Top Week 2 Games In The Midlands

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 2 of the regular season provides several outstanding non-region games across the Midlands. There will be some teams looking to continue the early season momentum and more than a few looking for rebound performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gray Collegiate (2-0) at Hammond (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray Collegiate has come out of the gate with an explosive offense. They're averaging 55.6 points per game with a two-person rotation at QB. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller']</strong> has thrown for 267 yards while <strong>Dre'von Dopson</strong> has added 206 passing yards. Three receivers account for all the receptions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91353' first='Jamarious' last='Lockett']</strong> has nine receptions for 274 yards and five scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158010' first='Zion' last='Job']</strong> has 11 grabs for 127 yards while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord']</strong> has eight catches for 72 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ground game is averaging just at 300 yards per game with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery']</strong> getting the bulk of the action. He has 30 carries for 387 yards and six touchdowns. Montgomery also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the War Eagles are a ball-hawking bunch. They have three interceptions and a blocked punt with two defensive scores in the first two weeks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1317550' first='Aiden' last='Legger']</strong> has the pick-6 and defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997302' first='Justin' last='Pauling'] </strong>is another menace to an offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hammond will be battle-tested for SCISA action. Three players have taken significant snaps at quarterback – <strong>Robert Malunuk</strong> (130 yards passing) and <strong>Ben Kiser</strong> (94 yards passing), <strong>Charlie Allen</strong> (83 yards passing). &nbsp;Seven different players have caught passes with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267282' first='Daylin' last='Haltiwanger']</strong> (8 for 98 yards and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler']</strong> (7 for 66 yards) being the top two pass catchers. <strong>Manny Johnson</strong> leads the rushing attack with 175 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, the Skyhawks limited Florence Christian to 15 total yards last week. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='947684' first='Will' last='McQueen']</strong> has 21 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks already. Linebacker <strong>Brewer LaMotte</strong> is next on the team with 11 tackles and four tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hough (NC) (1-1) at Dutch Fork (0-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dutch Fork is reeling and it's coming on the offensive side of the ball. Last week in a 17-6 loss to Spartanburg, they tallied 268 total yards and turned it over three times. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> has taken over at quarterback and he did have two interceptions, but the running game isn't offering much help. <strong>Trent Lodge</strong> is the leading rusher, and he only has 89 yards in two games. Junior RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']</strong> could provide a spark.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones']</strong> is the leading tackler with 14 this season. He needs to get help from up front and that could come in the form of senior linebacker <strong>Bryce Nutall</strong>. The Silver Foxes have never lost three in a row under Tom Knotts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hough lost to Byrnes and defeated Myers Park (NC). The Huskies also struggle offensively, averaging just 255 yards per game. <strong>Trey Blakeney</strong> has thrown for 274 yards but has three interceptions and two touchdowns. Linebacker <strong>Anthony Walker</strong> is averaging seven tackles per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keenan (0-1) at Richland Northeast (0-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Keenan had a game canceled last week so they will look to rebound from an opening week one-point setback to Dreher. The Raiders have a solid set of skill players, headlined by quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington']</strong>, who threw for 165 yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1079020' first='Evan' last='Artemus']</strong> has 147 yards and two touchdowns in the single game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil']</strong> was Washington's favorite target with seven receptions for 120 yards. Defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253913' first='Titus' last='Bowman']</strong> leads the way with 10 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers need to get on track and quickly. Junior QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> (pictured) is committed to NC State, but he hasn't had the time to read defenses and make plays while facing a huge pass rush each week. Senior tackle <strong>Mark'quelle Moser</strong> (6-foot-4, 365 pounds) can help that in the coming weeks.  Safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208886' first='Myles' last='Pratt']</strong> has played well on the back end of the defense, but he needs help from the front seven.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lamar (1-1) at Airport (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Airport hopes to rebound against one of the best programs in Class A. The Eagles took it on the chin last week and need better consistency week to week. <strong>Jesse Hoover</strong> can sling it around and he has a capable wide receiver in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157959' first='Avery' last='Jones']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360401' first='Amari' last='Lewis']</strong> will try to get the ground game in gear behind offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771066' first='Dylan' last='Barbrey']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry']</strong> will have to try to lead the defense back from allowing 45 points a week ago in a loss to Brookland-Cayce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lamar is going to line up and try to run the football. <strong>Michael McFadden</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1462573' first='Alvion' last='Ward']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1250948' first='Zoom' last='Jackson'] </strong>lead the way on the rushing attack. Linebacker <strong>Freddy Cruz</strong> leads a nice defensive front seven that will give the Eagles fits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lower Richland (1-1) at Ridge View (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one could end up being explosive. Lower Richland has one of the best 1-2 punches in the backfield in QB <strong>Marcus Smith</strong> and RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771221' first='Lamarion' last='Pearson']. </strong>Smith has thrown for 327 yards and ran for another 74 yards. Pearson has 218 yards rushing in two games while also adding 107 receiving yards that included the game-winner last week. <strong>Jemarious Reaves</strong> has added 111 receiving yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267324' first='Ophir' last='Hill']</strong> is averaging double figure tackles per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771235' first='Joshua' last='Sims'],</strong> <strong>Kyree Foster</strong> and <strong>Zaquon Brown</strong> are just behind Hill.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers played their second Class 5A school last week and struggled against a stingy Sumter defense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd']</strong> is averaging 209 yards passing a game and needs a big rebound game against the Diamond Hornets. <strong>Carter Colman</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong> are two of the better sophomore receivers in the state. <strong>Siah Mack</strong> leads the ground attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Myles Brown</strong> tweaked an ankle late last week, but it will help if he can go this week. <strong>Mycah Cummings</strong> is a big-hitting defensive back that can support the run defense or play in coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>River Bluff (2-0) at Irmo (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both teams have yet to be challenged this season with two easy victories each. Both offenses are averaging over 50 points per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> is averaging 155 yards a game passing and has four touchdowns this season, three of them to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']</strong>. <strong>Trace Nettles</strong> is averaging 204 yards per game and has two of the seven rushing scores for River Bluff.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the Gators hope to slow the Yellow Jackets offense, they will need big efforts from <strong>Hayden Cushman,</strong> <strong>Alonzo Singleton</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1335423' first='Eric' last='Johnson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> has been spectacular so far. The junior has 483 yards passing and eight touchdowns and has added 220 yards rushing and another two scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix']</strong> and <strong>Anton Jones</strong> combined for 485 yards rushing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142759' first='Caleb' last='Alexander']</strong> are two of the better passing catching combos in the Midlands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996940' first='Jylil' last='Favor']</strong> and freshman defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong> will be key if the Yellow Jackets can slow the Gators.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->