Week 10 Games To Watch: The Midlands
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Playoff positioning and region titles are on the line in the final week of the regular season. Drama and intrigue will be spread across the Midlands and when the dust settles late Friday night, the playoff picture will be clear.…
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Continue ReadingPlayoff positioning and region titles are on the line in the final week of the regular season. Drama and intrigue will be spread across the Midlands and when the dust settles late Friday night, the playoff picture will be clear.
Here is a look at some of the top players that will be key factors in determining the outcome.
Lexington (7-2, 2-1) at Dutch Fork (4-5, 2-1)
White Knoll has won the Region 4-5A title but there is a lot at stake in this one. The winner will have a home playoff game next week while the loser must travel.
Both teams play a stingy style of defense. Daniel Bryant, Christian Sexton Christian Sexton 6'0" | 195 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC and Montrell Byrd Montrell Byrd 6'1" | 185 lbs | LB Lexington | 2024 State SC leads a Lexington defense that is allowing an average of 16.4 points per game. Dutch Fork’s defense also has allowed 16.4 points per game with just 11 points allowed in the last two game. Deon Winsley Deon Winsley 6'3" | 190 lbs | LB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC , Jadon Cook, Bryce Nutall and Tyler Jones Tyler Jones 6'3" | 200 lbs | DB Dutch Fork | 2024 State SC have been consistently good and with the offense getting healthy, the Silver Foxes are a dangerous team heading into the postseason.
Offensively, Lexington must get a strong night from QB Taiden Mines Taiden Mines 5'11" | 180 lbs | QB Lexington | 2024 State SC , WR Brandon Cromer Brandon Cromer 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Lexington | 2025 State SC and RB duo of Matthew McAulay Matthew McAulay 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Lexington | 2025 SC and Sexton. Bryce Mitchell will be a key up front. QB Jonathan Hunt has returned from injury and Dutch Fork has scored 97 points the last two games. Hunt threw for 313 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 62 yards in the latest outing. WR Boone Miller Boone Miller 6'4" | 210 lbs | TE Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC had his best game last week with 165 yards on five receptions. Trent Lodge and Maurice Anderson Maurice Anderson 5'10" | 200 lbs | RB Dutch Fork | 2025 State SC handle the bulk of the ground attack.
AC Flora (4-5, 2-2) at Ridge View (7-2, 3-1)
Irmo has won the Region 4-4A championship, but AC Flora could create a 3-way tie for second place with a victory and a Richland Northeast win.
Coming into the season, the Falcons thought they had a defense that would stack up against anyone. But that group is allowing 33 points a game. The good news is they limited Lugoff-Elgin to just three points last week. Albert Perkins Albert Perkins 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB AC Flora | 2024 State SC , Eric McClain Eric McClain 5'9" | 195 lbs | LB AC Flora | 2024 State SC and Ryan Biggerstaff Ryan Biggerstaff 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB AC Flora | 2024 State SC will have to lead the effort against a balanced Blazers attack. Azel Benag had a pick-six last week. Myles Brown and David Matthews David Matthews 5'10" | 195 lbs | LB Ridge View | 2024 State SC have been key for the Blazers. Brown has 62 tackles with 16 tackles for loss. Matthews is at 59 stops and nine tackles for loss.
Offensively, QB Roper Wentzky Roper Wentzky 5'11" | 155 lbs | QB AC Flora | 2026 State SC and WR Kendall Byrd Kendall Byrd 6'1" | 160 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2026 State SC have been outstanding for an AC Flora offense that is averaging 33 points per game. Wentzky has thrown for 2,178 yards and 26 touchdowns while Byrd is nearing 1,000 yards receiving with 12 touchdowns on the season. Aiden Mosley Aiden Mosley 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2025 State SC has only played in three games but he’s over 400 yards rushing. QB Breylon Boyd Breylon Boyd 6'0" | 205 lbs | QB Ridge View | 2024 State SC triggers the Ridge View attack with 1,528 passing yards. His backup, Tre Howard Tre Howard 5'10" | 160 lbs | QB Ridge View | 2027 State SC , has added 848 yards passing. Carter Coleman Carter Coleman 5'11" | 165 lbs | ATH Blythewood | 2026 State SC , Jordon Gidron Jordon Gidron 6'2" | 185 lbs | WR Ridge View | 2026 State SC and Kennedy Thomas have combined for 1,600 receiving yards. Siah Mack will be the key to the ground attack.
