What And Who To Watch: GSPD Week 4

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Right about this time every year, teams realize they've hit or are about to hit the midway point of the regular season and wonder if they've got what it takes to position themselves well for the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four key non-region games and a whole bunch of players, then, are trying to do their part to raise the bar.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From a Class A showdown to one of South Carolina's biggest games of the week, the Grand Strand and Pee Dee are gearing up for a huge Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johnsonville (2-1) at Latta (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After the Week 0 shocker against North Central, Johnsonville has responded nicely with lopsided wins over Green Sea Floyds and Waccamaw. Now, it's time for one of those Class A showdowns as the Flashes head to Latta. Johnsonville quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997242' first='Malik' last='Shippy']</strong> will be leading a talented offense that also includes tailbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997329' first='Neal' last='Martin']</strong> (321 yards, four touchdowns) and Zaghe Davis (352 yards, three touchdowns), and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996857' first='Travis' last='Wilson']</strong> (118 yards, three touchdowns) to town. What will be waiting for them is one of the most dynamic tailbacks in the state so far this year. [player_tooltip player_id='996926' first='Jamarion' last='Jones'] has already rushed for 795 yards and 13 touchdowns while averaging an absurd 14.5 yards per carry. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1142797' first='LaBron' last='Cobb'] (671 combined passing-rushing yards, nine touchdowns) has been nearly as electric. Whomever wins this game will have known they earned it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Philip Simmons (4-0) at Aynor (2-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want to see what a game full of nine in the box looks like at least to start? Both of these teams are predicated upon their commitment to the run, with Philip Simmons more than comfortable leaning on tailbacks [player_tooltip player_id='589051' first='KJ' last='Asbury'] (644 yards, eight touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='997204' first='Sharod' last='Williams'] (587 yards, nine touchdowns). The two powerful backs have combined for seven 100-yard games already. Meanwhile, Aynor's normally productive rushing attack has taken a step back - but the Blue Jackets' standards, as least - but shouldn't be considered futile by any means. Aynor's Hammer offense has accounted for 764 yards and nine touchdowns in its first three games, with 12 different players having already recorded a carry. The top rushers? Quarterback <strong>Rivers Johnson</strong> (171 yards, one score) and running backs <strong>Cole Johnson</strong> (149 yards, three touchdowns) and <strong>Matthew Kerby</strong> (142 yards, four touchdowns).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ashley Ridge (3-0) at St. James (2-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Swamp Foxes might have had a coaching change, but this hot start isn't anything this team didn't think was possible. Thanks to receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589052' first='Derrick' last='Salley']</strong> and his big night (160 yards, four touchdowns) against Cane Bay in August, Ashley Ridge took out its toughest foe over the first three weeks of the season. He and sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz']</strong> have clearly clicked, and it's opened up opportunities for freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036782' first='Jagger' last='Spivey']</strong> to start making some headway early in his career. St. James, then, is going to have to create some pressure against the Swamp Foxes' massive offensive line. Safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1146273' first='Ryan' last='Largin']</strong> (29.5 tackles, one tackle for loss), defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997347' first='Josh' last='Sterling']</strong> (22.5 tackles, one sack) and linebacker <strong>Issiah Brown</strong> (20.5 tackles, one interception) are the best bets to make that happen.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Irmo (3-0) at Hartsville (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With these two teams both parked inside the top six of the Class 4A poll, it's yet another high-profile game for a Red Foxes' team that has made the most of its first two. While the Hartsville offense turned it on after halftime in the come-from-behind win over Dillon, a lot of the credit for the win needed to be given to a defense that included excellent performances from safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272699' first='Da'Marion' last='Coe']</strong> (14 total tackles) and linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578873' first='Coleman' last='Radcliff']</strong> (10.5 tackles) and <strong>Xavier Robinson</strong> (nine tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble). Those three better be ready yet again with high-profile Yellow Jackets' quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] (687 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 272 rushing yards, three scores) and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix'] (555 yards, three touchdowns) rolling into Kellytown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PLAYER NOTABLES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996900' first='Kito' last='Douglas']</strong> DL, Wilson - If the Tigers are going to stop the proverbial bleeding and get things on track prior to the start of region play, Douglas is probably the high-impact player capable to changing things in a hurry. Against Darlington, Wilson would love nothing more than to see Douglas (pictured) in the backfield over and over, disrupting plays and preventing those back-breaking drives that opponents have been putting up over the course of three consecutive losses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff']</strong> QB, Loris - The Lions haven't had much help creating a rhythm despite a pair of wins to open the year - thanks to a weather-related cancellation against South Columbus (N.C.) and then the scheduled off week. The key to this offense, though, is undoubtedly Huff getting up to full speed sooner rather than later. Four straight quarterbacks have found varying degrees of success against the Conway defense, and Huff needs to keep that string going.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chatham Walters</strong> LB, Waccamaw - Say this for the Warriors' players: They're getting test after test during this non-region slate. The next foe, Andrews, is coming off yet another monster running night and if this game is going to stay competitive, Walters - Waccamaw's leading tackler - is going to need to be on point.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->