Most Intriguing Midlands Week 0 Matchups
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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…
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Continue ReadingIt’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 Aiden Mosley Aiden Mosley 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2025 State SC getting the bulk of the carries. Aidan Sauls will be a key at tight end. Kendall Bryd, Charlie Scott and Soloman Kelson will have to replace the production at wide receiver.
The Falcons defense will carry the load early. Albert Perkins Albert Perkins 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB AC Flora | 2024 State SC and Eric McClain Eric McClain 5'9" | 195 lbs | LB AC Flora | 2024 State SC are as good a tandem at linebacker as you will find. Ryan Biggerstaff Ryan Biggerstaff 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB AC Flora | 2024 State SC will be a three-year starter in the secondary and big things are expected of Javaire Dubose. The front will be led by Tracy Borden-Bryant Tracy Borden-Bryant 6'1" | 280 lbs | DL Irmo | 2025 SC .
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 Dashun Reeder Dashun Reeder 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2024 State SC , 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 Tucker Hendrix Tucker Hendrix 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Christ Church | 2025 State SC . 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 Jackson Repp Jackson Repp 5'8" | 160 lbs | WR Christ Church | 2025 State SC (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 JT Sowell JT Sowell 6'4" | 255 lbs | OL Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC , Jeb Taylor and Trequan Singleton, linebackers Michael Boulware Michael Boulware 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Gray Collegiate | 2026 State SC and Blake Croft will try to slow Reeder and the running game. Defensive backs Zai Offord Zai Offord 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC (recently committed to SC State) and Justin Pauling Justin Pauling 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC will try to slow the Cavaliers passing attack.
Linebacker Jake Good Jake Good 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Christ Church | 2024 State SC will lead the Christ Church defense that allowed just over 15 pointers per game last season. Running backs BJ Montgomery BJ Montgomery 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gray Collegiate | 2025 State SC and Caleb Ford Caleb Ford 5'10" | 215 lbs | RB Cardinal Newman | 2025 State SC 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. Immanuel Johnson is back at running back and receiver Michael Tyler (pictured) has an offer from Cincinnati. Will McQueen Will McQueen 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Hammond | 2024 State SC , Brewer LaMotte and Zay Mathis will lead the young Skyhawks defense.
Richland Northeast at Crestwood
How about this QB battle for a season opener? Crestwood’s Javion Martin Javion Martin 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Crestwood | 2024 State SC and Richland Northeast’s Will Wilson Will Wilson 6'1" | 220 lbs | QB Richland Northeast | 2025 State SC 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, Jahiem Jones Jahiem Jones 6'1" | 180 lbs | TE Crestwood | 2025 State SC , Jeremie Richardson Jeremie Richardson 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Crestwood | 2025 State SC 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 Javion Lammie Javion Lammie 6'3" | 275 lbs | DL Crestwood | 2024 State SC , defensive back Khalil Moody and defensive lineman Donald Kegler.
The Cavaliers will have a talented group returning as well. Running back James Willingham James Willingham 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Richland Northeast | 2024 State SC had a successful season a year ago and receivers Enosh Philippe, Adrian Jamison, Dillon Hugee and Blake Betette Blake Betette 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Richland Northeast | 2026 State SC returnas well.
Up front, RNE has a veteran group led by Joshua Jones, Rashard Pickert and Tyler Wilson.
Defensively, Wilson will expect safety Myles Pratt Myles Pratt 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Richland Northeast | 2024 State SC 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 Breylon Boyd Breylon Boyd 6'0" | 205 lbs | QB Ridge View | 2024 State SC , 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 Jordon Gidron Jordon Gidron 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2026 State SC 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 David Matthews David Matthews 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB Ridge View | 2024 State SC 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.
Edward Robinson Edward Robinson 6'0" | 230 lbs | DL Blythewood | 2024 State SC racked up an eye-popping 25 sacks from his defensive line spot last season. Sterling Sanders Sterling Sanders 6'4" | 305 lbs | DL Blythewood | 2025 State SC is another guy up front to keep your eye on. Secondary guys Trevon Williams and Jaylen Tyler are big hitters as well.
Harrison Collins Harrison Collins 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Blythewood | 2024 State SC is back at quarterback. His top target might be Kaleb Kelly Kaleb Kelly 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Blythewood | 2024 SC .
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 Tre Leonard Tre Leonard 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB West Florence | 2025 State SC . Sophomore receiver JayAun Perkins has star potential written all over him.
Defensive back Kelvin Hunter Kelvin Hunter 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB West Florence | 2024 State SC 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. Franklin Emerson Franklin Emerson 6'0" | 220 lbs | ATH West Florence | 2024 State SC 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. Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC 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 Brandon Cromer Brandon Cromer 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Lexington | 2025 State SC 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 Christian Sexton Christian Sexton 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC 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 Maurice Anderson Maurice Anderson 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC 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 Ethan Offing. Receiver KJ Smith KJ Smith 5'7" | 170 lbs | ATH Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC and Jacob Hamilton Jacob Hamilton 5'9" | 180 lbs | WR Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC should be the top targets. Joshua Benson is the top offensive lineman.
Defensively, it will also be a group of new faces. Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC is a big-play safety that should lead the way. Josh Smith will look to fill one of the linebacker spots. Elgin Sessions Elgin Sessions 6'0" | 175 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC is a top cover corner with Dakota Jordan Dakota Jordan 6'1" | 215 lbs | DL Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC and Terrance Wells Terrance Wells 6'3" | 230 lbs | DL Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC returning on the defensive line.