Gilbert (9-0, 4-0) at Brookland-Cayce (7-2, 4-0)
No questions here, the winner claims first place in Region 5-3A.
This one has a chance to be an offensive explosion. Gilbert is averaging 44 points per game with Brookland-Cayce averaging 41 points per game. Drake Braddock Drake Braddock 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB Gilbert | 2024 State SC has thrown for 2,073 yards and 24 touchdowns for the Indians. Krew Morris Krew Morris 5'11" | 185 lbs | WR Gilbert | 2025 State SC (34 catches, 653 yards), Connor Gooding Connor Gooding 6'4" | 215 lbs | TE Gilbert | 2025 State SC , Matt Edwards and Chance Guthrie are his top targets. Freshman Trevon Williamson Trevon Williamson 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Gilbert | 2027 State SC has 662 yards and 12 rushing scores so far. Will Young Will Young 5'10" | 165 lbs | ATH Brookland-Cayce | 2024 State SC and Deshaun Washington lead the ground attack for the Bearcats. Either can take it to the house at any given time. QB Brogan Sox Brogan Sox 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Brookland-Cayce | 2026 SC is getting more comfortable each week.
The difference in this one might be on the defensive side of things. Gilbert is allowing 12 points per game while the Bearcats are giving up 18 points per game. Wynn Meetze Wynn Meetze 5'11" | 170 lbs | DB Gilbert | 2026 SC and Caleb Strese Caleb Strese 6'3" | 210 lbs | DL Gilbert | 2024 State SC have been solid all season Meetze has 95 tackles and four interceptions for the Indians. Brookland-Cayce will lean on An’Tohn Ford and Davion McGill-Boykin to try to slow Gilbert.
Fairfield Central (7-2, 4-1) at Newberry (5-4, 4-1)
Gray Collegiate won Region 4-2A. The winner of this one will claim second place and a home playoff contest.
Cameron McMillon Cameron McMillon 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Fairfield Central | 2026 State SC has not put up the numbers he did last season, but he’s still thrown for 1,511 yards and 16 touchdowns with just two interceptions for the Griffins. KJ Golden KJ Golden 6'2" | 175 lbs | WR Fairfield Central | 2024 State SC (30 catches, 472 yards and 7 TDs) is the top target with TyDarion Grier TyDarion Grier 5'9" | 170 lbs | WR Fairfield Central | 2025 State SC accounting for over 900 yards rushing and receiving. Bryce Satterwhite is the trigger person under center for the Bulldogs. He has big-time playmakers in Jamel Howse Jamel Howse 6'4" | 210 lbs | WR Newberry | 2026 State SC and Isiah Glymph.
Douglas McCloud is the leading tackler for Fairfield Central with Myles Robinson close behind.
River Bluff (5-4, 0-3) at Chapin (5-4, 0-3)
This one will determine the last guaranteed playoff spot from Region 4-5A. Both teams entered region play at 5-1 but lost all three region games. The biggest difference in the losses is the margin of defeat. Chapin lost its three games by a combined 47 points while River Bluff margin was 107 points in the three games.
Hayden Cushman has 63 tackles for the Gators with Griffin Lindler next with 59 tackles. Reese Lawrence has 12 tackles for loss. Garvin Stam has 85 tackles for the Eagles. Tanner Short is next with 61 tackles. Russell Gentry Russell Gentry 5'11" | 165 lbs | DB Chapin | 2024 State SC and Griffin Burns will also play large roles.
River Bluff will need a huge effort from QB Parker Murray Parker Murray 6'1" | 185 lbs | QB River Bluff | 2025 State SC (1,221 yards, 10 TDs) and WR Stephen Collier Stephen Collier 6'3" | 210 lbs | WR River Bluff | 2025 State SC (41 catches, 559 yards, five TDs). But if the passing game falters, the RB duo of Tourian Leaphart and Hayden Myers will have to pick up the slack. Brady Albro Brady Albro 5'10" | 190 lbs | QB Chapin | 2025 State SC has 18 touchdown passes and 2,201 yards for Chapin. His top targets are Jacob Nerone and Floyd Maddox.