Week 6 Midlands Games To Watch
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For the most part, the preliminary stuff is over. The high school football season began on the weekend of August 18 and there have been several high-profile matchups during the past six weeks. It means a little more now. Teams…
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Continue ReadingFor the most part, the preliminary stuff is over. The high school football season began on the weekend of August 18 and there have been several high-profile matchups during the past six weeks.
It means a little more now. Teams begin the transition into region play and with that comes playoff implications. As the saying goes, records go out the window at this stage of the season. It’s how teams fare over the next five weeks that will determine their playoff seeding.
Here’s a look at some of the best games in the Midlands this week.
Chapin (5-1) at Lexington (4-1)
Chapin comes in on a five-game winning streak and has used the hot hand of quarterback Brady Albro Brady Albro 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Chapin | 2025 State SC so far. The junior has thrown for 1,579 yards with 15 touchdowns and just one interception. He’s completed 129-of-184 this season and five receivers with double digits in receptions.
Maddox Floyd and Kalen Bostick lead the way. Floyd is the possession guy with 35 catches for 304 yards and a team-best five touchdowns. Bostick is more of a big-play threat with 30 catches for 442 yards. Right behind Bostick is Jacob Nerone with 25 receptions for 327 yards. Weldon Gunter (11-168) and Jon Rossi (11-116). Eight different players have at least one touchdown reception.
Defensively, the Eagles have improved since allowing 48 points in the season-opening loss to Irmo. Gavin Stam has 47 total tackles with six tackles for loss and two sacks. Tanner Short (36 tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks) and Xavier Williams (33 tackles, six tackles for loss and five sacks) are next in line. Russell Gentry Russell Gentry 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Chapin | 2024 State SC (23 tackles), Griffin Burns (22 tackles), Lamont Johnson (19 tackles) and Anthony Turnbow Anthony Turnbow 5'11" | 180 lbs | ATH Chapin | 2025 SC (19 tackles) all have shined.
They will be facing a stingy defense in the Wildcats. They allow less than 16 points per game with a group of four linebackers that have speed to burn. Daniel Bryant, Montrell Byrd Montrell Byrd 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC , Christian Sexton Christian Sexton 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC , and Matthew McAulay Matthew McAulay 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Lexington | 2025 SC work well together and have some defensive lineman in the front that make it difficult to run. Dylan Bolin is a force and can get pressure off the edge.
Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC is the triggerman on offense, and he has a reliable receiver in Brandon Cromer Brandon Cromer 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Lexington | 2025 State SC . The duo Cam Morris and Tyler Chavis Tyler Chavis 6'2" | 145 lbs | K Lexington | 2024 SC handle the bulk on the rushing attack.
Lewisville (5-1) at CA Johnson (4-2)
It’s hard to talk about Lewisville and not talk about defense first. The Lions haven’t allowed a point since the fourth quarter of the season opener against Class 2A power Oceanside Collegiate. That is five straight games and 20 quarters of football.
The leaders of the defense have been a pair of linebackers – senior Joquan Howze and sophomore Daquan Evans. Howze leads the way with 74 tackles with Evans slightly back with 56 stops on the season. Junior Elisha Baker Elisha Baker 5'9" | 205 lbs | LB Lewisville | 2025 State SC has eight of the team’s 22 sacks. Defensive ends KJ Davis and Montre Fletcher each have four sacks.
When teams do find time to throw it, Jordan Strong Jordan Strong 5'8" | 150 lbs | ATH Lewisville | 2026 State SC has five interceptions and Howze has four picks.
Ian Grissom Ian Grissom 6'1" | 160 lbs | QB Rock Hill | 2025 State SC leads a Lewisville offense that is averaging 56.8 points per game during the five-game winning streak. The junior has thrown for 1,793 yards and 23 touchdowns with just three interceptions. His main three targets are De’adrian Robinson (17 catches, 460 yards and 7 TDs), sophomore Jacorreun Howze (23-483 and three scores) and Dion Brown Dion Brown 6'0" | 150 lbs | WR Lewisville | 2024 State SC (16-377 and five TDs). Damion Fee has 538 of the 785 rushing yards on the season.
But the Lions will have to try and stop the explosive Caleb Pearson Caleb Pearson 5'8" | 170 lbs | ATH CA Johnson | 2024 State SC for the Green Hornets. The senior has rushed for 1,185 yards and 14 touchdowns and thrown for 192 and has six receptions for 86 yards. Keivonte Bates is a bruiser of a runner and has added 515 yards on the ground and he’s thrown for 116 yards as well.
Defensively, Pearson and Bates will also be key as they start at cornerback. Safety Jaylin Miller will also have to play a huge role. Linebackers Sam Farmer and Jeremiah Miller must stay home and not let the run game of Lewisville hurt them, but they also need to help in the secondary. Defensive end Jadaelan Harper and lineman Angel Valez-Vann will try to put pressure on Grissom.
