Week 1 Midlands Games To Watch

Week 0 saw its share of highly anticipated matchups throughout the Midlands.   Ridge View, Gray Collegiate and Irmo were among the teams picking up strong road victories to open the season. Meanwhile, defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork got a reality check in their lopsided loss to nationally ranked Colquitt County (Ga.).   Week 1 will see which teams can either maintain or regain momentum in some more marquee non-region games:   Crestwood at Gray Collegiate   Arguably the Midlands Game of the Week features two teams ranked in their respective classifications who both opened the season with 49-21 victories.   In the case of the second-ranked War Eagles over defending Class A champion Christ Church, it was mostly about the ground game. [player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='Brian' last='Montgomery'] rushed for 300 yards and four touchdowns boosted upfront by the play of his all-state offensive line [player_tooltip player_id='1359251' first='Zeb' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1001124' first='JT' last='Sowell'].   Both sophomore quarterbacks - [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Dre'Von' last='Dopson'] - shared time in the game. They combined for 156 yards, 129 by Dopson, and two touchdowns.   Defensively, linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='997269' first='Kaine' last='Williams'] led the way with eight solo tackles and 10 assists and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware'] had nine solo tackles and eight assists. Taylor was equally problematic on the defensive line with two forced fumbles and two sacks and [player_tooltip player_id='91353' first='Jamarious' last='Lockett'] (pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='997302' first='Justin' last='Pauling'] both collected an interception in the secondary.   Gray Collegiate's defense will get tested against the Knights and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin'] - who threw for 180 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 53 yards and three scores against Richland Northeast.   "He is a special talent," Gray coach Adam Holmes said. "He can make all the throws and is athletic enough to hurt you with his feet. He has some playmakers out wide. We are going to have to play sound on defense to keep him at bay."   The Knights will need another solid game from his offensive line in protecting Martin and opening running lanes for Azarian Rice. Wide receivers Khalil Moody and [player_tooltip player_id='1012863' first='Jeremie' last='Richardson'] will be challenged by Gray Collegiate's experienced secondary with Lockett, Pauling, [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158010' first='Zion' last='Job'].   “They make you defend the entire field,” Crestwood head coach Roosevelt Nelson said. “Very good players. The offensive line works very well together in running their track. Their defensive line is very disruptive. The linebackers show up often, and the secondary is athletic with ball hawks.”   Spartanburg at Dutch Fork   Win or lose, expect Silver Foxes head coach Tom Knotts to give a candid, frank and direct answer on his team.   He didn't mince words following this past Saturday's 48-17 loss to nationally ranked Colquitt County. The loss snapped Dutch Fork's 42-game road winning streak, which dated back to 2015, when it also suffered its last season-opening loss under Knotts.   "We're struggling," Knotts said. "We got…handed to us Saturday against a great football team. Colquitt's really comparable to St. Francis (who defeated Dutch Fork 20-7 last year) and we went in there thinking that we were better than we are, and we found out we've got a lot of work to do. A lot of room to improve."   Of immediate concern is at quarterback, where Jon Hunt will miss the next six weeks with a broken collarbone. [player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] replaced Hunt and will look to improve on his 4-of-7 passing with one interception in relief last week.   Dutch Fork will also be missing a guard and the passing game could also be affected with wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='448992' first='Jacob' last='Hamilton'] - who is nursing a foot injury.   Despite giving up 488 total yards, Dutch Fork did have some individual standouts. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='492672' first='Tyler' last='Jones'] had a team-high 11.5 tackles and defensive back Peyton Butts collected two interceptions.   Spartanburg is 0-4 all-time against the Silver Foxes. This includes two losses last year, one during the regular season and another in the playoffs.   The Vikings are also coming off a 16-14 loss to South Pointe. Quarterback TJ Johnson was forced to scramble most of the night against the aggressive Stallions' defensive line and managed only a touchdown pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice'].   Spartanburg's only other score came on a blocked punt returned for a score by linebacker Christian Roberts. It hopes to fare better than the last visit, a 63-14 pasting in the third round of the Class 5A playoffs.   "I know we blew them out the last game," Knotts said. "That probably sits in their craw a little bit. But we're probably not what we were. They probably not what they were. So, we'll see what happens Friday night."   Ridge View at Sumter   The “Season of Redemption” began in strong fashion for the Blazers.   The 32-21 win over Blythewood saw sophomore wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron'] serve notice as a playmaker to watch the next three years. He caught five passes for 115 yards and three touchdowns as he displayed both his physicality and speed.   "Ridge View, wide receiver factory, right?" Ridge View coach Derek Howard said. "We've got a lot of good receivers. Jordon is special, with about four or five other special kids we got. [Last Friday] was his night and I'm proud of him."   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd'] settled in as starter, throwing for 185 yards. He will be supported upfront by center Joshua Ladd, Jay Barchue and Kyrie Squire and it appears Ridge View's running back corps is deeper than expected with [player_tooltip player_id='402483' first='Aidan' last='Keeffe'] and Siah Mack.   The Gamecocks rolled past Lakewood 53-8 in their season-opener. