Week 6 Games & Players To Watch: Catawba River

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things will begin to heat up on Friday night as the all important region schedule kicks off. If you win, you set yourself up for solid positioning in the playoffs. Lose? And you're looking for help from other teams. This week provides a solid slate:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>York (4-1) at Indian Land (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game was an instant classic in York last year with the Warriors <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2022/09/what-we-saw-indian-land-surges-late-to-defeat-york/">winning a nail biter with a goal line stand</a>. Could the 2023 edition provide similar results?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Land is led by quarterback <strong>Jaxon Schiedt </strong>who has lots of young talent surrounding him, including <strong>Camdin Portis </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris']</strong>. Morris can go up and make the contested catches and should be an interesting challenge for the Cougars. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771063' first='Timir' last='Hickman-Collins'] </strong>at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>York is led by the multiple threat of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208367' first='Ayden' last='Davis'] </strong>who can play quarterback, receiver and defensive back. He'll be accompanied by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771226' first='Javarus' last='Guthrie'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267449' first='Debo' last='Hall'], </strong>both of whom can make plays when they get into the open field. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589053' first='DeMaurion' last='Stewart'] </strong>and <strong>Bryson Steele </strong>on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Pointe (3-2)</strong> <strong>at Catawba Ridge (1-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The non-region schedule has been tough for Catawba Ridge but they'll have a chance to right the ship against a team they beat last year in Rock Hill. Both of these teams have had two weeks to prepare for their first region matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Copperheads appear to have found their quarterback in <strong>DJ Latimer. </strong>He has skill players around him like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] </strong>and <strong>Jordan Gilliam</strong>, but they will need to avoid the penalties that have plagued them in recent weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Pointe is led by quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771038' first='Malachi' last='Marshall'] </strong>and has a stable of running backs to hand the ball off to, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012612' first='Aidan' last='Turner'], </strong>who has run for 288 yards and 3 touchdowns so far as well as <strong>Mason Pickett-Hicks, </strong>who has run for 339 yards and 1 touchdown<strong>. </strong>The Stallions will be a load for anyone to deal with defensively, headlined by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139304' first='Chris' last='Dixon'] </strong>with 9 sacks and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown']</strong> with 8 sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clover (3-2) at Nation Ford (2-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clover is on a hot streak right now, winners of 3 straight as region play begins. The running game for the Blue Eagles has been the catalyst as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone'] </strong>ran for 172 yards on 29 carries <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/09/what-we-saw-clover-36-boiling-springs-21/">last week against Boiling Springs</a>. Combine that with quarterback <strong>Jaylon Hoover</strong>, who is a dynamic player who can make things happen with his feet. He threw for 176 yards and 2 touchdowns, both of which went to <strong>Isaac Allen. Deontae Starr </strong>led the team in tackles with 6 tackles last week. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997351' first='Jayden' last='Bryant'] </strong>is a sure threat at defensive end with 27 tackles on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nation Ford enters region play after dropping a close one to Richland Northeast 41-38. <strong>Kaden Barnette </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575429' first='Josh' last='Ameo'] </strong>will be two guys to watch on offense while <strong>Mitchell Ladamus </strong>and <strong>Zay Neely </strong>will be two guys to watch defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spring Valley (0-3) at Rock Hill (2-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rock Hill comes off a tough loss to rival Northwestern, but they are primed to bounce back against the Vikings at District 3 Stadium on Friday night. The Bearcats have a lot of speed at the skill positions, which begins with App State commit and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360412' first='EJ' last='Ratley'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark'] (pictured above) </strong>have been his consistent go-to targets and we have no reason to believe that won't continue on Friday. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997363' first='Landon' last='Armstrong'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='649189' first='Justice' last='Foster'] </strong>defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Notable Week 5 Games To Watch In The Catawba River Region</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwestern at Lancaster</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood at Fort Mill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central at Buford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chester at Woodruff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->