Week 9 Preview: York and Lancaster Counties

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Only two weeks remain in region play and there are teams that are playing for playoff positioning and others that are simply playing for pride. Let's jump into this week's games:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Catawba Ridge (8-0 overall, 3-0 region) at Indian Land (5-3 overall, 1-2 region)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Catawba Ridge made quick work of Lancaster last week, scoring 60 points and taking advantage of multiple turnovers. <strong>Tyler Fikis </strong>is continuing to grow as a passer, as he can find the open man and allow them to do the rest. He has talent around him, which includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262619' first='Tyler' last='Jones'] </strong>who ran for two touchdowns and runs extremely hard.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Land will need to win and get some help in the region, as they've dropped two in a row. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139305' first='Jaden' last='Singletary'] </strong>is an impressive two way player, who had a scoop and score to get the Warriors on the board last week in the loss to South Pointe. But can the offense find their footing with <strong>Myles Stinson </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='340396' first='Jaxon' last='Scheidt']?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clover (4-4 overall, 2-1 region) at Fort Mill (0-8 overall, 0-3 region)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clover was held to a season low 7 points in a region loss to Blythewood. But they have the opportunity to get back on track this week across the Catawba River. The explosive trio of <strong>Jaylon Hoover, Dion Brown </strong>and <strong>Hunter Jaime </strong>will look to outrun the Yellow Jacket defense, while <strong>Cooper Zohner, </strong>who nearly had a pick six last week and <strong>Omari Davis </strong>will lead the defense for the Blue Eagles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets fell in another heartbreaker last week, this time to Spring Valley. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='471358' first='Isaiah' last='Haynes'] </strong>and <strong>Dylan Schaefer </strong>have been one of the bright spots for the offense, and they'll need to have another big night if they want any chance of pulling the upset.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northwestern (7-1 overall, 3-0 region) at South Pointe (6-2 overall, 2-1 region)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the game of the night in the area, and one that many will have their eyes on the state. For Northwestern, it's simple. Win and you set up a winner take all region championship against Catawba Ridge next week. But South Pointe has other plans. The Trojans have been rolling with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'], [player_tooltip player_id='265222' first='Turbo' last='Richard'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146372' first='Elijah' last='Caldwell'].&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stallions will look to put a complete game together offensively with <strong>Malachi Marshall </strong>and <strong>Caleb Sims. </strong>Look for them to utilize the quick game with <strong>Demari Kendrick </strong>against the Trojan defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blythewood (6-2 overall, 3-0 region) at Rock Hill (2-6 overall, 1-2 region)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood will be a handful to handle defensively Friday and heading into the playoffs. <strong>Edward Robinson </strong>broke the single season sack record as he currently has 22 in the ‘22 season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders'] </strong>is another guy to keep your eye on on the defensive front for the Bengals. Offensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='440461' first='Harrison' last='Collins'] </strong>and <strong>Deon Tyler </strong>connected on the long ball twice and will look to keep that connection going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Hill should compete in every game, and a lot of that has to do with the skill talent on offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson'] </strong>and <strong>Brandon Watson </strong>are a solid duo at the quarterback and running back position. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997363' first='Landon' last='Armstrong'] </strong>and <strong>Justice Foster </strong>are two guys who affect the quarterback and will look to make life hard for Collins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nation Ford (2-6 overall, 1-2 region) at Spring Valley (4-4 overall, 2-1 region)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91150' first='Carson' last='Black'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575429' first='Josh' last='Ameo'] </strong>connected three times for touchdowns in a confidence boosting win over Rock Hill last week. Look for <strong>AJ McCollum </strong>to see action on Friday in the run game for the Falcons. <strong>Ja'Derrick Foster </strong>is an enforcer in the secondary and will light up the receiver over the middle.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of tackling and making plays defensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146359' first='Evan' last='Javis'] </strong>has <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/10/week-8-game-balls-midlands-area-2/">been all over the place for the Vikings </a>and there's no reason to believe that won't continue Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>York (4-4 overall, 0-3 region) at Lancaster (3-5 overall, 0-3 region)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams need a region win and have had a tough last few weeks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208367' first='Ayden' last='Davis'] </strong>and <strong>Javarus Gutherie </strong>are the two bright spots for the Cougars offensively. Both combined for 208 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lancaster will have to avoid the costly turnovers that got them in trouble last week in their blowout loss to Catawba Ridge. They'll look to get the run going with <strong>Mikel McCollum </strong>and <strong>JaRon Stevenson.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->