Week 4 Games To Watch: Upstate
In this article:
There are a couple of huge matchups in the Upstate this week, including a game that could be a playoff preview, a cross-classification heavyweight fight, a huge rivalry, and a rematch of one of last year’s best game. Here’s a…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere are a couple of huge matchups in the Upstate this week, including a game that could be a playoff preview, a cross-classification heavyweight fight, a huge rivalry, and a rematch of one of last year’s best game. Here’s a look at some of this week’s best games.
Chapman (3-1) at Clinton (4-0)
These former region rivals have made a habit of playing recently, as this will be the teams’ fifth meeting since 2020, including playoff games. And it’s usually a pretty good barometer of what the 3A playoffs might look like down the road.
The Panthers come in after correcting course following a loss to Boiling Springs. Last week, they blasted Laurens behind the play of QB Coleman Gray Coleman Gray 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Chapman | 2024 State SC . Gray had more than 300 yards of offense, including a 22-of-26 night through the air for 219 yards and four scores, with 10 carries for 90 yards and another TD. Matthai Scott and Keanu Na power the Panthers’ running game, and rushed for nearly 200 and a score last week. Rashawn Cunningham Rashawn Cunningham 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Chapman | 2024 State SC is Chapman’s main target, but Hudson Moss is emerging as a strong second option and Shamon Black Shamon Black 5'9" | 165 lbs | DB Chapman | 2025 State SC is contributing more every week.
Defensively, the Panthers are solid at all three levels, but Harrison Bridges stands out up front, while Reece Lynch is a problem at LB.
Clinton is still operating out of the pistol-spread formation, but the Red Devils are throwing it a little more, and they’re doing it well. Tushawan Richardson Tushawan Richardson 6'0" | 165 lbs | QB Clinton | 2025 State SC was 8-for-10 last week, which might look modest until you consider it came with 182 yards and three touchdowns. One of those scores went to all-around standout Zay Johnson Zay Johnson 6'2" | 170 lbs | DB Clinton | 2024 State SC , who also plays defensive back and returns kicks. On the ground, the Red Devils are doing what Clinton has done – four guys carried the ball last week, nobody gained more than 60 yards, everybody gained more than 30, and they averaged nearly seven yards per carry. That starts up front with guys like C Rion Gordon Rion Gordon 5'10" | 240 lbs | OL Clinton | 2025 State SC , who is also a standout at defensive end.
Northwestern (2-1) at Gaffney (3-1)
Finley Polk Finley Polk 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2025 State SC might be the best QB that nobody’s talking about. He’s quietly put together a season that already includes nearly 800 yards passing and 10 touchdowns in just three games this season. Last week, in a win over Nation Ford, nine different Northwestern receivers caught passes. Mix in the unbelievably talented Turbo Richard Turbo Richard 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Northwestern | 2024 State SC at RB, and the Trojans are loaded on offense. They had a huge defensive night last week against the Falcons, too, as Mason Grier led the way with six total tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack. The Trojans had five total sacks and knocked away five passes, Jammar Perry Jammar Perry 5'8" | 140 lbs | DB Northwestern | 2024 State SC grabbed an interception, and Jayce Joseph blocked a punt in the shutout win.
The Indians are rounding into form in a big hurry. After a season-opening shootout loss to Crest, Gaffney demolished Union County, then got back-to-back tough wins over South Pointe and Mallard Creek. Offensive balance has been the key for the Indians, with sophomore Jaiden McDowell Jaiden McDowell 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gaffney | 2026 State SC looking every bit like one of the best backs in the state, QB Riley Staton Riley Staton 6'3" | 185 lbs | QB Gaffney | 2024 State SC slinging the ball around to a bunch of receivers, and Emazon Littlejohn Emazon Littlejohn 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Gaffney | 2024 SC turning into a touchdown machine. Defensively, the LB tandem of Clay Cook Clay Cook 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB Gaffney | 2025 State SC and Andrew Ruppe Andrew Ruppe 6'1" | 220 lbs | LB Gaffney | 2025 State SC lead the way.
