Week 4 Games to Watch: Lowcountry
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We circled a few weeks at the start of the 2023 season that could prove significant by the year’s end. Week 4 in the Lowcountry definitely fits the bill. With several cross-area matchups looming between quality sides, we’ll learn a…
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Continue ReadingWe circled a few weeks at the start of the 2023 season that could prove significant by the year’s end.
Week 4 in the Lowcountry definitely fits the bill.
With several cross-area matchups looming between quality sides, we’ll learn a lot more about which teams could make a serious run come November. Let’s check out some games to look out for this Friday night.
Berkeley (3-1) at Fort Dorchester (1-1)
The Fort Dorchester Patriots have had a lot of time to sit on a 41-0 loss at Georgia powerhouse Grayson. Now, two weeks later, they’ll play their first home game of the season on Friday against a gritty Berkeley team. We haven’t seen much of the Patriots in 2023 so far, but interim head coach Joshua Smith has instilled an extra spark to a unit that should be raring to go against the Stags. Fort Dorchester boasts a talented receiving corps led by Mul-ty Snider Mul-ty Snider 6'0" | 160 lbs | WR Fort Dorchester | 2024 State SC and an athletic 6-foot-3 Jalen Berry who can battle for and win jump balls against most high school defenders. Hybrid linebacker and defensive back Marcus Mood will look to use his excellent finesse and anticipation on defense to slow down efficient Berkeley quarterback Henry Rivers Henry Rivers 5'11" | 160 lbs | QB Berkeley | 2027 State SC , who’s thrown for 926 yards in four games with a 13-to-3 touchdown to interception ratio. Isaiah Palmer leads a run game that will look to complement a dynamic attack with Denzel Reid and Malachi Purdue anchoring a strong offensive line. Marcus Henderson Marcus Henderson 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB Berkeley | 2026 State SC has been a breakout star for the Berkeley Stags at linebacker with 42 tackles in four games and will be key in setting the tone defensively on the road.
Hilton Head (3-1) at Hampton County (4-0)
The much-anticipated cross-county showdown has arrived. Top-five 2A squad Hampton County, fresh off a thoroughly impressive 41-0 shutout win over C.A. Johnson, will host a much improved Seahawks team looking to build on a shutout of their own against Wilson. It’s a matchup between two standout running backs: Hilton Head’s Troy Timko Troy Timko 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Hilton Head | 2025 State SC (101 car, 543 yds, 6 TD) against red-hot Hampton County back Zion Dobson Zion Dobson 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Hampton County | 2024 State SC (54 car, 759 yds, 8TD). And both will have a challenge against two superb defenses. Hilton Head boasts excellent power and explosiveness with defensive lineman Shaikh Thompson Shaikh Thompson 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Hilton Head | 2024 State SC , while Hampton County has shined with big man Kavon Chisholm alongside outstanding linebacker Mandrell Sanders Mandrell Sanders 5'11" | 190 lbs | LB Hampton County | 2025 State SC who feasted a week ago in the backfield. This game could come down to which offense makes the fewest mistakes and executes the best in the red zone.
May River (2-1) at Beaufort (2-2)
One of the most impressive traits of Bryce Lybrand’s Beaufort teams is how his players respond to adversity. After a rough outing at Hilton Head, Samari Bonds Samari Bonds 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Beaufort | 2025 State SC put together possibly his best game so far as a Beaufort Eagle. He’ll need to be on that same level again taking on a May River defense that’s found another level of play the last two weeks. The key in this game lies with Beaufort’s defense, led by powerful linebacker Will Codding Will Codding 5'10" | 215 lbs | LB Beaufort | 2025 State SC and ball-hawking playmaker Dom Camacho Dom Camacho 5'10" | 160 lbs | DB Beaufort | 2024 State SC in the secondary. It’ll be a menacing test for May River quarterback Tanner Macy, who has shown his dual-threat abilities with a developing arm. But he’ll need some time in the pocket to make some plays happen, which could be difficult with Beaufort’s Jayden Simmons Jayden Simmons 6'0" | 225 lbs | DL Beaufort | 2026 State SC and Robert Johnson lurking in the trenches. The Eagles have the luxury of experienced offensive lineman Adrian Lamb Adrian Lamb 6'6" | 295 lbs | OL Beaufort | 2024 State SC and emerging running back Jadyn Andrews Jadyn Andrews 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Beaufort | 2024 State SC who has become the lead for Lybrand’s squad.
Bluffton (2-1) at Battery Creek (0-4)
Fresh off a strong home win, Bluffton will face off with a Battery Creek team seeking its first win of the year.
Owen Bayes
Owen
Bayes
6'3" | 180 lbs | QB
Bluffton | 2024
State
SC
threw for 377 total yards against Frederica Academy and could hit close to the number again this week with his stellar offensive playmakers in wide receivers
Brandon Bryant
Brandon
Bryant
5'11" | 165 lbs | WR
Bluffton | 2024
State
SC
and
Carnell Warren
Carnell
Warren
6'3" | 170 lbs | WR
Bluffton | 2026
State
SC
. But Jake Ridgway has also proven himself as a strong power back with the hustle to stay on his feet and break through tacklers, complementing the growing passing game. New Dolphin quarterback Chase Olsen is starting to figure it out in his sophomore year, and he’ll need some help from his offensive line to give him some time to hit his favorite target in senior wideout Juju Gordon. Shane Whittaker will have other plans on the Bobcat end, who has been a sensational breakout factor on the defensive line to support physical and explosive linebacker
Jeremiah Curry
Jeremiah
Curry
6'0" | 205 lbs | LB
Bluffton | 2024
State
SC
.