Week 7 Preview: Midlands Area
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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. Class 2A No. 6 Gray Collegiate (4-3, 3-0)…
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Continue ReadingSeveral 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.
Class 2A No. 6 Gray Collegiate (4-3, 3-0) at Class 2A No. 8 Fairfield Central (4-2, 2-0)
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 Riley Staton Riley Staton 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2024 State SC has thrown for 1,549 yards and 17 touchdowns. The running back tandem of Caleb Ford Caleb Ford 5'10" | 215 lbs | RB Cardinal Newman | 2025 State SC and BJ Montgomery has accounted for over 800 yards rushing. The wide receiver group is being led by Devin Johnson (521 yards, 8 touchdowns) Zai Offord Zai Offord 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC , Savion Smith and Jamarious Lockett Jamarious Lockett 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC . Defensively, Jordan Robinson has over 100 tackles on the season. Justin Pauling Justin Pauling 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC , Offord, and Johnson see action on defense.
Fairfield Central has one of the best freshmen in the state in QB Cam McMillon. He has thrown for 1,714 and 20 TDs. TyDarian Greer, Donovan Watkins, and Jai Boyd each have over 400 yards receiving. Defensively JaShaun Manning, Stephano Gadsden, Stephon Gadsden Stephon Gadsden 5'10" | 180 lbs | QB Fairfield Central | 2022 State SC , Amos Bell, CJ Sampson, and Jalian Yarborough each have recorded over 40 tackles.
Richland Northeast (2-4, 1-0) at Class 4A No. 2 AC Flora (6-0, 1-0)
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. Will Wilson Will Wilson 6'1" | 220 lbs | QB Richland Northeast | 2025 State SC 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. Jaquan Clark, Samson Sione and Myles Pratt Myles Pratt 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Richland Northeast | 2024 State SC must continue that play.
A.C. Flora is averaging 48.5 points per game and has scored at least 28 points in each game this season. Markel Townsend Markel Townsend 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2023 State SC has 1,009 rushing yards and 14 TDs on the year. QB Carew Bates Carew Bates 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH AC Flora | 2023 State SC is still playing at a high level. 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 have been more than capable at wide receiver. Defensively, Eric McClain, Ryan Biggerstaff Ryan Biggerstaff 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB AC Flora | 2024 State SC , Mason Little and Albert Perkins have led a unit that has gotten better each week.
Class 4A No. 6 Ridge View (5-1, 1-0) at Irmo (4-2, 0-1)
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. David Matthews is the leader on that side of the ball with 49 tackles and has three sacks. But he has plenty of help from Kenneth Jackson, Myles Jevon Brown Myles Jevon Brown 6'4" | 205 lbs | LB Ridge View | 2024 State SC , and Josh Saddler. Offensively, David Tomlin has the Blazers clicking as well. He’s thrown for 1,105 yards and 10 TDs. RB Marcus Kelly Marcus Kelly 5'9" | 165 lbs | RB Ridge View | 2023 State SC leads the ground attack with 707 yards and 8 scores. 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 are more than capable big-threat wide receivers.
Irmo suffered a loss last week to Richland Northeast and can’t afford to start off region play 0-2. QB AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC is back from injury and will have to start posting big numbers. Erick Tucker 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.
Class 5A No. 8 River Bluff (6-1, 1-0) at Class 5A No. 4 Lexington (5-1, 1-0)
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.
The teams are almost mirror images of each other. Each has a running back that has rushed over 1,000 yards – Cooper Johns Cooper Johns 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB River Bluff | 2023 State SC with 1,088 and 15 TDs for River Bluff with Jonah Norris Jonah Norris 5'11" | 200 lbs | RB Lexington | 2023 State SC checking in with 1,171 yards and 15 scores for Lexington. Sophomore Parker Murray Parker Murray 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB River Bluff | 2025 State SC has been steady in his first season as the varsity starter for River Bluff and has an explosive target in Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC and a safety-net in TE Blaine Blose. Lexington counters with a more experienced QB in Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC . He also has a group of wide receivers led by Kamadi Maxwell Kamadi Maxwell 5'11" | 165 lbs | WR Lexington | 2023 State SC , Jarrod Mewborn, Tyler Floyd and Brandon Cromer Brandon Cromer 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Lexington | 2025 State SC .
The names that will come up big on the defensive side of the ball for River Bluff include Toriaun Leaphart, Connor Clamp, Thomas Powell, Jonathon Cook, Kameron Woodruff, and Drew Surratt. The Wildcats will lean on Christian Sexton Christian Sexton 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC , Chris Frye, Brayden Woolbright, and Montrell Byrd Montrell Byrd 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC to try and slow the Gators.
White Knoll (6-1, 0-1) at Dutch Fork (5-1, 0-0)
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.
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. Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC has thrown for 16 touchdowns but also has 7 interceptions. Jesse Ross Jesse Ross 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2023 State SC has combined for over 800 all-purpose yards. Austin Cunningham Austin Cunningham 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH White Knoll | 2024 State SC has been Sharpe’s favorite target. Demenico Banks Demenico Banks 5'10" | 225 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC , Marcus Domenech and Hayden Cushman have led a defense that has been good for most of the season.
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. Aliam Appler Aliam Appler 6'4" | 205 lbs | QB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC should be back close to 100% with Jonathan Hunt also in the mix to take the bulk of the snaps. The good news is RB Jarvis Green Jarvis Green 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC is healthy as well. The linebacker group is probably the best in the state – Chandler Perry Chandler Perry 5'9" | 200 lbs | LB Dutch Fork High | 2023 State SC , Jaylen Hinton Jaylen Hinton 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC and John Buetow have been great since game one. Landon Danley Landon Danley 6'2" | 190 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2023 State SC should be able to focus more time at safety and not filling in at QB. Alex Johnson has been steady on the defensive front.