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='997237' first='Pate' last='Merchant'] threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns, all to wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1819514' first='Jamirh' last='Bey'] who was the recipient of five receptions for 120 yards.   Sumter running back [player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples'] added 76 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, junior lineman Jordan Lowery had a team-high eight tackles.   Brookland-Cayce at Airport   Since 2018, the Bearcats have won the last five meetings in their longstanding rivalry with the Eagles.   New Airport head coach Shane Fidler hopes to turn things around. Things got off to a positive start with a 36-2 win at Swansea to avenge last year's loss.   New Airport starting quarterback Jesse Hoover threw for 215 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 56 yards and a score. His primary target was wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1157959' first='Avery' last='Jones'], who had nine receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown.   How will the Eagles' offense fare this week against what head coach Rusty Charpia calls one of his biggest linemen group ever. How Appalachian State offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='771066' first='Dylan' last='Barbrey'] will fare against either [player_tooltip player_id='771089' first='Kamden' last='Sox'], Jacory Jones, O'Bryan Leaphart and Ah'tohn Ford will be an interesting watch.   Offensively, Brookland-Cayce will lean upon its rushing attack. Running back DeShaun Washington is coming off a 154-yard, 3-touchdown effort against Harding University. With the equally elusive [player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young'] at quarterback and a physical offensive line, look for the Bearcats to rack up the rushing yards.   Lancaster at Irmo   The last time Irmo quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] faced Lancaster, it was five months ago in a different sport.   It was at the Class 4A championship basketball game, when Brand scored 15 points at point guard in the Yellow Jackets' 58-45 win over the Bruins.   This Friday, he looks to put up numbers similar to what he did last week against Chapin. Brand threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 120 yards and a score in the 49-3 victory.   The game also marked the debut of transfers running back [player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix'] and [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] at receiver. Allen-Hendrix made the most noise, running over the Eagles' defense for 257 yards and two touchdowns. Murph had just four catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.   For all the offensive success, head coach Aaron Brand credited his defense with setting the tone. He believes their overall size advantage upfront with defensive linemen Mal Clay and [player_tooltip player_id='1146256' first='Xavier' last='Montgomery'] and [player_tooltip player_id='996940' first='Jylil' last='Favor'] at inside linebacker will be key to any success moving forward.   Lancaster looks to snap a seven-game losing streak dating back to last season. Head coach Marcus Surratt brings back a young group on the offensive and defensive line which only lost one starter.   Look for [player_tooltip player_id='1142778' first='Mikal' last='McCollum'] to try to pound away against the Yellow Jackets' defense.   The Bruins cannot afford a similar situation with Irmo as it did last week with Chester as [player_tooltip player_id='771067' first='Antonio' last='Hopkins'] was a one-man show with eight tackles, two sacks and a fumble returned for a touchdown.   CA Johnson at Trinity Collegiate   It's a South Carolina High School League vs. SCISA matchup in the Pee Dee area.   For the second straight week, the Titans (0-2) face a Midlands team. Last week, it was Cardinal Newman whose quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='589049' first='Duncan' last='Skehan'] threw for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-12 victory.   This week, Trinity Collegiate will attempt to slow down CA Johnson quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1142538' first='Caleb' last='Pearson']. The senior scored four touchdowns, three rushing and one passing, and also helped on defense in the 34-2 win over Columbia.   “I think we've got one of the most explosive players in the Midlands,” Hornets head coach Scotty Dean said during the preseason. “That guy can do it. He's got some good pieces around him.”   The Hornets returned Jeremiah Johnson and Emanuel Davis on the offensive line and [player_tooltip player_id='1360178' first='Keivonte' last='Bates'] will look to provide another option on offense.   Bates and Pearson also play in the secondary with Jaylen Miller and Tyshawn Grimes at the safeties. Angel Valez-Vann, Wendall Scott and Kwame Brooks start on the defensive line.   The Titans have started eighth-grader Cade Amell at quarterback with top senior [player_tooltip player_id='267473' first='Courtlyn' last='Brunson'] in the backfield. Brunson has rushed for 190 yards and two touchdowns in the first two games behind a senior offensive line with Gates Chapman and Jay Riddle.   AC Flora at Dreher   Both Richland School District One teams came out on the opposite ends of one-point games in Week 0.   The Blue Devils got a touchdown pass from Colby Fuller to Jayden Haygood with 1:12 left to defeat W.J. Keenan 26-25.   The Falcons rebounded from a slow start against Greenwood to score 16 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. They were unable to complete the comeback, losing 24-23.   Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] led the comeback with two touchdown passes. His main targets were wide receivers Riley Pegram, Braxton Murray and Colby Ridgell and running back Noah Kelson rushed for 108 yards and completed a 32-yard pass.   AC Flora has won the last five meetings against Dreher by an average margin of 54 points. If the Blue Devils are to end the streak, it must receive consistent play upfront on defense with Antonio Bailey and Charley Jeffcoat.   The Falcons will look for a quicker start while maintaining its consistent defensive effort. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='771227' first='Albert' last='Perkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='771222' first='Eric' last='McClain'] will be key along with the defensive line.

Week 0 saw its share of highly anticipated matchups throughout the Midlands.