Week 10 Preview: Region Titles At Stake In The Midlands
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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…
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Continue ReadingThis 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 Alias Graham-Woodberry Alias Graham-Woodberry 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Gilbert | 2023 State SC (1,293 yards) and Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC (1,116 yards). Drake Bradford has taken most of the snaps at QB in recent weeks, allowing Chance Jennings Chance Jennings 5'11" | 175 lbs | ATH Gilbert | 2023 State SC to move to his more natural position of wide receiver. Caleb Strese Caleb Strese 6'3" | 210 lbs | DL Gilbert | 2024 State SC , Jordan Smith Jordan Smith 5'10" | 175 lbs | DB Gilbert | 2023 State SC , 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 Tanner Staton Tanner Staton 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Brookland-Cayce | 2023 State SC 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, Trequan 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 Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC 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 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 has been as good as any in the state at linebacker. Add in the play of Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC , Dakota Jordan Dakota Jordan 6'1" | 215 lbs | DL Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC , AJ Johnson and Landon Danley Landon Danley 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC 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. Jonah Norris Jonah Norris 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Lexington | 2023 State SC 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 Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC (1,717 yards, 18 TDs) and the talented duo of Kamadi Maxwell Kamadi Maxwell 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Lexington | 2023 State SC and Jarrod Mewborn. Defensively, Christian Sexton Christian Sexton 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC and Montrell Byrd Montrell Byrd 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC 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 Breylon Boyd Breylon Boyd 6'0" | 205 lbs | QB Ridge View | 2024 State SC 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 Marcus Kelly Marcus Kelly 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Ridge View | 2023 State SC (1,051 yards) to hand the ball to and the duo of Zion Agnew Zion Agnew 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2023 State SC and Adonis McDaniel Adonis McDaniel 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2023 State SC to throw too. McDaniel transferred from AC Flora during the summer. David Matthews, Myles Jevon Brown Myles Jevon Brown 6'4" | 205 lbs | LB Ridge View | 2024 State SC , Josh Saddler and Kenneth Jackson have been standouts on defense for the Blazers.
Markel Townsend Markel Townsend 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2023 State SC 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 Ben Holmes Ben Holmes 6'7" | 285 lbs | OL AC Flora | 2023 State SC , Kendarious Kinard and Alexander Koutrakos. Carew Bates Carew Bates 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH AC Flora | 2023 State SC has completed over 73% of his passes and he has talented wideouts in Chris Lofton Chris Lofton 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2023 State SC and Jack Purdy Jack Purdy 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR A.C. Flora | 2023 SC . Defensively, look for the Falcons to rely on Eric McClain, Mason Little, Albert Perkins, John Friday, Ryan Biggerstaff Ryan Biggerstaff 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB AC Flora | 2024 State SC , Andre Thomas and Braxton 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 Amarii King have been his top targets this season. Adis Jamison, Denard White and Christopher Brown have led the Raiders defense.
Riley Staton Riley Staton 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2024 State SC 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, Zai Offord Zai Offord 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC and Savion Smith. Caleb Ford Caleb Ford 5'10" | 215 lbs | RB Cardinal Newman | 2025 State SC and BJ Montgomery lead the rushing attack. Justin Pauling Justin Pauling 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC , Jordan Robinson, Kaine Williams Kaine Williams 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC , Blake Croft and Zeb 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 Kayshaun Schumpert Kayshaun Schumpert 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Whitmire | 2025 State SC on offense. Trey Brewer, Wyatt Harsha and Dylan Satterwhite will lead the defense.
Caleb Pearson Caleb Pearson 5'8" | 170 lbs | ATH CA Johnson | 2024 State SC (1,180 yards) and Dawan Rice lead an explosive CA Johnson attack. Defensively, Nigel Leak, Terrell Hopkins and Tavian Mitchell are the leading tacklers.