Portal Ga. (3-2) at Gray Collegiate (6-1)
Gray Collegiate is filling its schedule with out of state schools after all the teams from Region 4-2A elected to forfeit their games in a protest in what they perceive as a competitive advantage situation.
The War Eagles will host Portal out of Georgia this week after having a bye last week. The two-quarterback system of Tyler Waller Tyler Waller 6'0" | 180 lbs | QB Gray Collegiate | 2026 State SC and Dre’von Dopson continue to shine. They have combined to throw for 1,061 yards. Jamarious Lockett Jamarious Lockett 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC , Zion Job Zion Job 5'10" | 185 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2025 State SC , and Zai Offord Zai Offord 5'11" | 160 lbs | ATH Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC handle the bulk of that yardage. BJ Montgomery BJ Montgomery 5'9" | 175 lbs | RB Gray Collegiate | 2025 State SC (pictured) leads the ground attack with 608 yards.
The linebacker duo of Kaine Williams Kaine Williams 5'11" | 215 lbs | LB Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC and Michael Boulware Michael Boulware 6'2" | 200 lbs | LB Gray Collegiate | 2026 State SC each have over 60 tackles on the season. Zeb Taylor is next with 31 stops.
The Panthers also employ a two-quarterback system with Elijah Coleman Elijah Coleman 5'9" | 200 lbs | RB Clover | 2024 State SC and Brian McQueen splitting time. Coleman is more of s dual-threat option with 428 passing yards and a team-best 272 yards rushing. Samari McBride and Charles McNeal are the top two receiving targets. Chase Smith and Marcus Smith are the top two tacklers.
White Knoll (5-0) at River Bluff (5-1)
White Knoll comes in as statistically one of the top teams in the state. The Timberwolves defense has allowed just 36 points on the season and the closest contest was a 27-point win over Colleton County. Five players have over 20 tackles with Mondo Domenech leading the way with 26 tackles. Domenico Banks is next with 25 tackles and Shrine Bowl selection Jaiden Kimble Jaiden Kimble 6'1" | 190 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2024 State SC has 24 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. Those two are complimented by Connor Burgess Connor Burgess 5'9" | 195 lbs | LB White Knoll | 2025 SC with 22 tackles and Lincoln Ilunga Lincoln Ilunga 6'0" | 195 lbs | DL White Knoll | 2024 State SC , who has 21 tackles and 9.5 tackles for loss. Kimble and Ilunga each have three sacks.
Landon Sharpe Landon Sharpe 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB White Knoll | 2025 State SC is completing 75 percent of his passes in the Timberwolves hurry-up attack. He has 1,144 yards and 13 touchdown passes. His top two targets have been Evan Henderson (24 catches, 388 yards, 3 TDs) and Hasan Lee (17-290 and 4 TDs).
Tiyon Fanning Tiyon Fanning 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB White Knoll | 2027 State SC is a star in the making. The freshman running back has 373 yards and nine scores and is getting more and more comfortable each week. DJ Dingle and Sharpe each have over 159 yards on the ground.
River Bluff found a way to squeak out a win last week over Dorman after trailing for much of the contest. The Gators lean on a physical defense that is led by Alonzo Singleton with 40 tackles and nine tackles for loss. Griffin Lindler, Hayden Cushman, and Kameron Woodruff can all dominate at times.
After battling injuries last season, Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC is becoming a go-to offensive weapon. The junior has 25 catches for 407 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 109 yards rushing and four scores. He will be a matchup problem for anyone on the schedule.
Parker Murray Parker Murray 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB River Bluff | 2025 State SC hits 68 percent of his passes and has thrown for 919 yards and nine scores. Trace Nettles paces the ground game with 483 yards. But Darius Caine, Torian Leaphart, Jacob Pinkney and Hayden Myers all have over 100 yards rushing. Myers has missed two games but had 76 yards in the win over Dorman.
Strom Thurmond (3-2) at Batesburg-Leesville (2-3)
The Rebels come off a loss to Class 4A North Augusta, but they will look to get things going in a tough region. The Rebels will rely on a trio of receivers. Braylon Staley Braylon Staley 6'1" | 185 lbs | WR Strom Thurmond | 2024 State SC , a Tennessee commit, Demarius Tolen Demarius Tolen 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR Strom Thurmond | 2024 State SC and Jay Sewell Jay Sewell 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Strom Thurmond | 2025 State SC are as good as any trio in the state. They have combined for 76 receptions for 1,002 yards and eight touchdowns.
Senior Quan Edmond has the 918 passing yards with sophomore Bri’shaun Lee has thrown for 223 yards.
Defensively, Strom Thurmond is led by safety Tre Clarke with 32 tackles and linebacker Deonte Miller with 31 stops. Defensive end Darius Simpkins Darius Simpkins 6'4" | 225 lbs | DL Strom Thurmond | 2024 State SC and nose guard Nate Stephens are next with 27 tackles each.
The Panthers are looking to make noise behind a strong rushing attack. Amadre Wooden has 433 yards with Jayden Davis, Legend Tolen, Latrez Nicholson, and KD Whitt all have over 100 yards on the season.