Week 10 Preview: Region Titles At Stake In The Midlands

This is the final week of the regular season, and several games involving Midland teams will determine region champions while others will have huge playoff implications. Here is a look at the top games for this week and what they mean for the postseason.   Brookland-Cayce (6-3, 4-0) at Class 3A No. 8 Gilbert (7-2, 4-0)   These teams have been on a collision course since the Region 5-3A schedule began. They've both eased through the region without much of a challenge after playing a challenging non-region schedule.   In the four games in the region, Gilbert has outscored the opposition by an average of 46.2 to 16 while the Bearcats have a 36.7 to 6.7 advantage. Both teams will rely on a dominant running game and whoever passes the ball the best might emerge as the winner.   Gilbert features the 1-2 punch of [player_tooltip player_id='262635' first='Alias' last='Graham-Woodberry'] (1,293 yards) and [player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix'] (1,116 yards). Drake Bradford has taken most of the snaps at QB in recent weeks, allowing [player_tooltip player_id='262616' first='Chance' last='Jennings'] to move to his more natural position of wide receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='1142731' first='Caleb' last='Strese'], [player_tooltip player_id='262639' first='Jordan' last='Smith'], Kyler Seigler, Kelvin Blackwell, Jake Torbett and Brendan Boatwright have played well on defense. Smith and Torbett each have three interceptions.   Brookland-Cayce has leaned on the running game since the start of region play despite the fact they have North-South selection [player_tooltip player_id='199432' first='Tanner' last='Staton'] at QB. He's a threat with his legs as well but the Bearcats want to get the ball into the hands of Naahzekiel Mays and Deshaun Washington to power the ground attack. The defensive turnaround has been rather significant for B-C. They allowed 62 or more points three times in the non-region schedule. Jayden Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id='1359229' first='Trequan' last='Singleton'], and Will Young have been key in the turnaround.       Class 5A No. 1 Dutch Fork (8-1, 3-0) at Class 5A No. 3 Lexington (8-1, 3-0)   This one will determine the Region 4-5A championship. The winner will be in the upper state playoffs while the loser will be in the lower state in the playoffs that begin next week.   In region play, Dutch Fork has outscored its opponents 159-7 while Lexington has won the three games by a combined 109-61. Dutch Fork has also gained 1,388 yards in three games while allowing just 278 yards in the three games.   Running back [player_tooltip player_id='91136' first='Jarvis' last='Green'] set a school record last week with seven touchdowns in just a half of play. Green is as healthy as he's been all year and that has spelled trouble for opponents. Green is up to 1,097 yards. The return of Aliam Applier has also been key. In the three region games, he's thrown for 513 yards and seems to have shaken off his early season injury as well. Defensively, the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='262678' first='Jaylen' last='Hinton'], [player_tooltip player_id='132398' first='Chandler' last='Perry'] and [player_tooltip player_id='336148' first='John' last='Buetow'] has been as good as any in the state at linebacker. Add in the play of [player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1142746' first='Dakota' last='Jordan'], AJ Johnson and [player_tooltip player_id='262550' first='Landon' last='Danley'] and this might be one of the better Silver Foxes defenses in years.   Lexington hasn't defeated Dutch Fork since 2011. If they're going to break the long losing streak, they will have to get a maximum effort in all three phases. [player_tooltip player_id='443502' first='Jonah' last='Norris'] is one of the leading rushers in the state with 1,719 yards and 25 touchdowns. But he will have to get help in the passing game from QB [player_tooltip player_id='208887' first='Taiden' last='Mines'] (1,717 yards, 18 TDs) and the talented duo of [player_tooltip player_id='443508' first='Kamadi' last='Maxwell'] and Jarrod Mewborn. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='448988' first='Christian' last='Sexton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='997334' first='Montrell' last='Byrd'] will have to slow the Silver Foxes running game with Brayden Woolbright (5 interceptions) and Chris Frye will have to be huge in the defensive secondary and keep plays in front of them.   