J.L. Mann (4-0) at Greenville (2-2)
The rivalry might be the best between schools in Greenville County, with the student bodies competing to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity through the years. Now, though, the intensity has moved to the football field thanks to leaps and bounds in Mann’s program under coach Scoot Watson.
The Patriots are off to a blazing, 4-0 on the heels of last year’s successful campaign. They’re averaging well over 40 points per game, they’ve allowed just 27 total, and they’ve shut out two opponents. Mann is led by a pair of dynamic offensive players. Mikel McClellan Mikel McClellan 5'9" | 165 lbs | WR JL Mann | 2024 State SC lines up a bunch of places for Mann and is a game-changer with the ball in his hands. QB Ethan Anderson Ethan Anderson 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB JL Mann | 2024 State SC missed a couple of games in the first month of the season with an injury, but returned last week and absolutely torched Easley for 319 yards and four TDs. When you add Keyshun Henderson Keyshun Henderson 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR JL Mann | 2025 State SC as a complementary threat to McClellan and the hard-nosed running of Obadiah Jones, the Patriots are tough to deal with.
The Red Raiders have been without all-everything ATH Mazeo Bennett Mazeo Bennett 6'0" | 170 lbs | ATH Greenville | 2024 State SC since he left the Byrnes game with an injury two weeks ago, but didn’t have a whole lot of trouble offensively in last week’s blowout win over Mauldin. KD Mosely stepped up with a 100-yard receiving night, QB Bryson Drummond Bryson Drummond 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Mountain View Prep | 2025 State SC threw for 140 on a short night, and the Red Raiders rushed for 243 yards as a team.
The other side of the ball is where Greenville will shine as the season goes on. Jayden Wilson-Abrams Jayden Wilson-Abrams 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Greenville | 2024 State SC , Bruce Knauber Bruce Knauber 6'2" | 295 lbs | DL Greenville | 2024 State SC , and Jamarion Jefferies are leading the way up front, with Ramani Bruton Ramani Bruton 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC , Christian Henderson Christian Henderson 5'8" | 160 lbs | DB Greenville | 2025 State SC , and Raymone Whitner patrolling the secondary.
Powdersville (2-2) at Hillcrest (4-0)
This was one of the best games in the Upstate a year ago, with Hillcrest taking a 37-35 victory. The casts have changed significantly, but this is still a game loaded with talent.
Powdersville is led by senior QB Eli Hudgins Eli Hudgins 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Powdersville | 2024 State SC , a four-year starter who’s just as dangerous with his legs as with his arm. Elijah Huggins Elijah Huggins 5'7" | 165 lbs | ATH Powdersville | 2025 State SC provides a deep threat and is a serious concern in the return game, where he had nearly 150 return yards and a touchdown last week. Jayden Pepper Jayden Pepper 5'10" | 170 lbs | RB Greenville | 2024 SC and Brandon Waldrop provide a one-two punch from the backfield, totaling nearly 280 yards rushing a week ago, while Harrison Jeffries Harrison Jeffries 6'2" | 205 lbs | LB Powdersville | 2024 State SC leads the defense.
Avery McFadden Avery McFadden 5'10" | 175 lbs | WR Hillcrest | 2024 State SC is the sparkplug for Hillcrest, and he does a little bit of everything. Last week, he scored all three of Hillcrest’s touchdowns in a 21-6 win over Boiling Springs, in which he played receiver, running back, short-yardage QB, corner, and returned kicks. Kalab Sutton Kalab Sutton 6'3" | 175 lbs | QB Hillcrest | 2025 State SC directs the Rams’ offense, and is electric on the move, while Bryce Rainwater Bryce Rainwater 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC leads a big, physical offensive line. Defensively, DJ Henderson DJ Henderson 5'10" | 205 lbs | DL Hillcrest | 2025 State SC is a monster, and had a huge game in last week’s win. Tyson Moses Tyson Moses 5'11" | 200 lbs | LB Hillcrest | 2024 State SC is a big hitter who plays with nearly constant intensity for the Rams.