Most Intriguing Midlands Week 0 Matchups

It's time. The long summer wait is over. It means something.     The bulk of the state will open their respective seasons this Friday night. Everyone is even right now. That will change quickly, and weekly as new teams emerge and some fall back to the pack. Honestly, if you can't be excited now, how are you expected to be engaged in September, October and November?   The Midlands area offers seven games that caught our attention. It's early but look at these seven key matchups.   AC Flora at Greenwood   AC Flora reached the Class 4A semifinals last season before they ran into South Florence and a guy named LaNorris Sellers. The Falcons lost several starters from that team but seem to be reloaded.   AC Flora will be breaking in all new starting skill guys on the road in the season opener. Heath Moser will likely be the starting quarterback with Noah Kelson and [player_tooltip player_id='272714' first='Aiden' last='Mosley'] getting the bulk of the carries. Aidan Sauls will be a key at tight end. Kendall Bryd, [player_tooltip player_id='1592441' first='Charlie' last='Scott'] and Soloman Kelson will have to replace the production at wide receiver.     The Falcons defense will carry the load early. [player_tooltip player_id='771227' first='Albert' last='Perkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='771222' first='Eric' last='McClain'] are as good a tandem at linebacker as you will find. [player_tooltip player_id='997228' first='Ryan' last='Biggerstaff'] will be a three-year starter in the secondary and big things are expected of Javaire Dubose. The front will be led by [player_tooltip player_id='917533' first='Tracy' last='Borden-Bryant'].   Greenwood is rebuilding from a 5-7 campaign that included a 38-20 loss to the Falcons in the season opener. The Eagles are expected to start between seven to nine sophomores this season.   Quarterback Kaleb Burton has moved to wide receiver. That has left a three-man battle for the starting quarterback position. Zion Hawkins will be a big receiving target for whoever wins the job. Tank Gary returns at running back.   The Eagles will be young defensively but have an experienced leader in linebacker Deterrious Gary.   Christ Church at Gray Collegiate   This is an early season matchup with teams that have state championship aspirations. Christ Church is the defending Class A champion and Gray Collegiate is ranked No. 2 in the Class 2A preseason poll.   The Cavaliers will rely heavily on running back [player_tooltip player_id='267466' first='Dashun' last='Reeder'], a Northwestern commit. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior ran for 2,157 yards last season and an eye-popping 42 touchdowns. He runs physically and can also run away from defenders.   Christ Church will have a new quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1013068' first='Tucker' last='Hendrix']. He has drawn rave reviews in his preseason work and the hope is that projects to the regular season. He will have plenty of receiving weapons at his disposal in [player_tooltip player_id='1012637' first='Jackson' last='Repp'] (41, 905 and 12 TDs), Luke Baumhofer, and Matthew Covington.   That group will challenge a Gray Collegiate defense that should be one of the best in Class 2A. Defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1001124' first='JT' last='Sowell'], Jeb Taylor and [player_tooltip player_id='1359229' first='Trequan' last='Singleton'], linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware'] and Blake Croft will try to slow Reeder and the running game. Defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord'] (recently committed to SC State) and [player_tooltip player_id='997302' first='Justin' last='Pauling'] will try to slow the Cavaliers passing attack.   Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='997188' first='Jake' last='Good'] will lead the Christ Church defense that allowed just over 15 pointers per game last season. Running backs [player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='Brian' last='Montgomery'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford'] lead the War Eagles offensive attack.   Prince Avenue Christian (GA) at Hammond   The Skyhawks, the six-time defending SCISA state champions, will open the season with highly regarded Prince Avenue Christian out of Georgia. The teams played last season with the Wolverines claiming a 39-3 victory.   Quarterback Aaron Philo is back to lead Prep Avenue Christian after throwing for 4,598 yards. His top three receivers each had over 1,000 yards but they all graduated. He's committed to Georgia Tech. Running back Mac Bradley is another weapon. Defensive lineman Christian Garrett has offers from Florida and Georgia among others.   Hammond is still sorting out the quarterback spot but whoever wins the job has proven weapons. [player_tooltip player_id='1575317' first='Immanuel' last='Johnson'] is back at running back and receiver Michael Tyler (pictured) has an offer from Cincinnati. [player_tooltip player_id='947684' first='Will' last='McQueen'], Brewer LaMotte and [player_tooltip player_id='1360106' first='Zay' last='Mathis'] will lead the young Skyhawks defense.      Richland Northeast at Crestwood   How about this QB battle for a season opener? Crestwood's [player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin'] and Richland Northeast's [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] will do battle in what will surely be a high-scoring affair.   Martin and Wilson are two of the more highly regarded signal callers in the state – Martin for the 2024 Class and Wilson in the 2025 Class. Wilson has already committed to NC State while Martin is hoping for bigger offers with another huge season.   Martin, who is 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, threw for 2,845 yards and 34 touchdowns a season ago. Wilson threw for 1,795 yards and added 705 yards rushing to account for 28 touchdowns.   