Class 4A No. 6 Ridge View (8-1, 4-0) at Class 4A No. 2 AC Flora (9-0, 4-0)   This one will determine the Region 5-4A champion.   This one has a chance to be a shootout. Both offenses are explosive and can score from anywhere on the field. These teams are evenly matched and whoever makes the least amount of mistakes is likely to come out on top. In region games, Ridge View holds a 152-77 scoring advantage over their four opponents while AC Flora has outscored the same four teams 172-60.   The Blazers had to use backup QB [player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd'] last week. but he accounted for four touchdowns. Donald Tomlin should be available this week but both quarterbacks should see action. Whoever is under center, they will have [player_tooltip player_id='262703' first='Marcus' last='Kelly'] (1,051 yards) to hand the ball to and the duo of [player_tooltip player_id='202775' first='Zion' last='Agnew'] and [player_tooltip player_id='202731' first='Adonis' last='McDaniel'] to throw too. McDaniel transferred from AC Flora during the summer. David Matthews, [player_tooltip player_id='448979' first='Myles' last='Brown'], Josh Saddler and Kenneth Jackson have been standouts on defense for the Blazers.   [player_tooltip player_id='202726' first='Markel' last='Townsend'] is averaging nearly 10 yard per carry and has 1,649 yards and 23 TDs this season for the Falcons. He runs behind a massive offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='340713' first='Ben' last='Holmes'], Kendarious Kinard and Alexander Koutrakos. [player_tooltip player_id='202733' first='Carew' last='Bates'] has completed over 73% of his passes and he has talented wideouts in [player_tooltip player_id='202725' first='Chris' last='Lofton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='409839' first='Jack' last='Purdy']. Defensively, look for the Falcons to rely on Eric McClain, Mason Little, Albert Perkins, John Friday, [player_tooltip player_id='997228' first='Ryan' last='Biggerstaff'], Andre Thomas and [player_tooltip player_id='202750' first='Braxton' last='Burton'].   Keenan (5-4, 3-2) at Class 2A No. 4 Gray Collegiate (6-3, 5-0)   Gray Collegiate wins the region championship outright with a win but a Raiders win could lead to a tie with the winner of Fairfield Central and Newberry.   Hernandez O'Neal has thrown for over 1,600 yards and rushed for another 659 for Keenan. Antonio Adams and [player_tooltip player_id='1359164' first='Amarii' last='King'] have been his top targets this season. Adis Jamison, Denard White and Christopher Brown have led the Raiders defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton'] has been one of the better QBs in the area this season with 1,864 yards. He has a trio of receivers that average over 15 yards per reception – Devin Johnson, [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord'] and Savion Smith. [player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford'] and BJ Montgomery lead the rushing attack. [player_tooltip player_id='997302' first='Justin' last='Pauling'], Jordan Robinson, [player_tooltip player_id='997269' first='Kaine' last='Williams'], Blake Croft and [player_tooltip player_id='1359251' first='Zeb' last='Taylor'] lead a defense that has played better in recent weeks.   Whitmire (6-3, 2-1) at CA Johnson (5-4, 2-1)   This one isn't for a region title but still a lot is on the line in this Region 3-A tilt. These two teams are tied for second and the winner will get a couple of home playoff games with a victory. Whitmire lost to region leader Lewisville 57-18 while the Hornets lost 16-0 to Lewisville.   Whitmire will lean on QB Blake Stribble and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1253974' first='Kayshaun' last='Schumpert'] on offense. Trey Brewer, Wyatt Harsha and Dylan Satterwhite will lead the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1142538' first='Caleb' last='Pearson'] (1,180 yards) and Dawan Rice lead an explosive CA Johnson attack. Defensively, Nigel Leak, Terrell Hopkins and Tavian Mitchell are the leading tacklers.

This is the final week of the regular season, and several games involving Midland teams will determine region champions while others will have huge playoff implications. Here is a look at the top games for this week and what they mean for the postseason.