterpart for the Bulldogs. Chris Lofton Chris Lofton 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2023 State SC , Aiden Mosley Aiden Mosley 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2025 State SC and Jack Purdy Jack Purdy 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR A.C. Flora | 2023 SC are all weapons for the Falcons at wide receiver and Camden will counter with Cortez Lane Cortez Lane 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Cardinal Newman | 2024 State SC and Jaquarius Mayrant.
Cardinal Newman (2-1) at Heathwood Hall (2-2)
One of these teams will take a solid step forward to be one of the better teams in SCISA. Cardinal Newman will rely on the running of AJ Reyes and passing of Duncan Skehan. Logan Buseniehner and Troy Seal are Skehan’s top receiving targets. The Cardinals are averaging 49 points a game. Braxton Rodgers and David Rodgers are two standouts at linebacker. Freshman Patrick Belk has thrown for 413 yards and ran for an additional 131 this season. Dylan Lesesne is the top ground-gainer with 167 yards with Thompson Dubose coming in with 228 yards receiving. Michael Balthazor and JB Belk the top tacklers.
Class 2A #10 Fairfield Central (2-2) at Keenan (2-2)
Let’s talk about region play. Yes, it’s region play time for Region 4-2A. And a battle between two schools with postseason hopes will set the stage. Keenan has won two in a row by averaging 47 points per game in the two wins. Hernandez O’Neal has thrown for 656 yards and four touchdowns. He has also run for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Qua Howard Qua Howard 6'0" | 180 lbs | RB Keenan | 2023 State SC leads the way with 390 yards rushing and seven scores. Antoinio Adams has 14 receptions. Fairfield Central has lost two in a row by a combined nine points. Freshman Cam McMillon has thrown for 1,239 yards and 14 touchdowns. The trio of TyDarian Greer, Jai Boyd and Donovan Watkins have combined for 55 receptions. JaShaun Manning and Amos Bell each have over 40 tackles with Steven Gadsden right behind with 36 stops.
Class 3A #5 Gilbert (3-0) at Class 5A #10 Lexington (3-1)
If running the football is your thing, this might be the game for you. The neighboring rivals are playing just for the fourth time but with Jonah Norris Jonah Norris 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Lexington | 2023 State SC for the Wildcats and Alias Graham-Woodberry Alias Graham-Woodberry 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Gilbert | 2023 State SC and Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC for the Indians it could be over rather quickly. Norris has two 300-yard games already and is one of the top rushers in the state with 839 yards. Graham-Woodberry has 543 yards and Allen-Hendrix adding 328 yards in one less game. Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC gives Lexington the nod at quarterback. Kamadi Maxwell Kamadi Maxwell 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Lexington | 2023 State SC and Jarrod Mewborn are two solid receiving targets. Drake Braddock and Chance Jennings Chance Jennings 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Gilbert | 2023 State SC have both taken snaps at QB for Gilbert. Jennings will also play wide receiver. Chris Frye is a menace in the secondary for the Wildcats and Jordan Smith Jordan Smith 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Gilbert | 2023 State SC has been equally as good for the Indians.
Class 4A # 8 Hartsville (3-1) at Irmo (2-1)
This should be a good barometer game for the Yellow Jackets. They get a solid Hartsville team at home with the hopes QB AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC will be back from an ankle injury. He missed the loss to River Bluff two weeks ago and Irmo had a bye last week. Erick Tucker is leading the offense with 354 yards rushing. Hartsville lost to Dillon last week but should be a contender come November. Backs Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC and J’Shawn Anderson J’Shawn Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2023 State SC have combined for 16 rushing touchdowns.
Class 5A # 9 White Knoll (4-0) at South Aiken (1-3)
The Timberwolves might be the surprise team in Class 5A. After winning two games last year, White Knoll is out to a 4-0 start with the smallest margin of victory being nine points in the season opener. Sophomore Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC has thrown 11 TD passes. Jesse Ross Jesse Ross 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2023 State SC has five rushing scores and two more receiving. Austin Cunningham has been the top target with 13 receptions. Marcus Domenech and Hayden Cushman have led a young defense. Terrance Smith and Jevon Edwards Jevon Edwards 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB South Aiken | 2025 State SC have each rushed for over 700 yards this season and combined for 16 touchdowns for South Aiken. Two of the Thoroughbreds losses have been to River Bluff and Lexington by seven points each.