But as good as those two are, it might be the surrounding cast that determines the outcome. Crestwood will turn to a new crop of receivers that include Kyle Mitchell, [player_tooltip player_id='1012586' first='Jahiem' last='Jones'], [player_tooltip player_id='1012863' first='Jeremie' last='Richardson'] and Jaydis Mitchell. Azarion Yates will be counted on at running back.   The Knights offensive line should be solid with Conner Speller-Snell and Santigo Jaimes leading the way.   Defensively, Crestwood will lean on defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='589017' first='Javion' last='Lammie'], defensive back Khalil Moody and defensive lineman Donald Kegler.   The Cavaliers will have a talented group returning as well. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1142696' first='James' last='Willingham'] had a successful season a year ago and receivers Enosh Philippe, Adrian Jamison, Dillon Hugee and [player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] returnas well.   Up front, RNE has a veteran group led by Joshua Jones, Rashard Pickert and Tyler Wilson.   Defensively, Wilson will expect safety [player_tooltip player_id='208886' first='Myles' last='Pratt'] and linebackers Tylon Shell and Jason Nash to help improve a unit that allowed 33 points a game last year.   Ridge View at Blythewood   Nearby rivals will start the season just as they did a season ago. Ridge View won that one 21-14 but it was later overturned as a forfeit when it was ruled the Blazers used an ineligible player.   The Blazers will have a lot of new faces, including QB [player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd'], who has played sparingly over the course of the last two seasons but has the controls this season. Francis Aiken will be one of the running backs and sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron'] will likely be the go-to receiver. Joshua Ladd will anchor the offensive line that must deal with the Bengals highly thought of defensive front.   Ridge View will count on linebackers Myles Brown and [player_tooltip player_id='728148' first='David' last='Matthews'] as well as defensive back Mycah Cummings on defense.   Blythewood is stout defensively, allowing just 11 points a game last season that included three shutouts. Former defensive coordinator James Martin is now the head coach.   [player_tooltip player_id='771091' first='Edward' last='Robinson'] racked up an eye-popping 25 sacks from his defensive line spot last season. [player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders'] is another guy up front to keep your eye on. Secondary guys Trevon Williams and Jaylen Tyler are big hitters as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='440461' first='Harrison' last='Collins'] is back at quarterback. His top target might be [player_tooltip player_id='804333' first='Kaleb' last='Kelly'].   West Florence at Lexington   A couple of ranked teams will kick-off the season when the Class 4A Knights travel to face the Wildcats, a team in the top 10 of the Class 5A preseason poll.   West Florence lost the bulk of their offensive production from an 11-2 team last year but have ample replacements in quarterback Keyshawn Johnson and transfer running back [player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard']. Sophomore receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1639826' first='JayAun' last='Perkins'] has star potential written all over him.   Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='208334' first='Kelvin' last='Hunter'] gets the headlines for the Knights defense. He is a South Carolina commitment and plays with a vicious streak. He had 19 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles a season ago. [player_tooltip player_id='443495' first='Franklin' last='Emerson'] and Brody Cook bring a toughness from their linebacker spot. A name to keep an eye on is a transfer from Alabama – sophomore Romelo Patterson.   Lexington should be motivated after a subpar performance in the Lexington One Sportsarama last week. Coach Dustin Curtis hopes he got everyone's attention with a fiery postgame speech after the Wildcats were shutout.   The Wildcats have options. [player_tooltip player_id='208887' first='Taiden' last='Mines'] is back as a three-year starter at quarterback. He threw for 2,772 and 29 scores last season. His top receiving options have graduated but [player_tooltip player_id='464895' first='Brandon' last='Cromer'] and Torie Jones will be asked to fill in the void. Tight end Cam Sutton will also be an option.   Defensively, Lexington is big and physical. Defensive lineman Montrell Bryd and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='448988' first='Christian' last='Sexton'] are the first names that come to mind. Dylan Bolan will also be a key along the defensive front.   Dutch Fork at Colquitt (GA)   Dutch Fork travels to a Class 7A power in Georgia – Colquitt County. The Packers went 13-1 a season ago and features two of the top 10 recruits in the state of Georgia in tight end Landen Thomas (Florida State) and receiver Ny Carr (Georgia).   The Silver Foxes in turn will turn to a host of unknowns. Record-breaking running back Jarvis Green is at Clemson now and it might be a committee that replaces him. Trenton Lodge, Trey Starks and [player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson'] will all get a shot at the No. 1 spot. Jonathan Hunt has the inside track to start at quarterback but don't count out [player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']. Receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='448992' first='Jacob' last='Hamilton'] should be the top targets. Joshua Benson is the top offensive lineman.   Defensively, it will also be a group of new faces. [player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones'] is a big-play safety that should lead the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] will look to fill one of the linebacker spots. [player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions'] is a top cover corner with [player_tooltip player_id='1142746' first='Dakota' last='Jordan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='771217' first='Terrance' last='Wells'] returning on the defensive line.

It's time. The long summer wait is over. It means something.