Week 5 Preview: Midlands Area
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The Midlands has only one region playing games so far, but teams are still trying to make strides to be playing their best football once the calendar flips to October. Plus, there is one game in the Midlands that will…
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Continue ReadingThe Midlands has only one region playing games so far, but teams are still trying to make strides to be playing their best football once the calendar flips to October. Plus, there is one game in the Midlands that will have national implications.
Batesburg-Leesville (2-2) at Chester (2-3)
Here are two teams that need a win before entering region play. Chester has lost two in a row, but they were to powers South Pointe and Catawba Ridge. The Cyclones rely heavily on QB Trooper Floyd Trooper Floyd 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Chester | 2025 State SC , who has thrown for over 1,100 yards this season. His top receiving threat has been Reggie Heath, who has 28 receptions for 634 yards. Andre Evans and Kyan Kennedy have been solid targets as well. Junior DJ Stevenson leads the defense with 46 tackles. Trajan Peay, Terry Radford and Antonio Hopkins each have over 30 stops.
Batesburg-Leesville on the other hand has won two in a row and would like to carry that momentum into region play that begins Oct. 7. The Panthers are young but have a prospect in senior TE/DE Patrick Swygert. He rarely comes off the field and is a calming influence on the younger players.
Cardinal Newman (2-2) at Ben Lippen (3-2)
Ben Lippen has dropped two in a row by a combined 8 points. The Falcons have a solid ground game behind Bryce Craft (360 yards) and Taevian Copney (294 yards rushing, 314 yards receiving and 11 total touchdowns). Dobbie Ricks has thrown for 832 yards and rushed for an additional 172. Junior LB Jed Essiq leadsthe defense with 34 tackles. Charlie Johnson and Coleman Davis are right behind him.
The Cardinals lost a heartbreaker to Heathwood Hall last week but are averaging 43.5 points per game. Duncan Skehan has thrown for over 850 yards and AJ Reyes has rushed for 658 yards and 13 touchdowns. Logan Buseniehner is the top receiving target. Ja’Khaydin Kinard and Jalil Garvin-Mingo lead the defense.
Class 3A #8 Gilbert (3-1) at Class 2A #1 Saluda (4-0)
A top 10 showdown just before region play begins. Gilbert lost to Lexington last week but still showcased one of the premiere offenses in the area. 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 form a formidable 1-2 punch in the backfield. Chance Jennings Chance Jennings 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Gilbert | 2023 State SC and Drake Braddock have spent time at QB with Braddock being the better passing option so far. Caleb Strese Caleb Strese 6'3" | 210 lbs | DL Gilbert | 2024 State SC , Kyle Seigler and Jake Torbett have been solid on defense.
Saluda counters with a defense that has allowed just over 10 points per game. Jamarcus Mobley and Jaylen Nick are two of the reasons why. Offensively, the Tigers turn to freshman Brayden Williams as the top ground-gainer. Tyleke Mathis Tyleke Mathis 5'10" | 170 lbs | ATH Saluda | 2023 State SC and Zion Wright Zion Wright 6'4" | 180 lbs | WR Saluda | 2023 State SC are the favorite targets of Jonah McCary.
St. Frances (MD) (3-0) at Class 5A #1 Dutch Fork (5-0)
There will be talent galore on display in this one. St. Frances (MD) comes in nationally ranked with 12-15 FBS prospects on the roster. Dutch Fork moved into the national rankings this past week.
The strength of the Panthers might be the defensive front. Dashawn Womack Dashawn Womack 6'5" | 240 lbs | DL St. Frances | 2023 State MD is committed to LSU, Sam Greene to Southern Cal, Brian Simms Brian Simms 6'4" | 240 lbs | DL St. Frances | 2023 State MD to Boston College and Donovan Dyson to Massachusetts. All four are seniors and can create havoc to an offense. Other defensive standouts include juniors DB Ify Obidegwu Ify Obidegwu 6'0" | 185 lbs | DB St. Frances | 2024 State MD , LB Simeon Coleman Simeon Coleman 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB St.Frances | 2024 State MD and S Edrees Farooq Edrees Farooq 5'11" | 180 lbs | DB St. Frances | 2024 State MD . All three have Power Five offers.
St. Frances also has plenty of talent on offense. Junior QB Michael Van Buren Michael Van Buren 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB St. Frances | 2024 State MD leads an offense that also features RB Durell Robinson, WR Ryan Manning Ryan Manning 5'10" | 170 lbs | WR St. Frances | 2023 State MD , WR Lamar Patterson Lamar Patterson 5'10" | 180 lbs | WR St. Frances | 2023 MD and OL Mike Williams Mike Williams 6'7" | 325 lbs | OL Saint Frances Academy | 2024 State MD . Robinson is committed to Boston College and Manning is committed to Maryland.
The Silver Foxes have a 43-game regular season unbeaten streak and have one loss in their last 67 games overall.
Dutch Fork hopes to have RB Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC and QB Aliam Appler Aliam Appler 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC back from injury. If Appler is unable to go, Jon Hunt will likely get the snaps. Green has 552 yards in just three games. Landon Danley Landon Danley 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC has filled in some at QB as well and has 267 yards rushing. Jacob Hamilton Jacob Hamilton 5'9" | 180 lbs | WR Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC and Isaiah Jones have been the top receivers.
The defense has been the strong point so far for Dutch Fork. The linebacker trio of Jaylen Hinton Jaylen Hinton 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC , Chandler Perry Chandler Perry 5'9" | 200 lbs | LB Dutch Fork High | 2023 State SC and John Buetow John Buetow 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC have been outstanding and junior safety Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC is a rising star. J’Von Mack has three interceptions.