Midlands Week 8 Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most coaches are secretly a superstitious lot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But when pressed to reveal their good luck charms, they will point to their top players who can reverse any on-field bad fortunes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With some teams playing on this Friday the 13th, here are those jinx-busters to watch in the Midlands for Week 8:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] </strong>WR, Richland Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the summer, head coach Walt Wilson pointed to the sophomore as a player with sure hands whose willingness to catching balls in the middle of the field makes him a valuable target for quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong>. After a career game against AC Flora, he faces a Lugoff-Elgin defense which allowed six points in their two wins.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17716221/6522dd90d468d80b7808973e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526fef696ff9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>John Allen Mower </strong>K, Brookland-Cayce</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On a team with impact players like quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young'] and running back<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='771218' first='DeShaun' last='Washington']</strong>, the 6-foot-3 senior kicker provides a level of comfort for the Bearcats' offense. He's a perfect 40-40 on PATs and has graded highly the past two seasons on field goals. Against an improved Dreher defense, Mower could be vital if Brookland-Cayce has to settle for non-touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15915484/6510dfc0d21c49052cc555f1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526fef69704c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> QB, Ridge View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The freshman (pictured) was spurred into action in the second half against undefeated Irmo. He showed resiliency in the line of pressure, a quick release and knowledge of the offense. If needed in place of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997121' first='Breylon' last='Boyd']</strong> again this week against Westwood, he should have more confidence throwing downfield to<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong> and <strong>Kennedy Thomas</strong> in the Region IV-4A matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacob Nerone </strong>WR, Chapin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior wideout has been a reliable target for quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro'], especially the past two games. He will be targeted by a Dutch Fork defense that has given up more big plays than previous seasons but also still has physical cornerbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1142809' first='Peyton' last='Betts'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15145664/64ea167da018a80a748b0c74' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526fef69708f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson'] </strong>RB, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Silver Foxes' offense has lacked a spark most of the season. The sophomore running back is capable of big plays, as seen with his kickoff return touchdown against White Knoll. He faces a Chapin team which has proven stingy against the run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15239653/6513979ed45e601788480c2b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526fef6970d2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526fef69710f"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6526fef697151"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson Rowe </strong>LB, Dreher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior strong safety has played an integral role in the Blue Devils' improved defensive play the past two games. He could find himself pared against the Bearcats' [player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young'] when he lines up at wide receiver during Friday's critical Region V-3A contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] </strong>RB, Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In just two weeks, the freshman has become a Player to Watch for 2027 with back-to-back 100-plus yard, three-touchdown games. It's yet another defensive challenge winless Orangeburg-Wilkinson will face this Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->