Week 7 Preview: Midlands Area

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Several key region battles are on tap this week. Everyone is getting into the heart of region play and there are only three weeks remaining in the regular season after this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 2A No. 6 Gray Collegiate (4-3, 3-0) at Class 2A No. 8 Fairfield Central (4-2, 2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one will go a long way in determining the Region 4-2A championship. Gray Collegiate will come in with an offense that is clicking in its four-game winning streak. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='119009' first='Riley' last='Staton']</strong> has thrown for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns. The running back tandem of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford']</strong> and <strong>BJ Montgomery</strong> has accounted for over 800 yards rushing. The wide receiver group is being led by <strong>Devin Johnson</strong> (521 yards, 8 touchdowns) <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord']</strong>, <strong>Savion Smith</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91353' first='Jamarious' last='Lockett']</strong>. Defensively, <strong>Jordan Robinson </strong>has over 100 tackles on the season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997302' first='Justin' last='Pauling'], </strong>Offord, and Johnson see action on defense. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fairfield Central has one of the best freshmen in the state in QB <strong>Cam McMillon</strong>. He has thrown for 1,714 and 20 TDs. <strong>TyDarian Greer, Donovan Watkins,</strong> and <strong>Jai Boyd</strong> each have over 400 yards receiving. Defensively <strong>JaShaun Manning, Stephano Gadsden, [player_tooltip player_id='91203' first='Stephon' last='Gadsden'], Amos Bell, CJ Sampson</strong>, and <strong>Jalian Yarborough </strong>each have recorded over 40 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richland Northeast (2-4, 1-0) at Class 4A No. 2 AC Flora (6-0, 1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A week ago, this one might not have shown up on the radar. Richland Northeast was on a four-game losing streak, but they played its most complete game of the season in a 20-14 victory over Irmo. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] </strong>threw for 117 yards and a TD and rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns in the win. But more importantly, the defense played its most complete game of the season. <strong>Jaquan Clark, Samson Sione </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208886' first='Myles' last='Pratt']</strong> must continue that play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A.C. Flora is averaging 48.5 points per game and has scored at least 28 points in each game this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202726' first='Markel' last='Townsend']</strong> has 1,009 rushing yards and 14 TDs on the year. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202733' first='Carew' last='Bates']</strong> is still playing at a high level. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202725' first='Chris' last='Lofton']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='409839' first='Jack' last='Purdy']</strong> have been more than capable at wide receiver. Defensively, <strong>Eric McClain, [player_tooltip player_id='997228' first='Ryan' last='Biggerstaff'], Mason Little</strong> and <strong>Albert Perkins</strong> have led a unit that has gotten better each week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 4A No. 6 Ridge View (5-1, 1-0) at Irmo (4-2, 0-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another key region battle. Ridge View has allowed 13 points in the last three games and on average has given up just over 9 points a game. <strong>David Matthews</strong> is the leader on that side of the ball with 49 tackles and has three sacks. But he has plenty of help from <strong>Kenneth Jackson, [player_tooltip player_id='448979' first='Myles' last='Brown'], </strong>and<strong> Josh Saddler</strong>. Offensively, <strong>David Tomlin</strong> has the Blazers clicking as well. He's thrown for 1,105 yards and 10 TDs. RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262703' first='Marcus' last='Kelly'] </strong>leads the ground attack with 707 yards and 8 scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202775' first='Zion' last='Agnew']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202731' first='Adonis' last='McDaniel']</strong> are more than capable big-threat wide receivers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Irmo suffered a loss last week to Richland Northeast and can't afford to start off region play 0-2. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> is back from injury and will have to start posting big numbers. <strong>Erick Tucker</strong> has been steady on the ground and has rushed for at least 100 yards in every game this year. Irmo is allowing just over 19 points per game but scoring just over 20 per contest. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Class 5A No. 8 River Bluff (6-1, 1-0) at Class 5A No. 4 Lexington (5-1, 1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The winner of this game will be in first place of Region 4-5A with just two games to play. It's a rivalry that should see a crowd over 6,000 on hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The teams are almost mirror images of each other. Each has a running back that has rushed over 1,000 yards - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443497' first='Cooper' last='Johns']</strong> with 1,088 and 15 TDs for River Bluff with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443502' first='Jonah' last='Norris']</strong> checking in with 1,171 yards and 15 scores for Lexington. Sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> has been steady in his first season as the varsity starter for River Bluff and has an explosive target in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']</strong> and a safety-net in TE <strong>Blaine Blose</strong>. Lexington counters with a more experienced QB in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208887' first='Taiden' last='Mines']</strong>. He also has a group of wide receivers led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443508' first='Kamadi' last='Maxwell'], Jarrod Mewborn, Tyler Floyd</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464895' first='Brandon' last='Cromer']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The names that will come up big on the defensive side of the ball for River Bluff include <strong>Toriaun Leaphart, Connor Clamp, Thomas Powell, Jonathon Cook, Kameron Woodruff,</strong> and <strong>Drew Surratt</strong>. The Wildcats will lean on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448988' first='Christian' last='Sexton'], Chris Frye, Brayden Woolbright</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997334' first='Montrell' last='Byrd']</strong> to try and slow the Gators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>White Knoll (6-1, 0-1) at Dutch Fork (5-1, 0-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the Region 4-5A opener for Dutch Fork with White Knoll not looking to fall into an 0-2 start after losing to River Bluff last week. Dutch Fork leads the all-time series 16-2.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Timberwolves had an early lead last week, but turnovers played a big factor in allowing River Bluff to make the comeback. They will have to protect the ball better against what is a very dangerous Dutch Fork defense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']</strong> has thrown for 16 touchdowns but also has 7 interceptions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336147' first='Jesse' last='Ross']</strong> has combined for over 800 all-purpose yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448995' first='Austin' last='Cunningham']</strong> has been Sharpe's favorite target. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142518' first='Demenico' last='Banks'], Marcus Domenech</strong> and <strong>Hayden Cushman</strong> have led a defense that has been good for most of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork has four regular season games remaining to figure out the QB situation. The Silver Foxes have six different players that have thrown a pass this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='44974' first='Aliam' last='Appler']</strong> should be back close to 100% with <strong>Jonathan Hunt</strong> also in the mix to take the bulk of the snaps. The good news is RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91136' first='Jarvis' last='Green']</strong> is healthy as well. The linebacker group is probably the best in the state – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='132398' first='Chandler' last='Perry'], [player_tooltip player_id='262678' first='Jaylen' last='Hinton'] </strong>and <strong>John</strong> <strong>Buetow </strong>have been great since game one. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262550' first='Landon' last='Danley']</strong> should be able to focus more time at safety and not filling in at QB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603727' first='Alex' last='Johnson']</strong> has been steady on the defensive front.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->