Top Week 2 Games In The Midlands
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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. Gray Collegiate (2-0) at Hammond…
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Continue ReadingWeek 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.
Gray Collegiate (2-0) at Hammond (1-1)
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. Tyler Waller Tyler Waller 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Gray Collegiate | 2026 State SC has thrown for 267 yards while Dre’von Dopson has added 206 passing yards. Three receivers account for all the receptions. Jamarious Lockett Jamarious Lockett 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC has nine receptions for 274 yards and five scores. Zion Job Zion Job 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2025 State SC has 11 grabs for 127 yards while Zai Offord Zai Offord 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC has eight catches for 72 yards.
The ground game is averaging just at 300 yards per game with BJ Montgomery getting the bulk of the action. He has 30 carries for 387 yards and six touchdowns. Montgomery also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
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. Aiden Legger has the pick-6 and defensive back Justin Pauling Justin Pauling 6'1" | 180 lbs | DB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC is another menace to an offense.
Hammond will be battle-tested for SCISA action. Three players have taken significant snaps at quarterback – Robert Malunuk (130 yards passing) and Ben Kiser (94 yards passing), Charlie Allen (83 yards passing). Seven different players have caught passes with Daylin Haltiwanger Daylin Haltiwanger 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Hammond | 2026 SC (8 for 98 yards and Mike Tyler Mike Tyler 6'4" | 220 lbs | TE Hammond | 2025 State SC (7 for 66 yards) being the top two pass catchers. Manny Johnson leads the rushing attack with 175 yards.
Defensively, the Skyhawks limited Florence Christian to 15 total yards last week. Linebacker Will McQueen Will McQueen 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB Hammond | 2024 State SC has 21 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks already. Linebacker Brewer LaMotte is next on the team with 11 tackles and four tackles for loss.
Hough (NC) (1-1) at Dutch Fork (0-2)
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. Ethan Offing Ethan Offing 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Dutch Fork | 2026 SC has taken over at quarterback and he did have two interceptions, but the running game isn’t offering much help. Trent Lodge is the leading rusher, and he only has 89 yards in two games. Junior RB KJ Smith KJ Smith 5'7" | 170 lbs | ATH Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC could provide a spark.
Defensive back Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC 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 Bryce Nutall. The Silver Foxes have never lost three in a row under Tom Knotts.
Hough lost to Byrnes and defeated Myers Park (NC). The Huskies also struggle offensively, averaging just 255 yards per game. Trey Blakeney has thrown for 274 yards but has three interceptions and two touchdowns. Linebacker Anthony Walker is averaging seven tackles per game.
Keenan (0-1) at Richland Northeast (0-2)
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 Desmond Washington, who threw for 165 yards. Evan Artemus Evan Artemus 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB W.J. Keenan | 2024 State SC has 147 yards and two touchdowns in the single game. Tyheim McNeil was Washington’s favorite target with seven receptions for 120 yards. Defensive end Titus Bowman Titus Bowman 6'1" | 260 lbs | DL Keenan | 2025 State SC leads the way with 10 tackles.
The Cavaliers need to get on track and quickly. Junior QB Will Wilson Will Wilson 6'1" | 220 lbs | QB Richland Northeast | 2025 State SC (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 Mark’quelle Moser (6-foot-4, 365 pounds) can help that in the coming weeks. Safety Myles Pratt Myles Pratt 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Richland Northeast | 2024 State SC has played well on the back end of the defense, but he needs help from the front seven.
Lamar (1-1) at Airport (1-1)
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. Jesse Hoover can sling it around and he has a capable wide receiver in Avery Jones Avery Jones 5'11" | 175 lbs | WR Airport | 2025 State SC . Amari Lewis will try to get the ground game in gear behind offensive lineman Dylan Barbrey Dylan Barbrey 6'6" | 270 lbs | OL Airport | 2024 State SC .
Linebacker Bryant Cherry Bryant Cherry 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Airport | 2025 State SC will have to try to lead the defense back from allowing 45 points a week ago in a loss to Brookland-Cayce.
Lamar is going to line up and try to run the football. Michael McFadden, Alvion Ward, and Zoom Jackson Zoom Jackson 5'8" | 140 lbs | ATH Lamar | 2025 SC lead the way on the rushing attack. Linebacker Freddy Cruz leads a nice defensive front seven that will give the Eagles fits.
Lower Richland (1-1) at Ridge View (1-1)
This one could end up being explosive. Lower Richland has one of the best 1-2 punches in the backfield in QB Marcus Smith and RB Lamarion Pearson Lamarion Pearson 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB Lower Richland | 2024 State SC . 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. Jemarious Reaves has added 111 receiving yards.
Defensively, sophomore Ophir Hill Ophir Hill 5'7" | 195 lbs | LB Lower Richland | 2026 SC is averaging double figure tackles per game. Joshua Sims Joshua Sims 5'10" | 170 lbs | DB Lower Richland | 2024 State SC , Kyree Foster and Zaquon Brown are just behind Hill.
The Blazers played their second Class 5A school last week and struggled against a stingy Sumter defense. Breylon Boyd Breylon Boyd 6'0" | 205 lbs | QB Ridge View | 2024 State SC is averaging 209 yards passing a game and needs a big rebound game against the Diamond Hornets. Carter Colman and Jordon Gidron Jordon Gidron 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2026 State SC are two of the better sophomore receivers in the state. Siah Mack leads the ground attack.
Myles Brown tweaked an ankle late last week, but it will help if he can go this week. Mycah Cummings is a big-hitting defensive back that can support the run defense or play in coverage.
River Bluff (2-0) at Irmo (2-0)
Both teams have yet to be challenged this season with two easy victories each. Both offenses are averaging over 50 points per game. Parker Murray Parker Murray 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB River Bluff | 2025 State SC is averaging 155 yards a game passing and has four touchdowns this season, three of them to Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC . Trace Nettles is averaging 204 yards per game and has two of the seven rushing scores for River Bluff.
If the Gators hope to slow the Yellow Jackets offense, they will need big efforts from Hayden Cushman, Alonzo Singleton and Eric Johnson.
AJ Brand AJ Brand 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Irmo | 2025 State SC has been spectacular so far. The junior has 483 yards passing and eight touchdowns and has added 220 yards rushing and another two scores. Jaden Allen-Hendrix Jaden Allen-Hendrix 6'2" | 230 lbs | RB Irmo | 2024 State SC and Anton Jones combined for 485 yards rushing. Donovan Murph Donovan Murph 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Irmo | 2026 State SC and Caleb Alexander Caleb Alexander 6'0" | 180 lbs | TE Irmo | 2024 State SC are two of the better passing catching combos in the Midlands.
Jylil Favor Jylil Favor 6'1" | 215 lbs | LB Irmo | 2024 State SC and freshman defensive lineman Jaiden Bryant Jaiden Bryant 6'2" | 195 lbs | DL Irmo | 2027 State SC will be key if the Yellow Jackets can slow the Gators.