Week 10 Lowcountry Games To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They circled these matchups in the summer, hoping to play them for a championship.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After 10-plus weeks of work, these Lowcountry teams will get their shot at a region title - and a coveted top playoff seed.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's look through one Lowcountry matchup in each SCHSL classification that will decide a region crown under the lights this Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Dorchester (6-2) at Summerville (9-0)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been looking forward to this one for a while, and we'll get it this Friday with the Region VII-5A title on the line. It's been a breakthrough season for the Summerville Green Wave with a high-powered offensive core leading the way. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings']</strong> has grown to another level as a passer, showing excellent consistency and production in the air to hook up with standout 1,000-yard receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771065' first='Yannick' last='Smith']</strong>. Senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589013' first='Trae' last='Green']</strong> has been the hot hand in the ground game coming off a 190-yard performance a week ago. The Green Wave will have to perform well up front, as <strong>Clayton Smith</strong> and tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249768' first='Keshon' last='Washington']</strong> will try to hold down a menacing Patriot defensive line led by <strong>Jayden Acevedo</strong>. Fort Dorchester could use a strong game from safety <strong>Jalen Hamilton</strong> with excellent quickness and closing speed to make tackles and disrupt passing plays. Fort Dorchester has picked up the offense as the season has gone along, getting excellent contributions from both quarterbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='976510' first='Bennett' last='Riffer'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142859' first='Charles' last='Watson']</strong>. They'll look to release electric wide receiver <strong>Mul-Ty Snider</strong> who has been lethal in space with the ball in his hands. The Green Wave will need its excellent linebacking core of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='227804' first='Jaidyn' last='Penix']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='140607' first='Kayden' last='Gaddist']</strong> to create havoc in the backfield and keep the Patriots behind the sticks as much as possible. <strong>Ryland Mitchell</strong> could provide a key presence at cornerback with his excellent reach and athleticism as he looks to slow down an always-dangerous Fort Dorchester passing offense.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>James Island (9-0) at Lucy Beckham (8-0)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They were on a collision course all season long, and now unbeaten James Island and Lucy Beckham will meet in Charleston on Friday for a thrilling Region VII-4A championship bout. The Trojans come in with a dynamic offense featuring efficient senior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91365' first='Braxton' last='Scott']</strong>. He's completed over 66 percent of his passes without turning the ball over, and he makes quick and instinctive decisions both running and throwing the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448987' first='Wushi' last='Ravenel']</strong> has become the most potent downfield playmaker in the region, and he's seeing time at both sides of the ball with his contagious energy and terrific catch radius. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605524' first='Amor' last='Scott']</strong> has become the Trojans' go-to producer in the backfield, but <strong>Junior Maxwell</strong> is also thriving as a complementary power back with growing explosiveness. Lucy Beckham's defense has been dynamite this year, led by a pair of powerful standouts on the line in <strong>Drake Bull</strong> and <strong>Jaiden Moore</strong> with senior veteran <strong>Jaiquan Evans </strong>backing them up at linebacker.<strong> Charles Byrd</strong> has been the sparkplug of a Bengals offense that runs through terrific tight end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302853' first='Bryce' last='Rothwell']</strong>. He's the heart and soul of his group and is starting to produce even more in the passing game while providing consistent blocking for his squad's rushing attack. The Bengal line will have to be at the top of its game against a stout James Island front of explosive defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson']</strong> and beastly 290-pound lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486418' first='Dalton' last='Woodall']</strong>. In what could be a physical battle between two strong defensive-minded units, the Bengals may have to rely on consistently-strong junior quarterback <strong>Chalmers Ballard</strong> to make quick and smart plays with his arms to move the chains. The winner will get a massive leg up as the region's top seed, and home-field advantage through at least the third round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Beaufort (6-3) at Hanahan (5-4)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Surprise, surprise, the Hanahan Hawks control their destiny heading into the final week of the Region VIII-3A schedule. After an emotional win well into the night hours last week, the Hawks can finish the job with a win over defending 3A champ Beaufort on Friday. Hanahan's offense goes as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91352' first='Kevon' last='Rivera']</strong> goes, and the senior standout got the better of an elite Philip Simmons core last week. But don't sleep on an Eagle defense with many standouts of last year's title squad. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809756' first='Will' last='Codding'] </strong>has pricked his monstrous play at linebacker right where he left off,&nbsp; and senior veteran <strong>Robert Johnson </strong>with a relentless effort on every play. <strong>Julius Hippensteel </strong>showed that he's capable of making clutch throws downfield for Hanahan, and he's got a corps of athletic wideouts who have risen to the challenge in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359150' first='Dru' last='Goldsmith']</strong> and <strong>Landon Gomes</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254143' first='Samari' last='Bonds']</strong> has found an extra spark with his quickness and maneuverability under center for the Eagles and can escape into the open field at a moment's notice. And Bryce Lybrand has found a power workhorse running back in senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025738' first='Jadyn' last='Andrews']</strong>, who has stepped right in and battled with his hard-nosed strength and burst through the hole. Hanahan's defense will need some more stops in what could be a high-scoring affair, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1059392' first='Jay' last='Meadows']</strong> should be the sparkplug at linebacker who will need to keep an eye on the quickness of Bonds at all times. <strong>Antwan Mitchell</strong> has been an underrated anchor at defensive end and will need to be on his game to shut down an always-dangerous Beaufort run game behind veteran offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589010' first='Adrian' last='Lamb']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Timberland (4-5) at Oceanside Collegiate (6-2)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We'll have a matchup for the Region VII-2A title on the line Friday night, as a powerhouse Oceanside Collegiate squad meets a Timberland side looking to pull off a major upset and claim the region crown. The Landsharks tested themselves early on through the year and have used that motivation to reach a new gear in the region play. The offense is led by dominant lineman <strong>Phen Johnson</strong>, who sets the tone for a balanced attack with experienced quarterback <strong>Edward Reidenbach</strong>. Oceanside's strength this year has been on defense with powerful lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139300' first='Ben' last='Britton']</strong>, who has racked up 41 total tackles including four sacks, 12 stops behind the line of scrimmage, and a forced fumble. They'll get an underrated reinforcement back in sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025774' first='Sawyer' last='Arnold']</strong>, who dominated with a mind-boggling 11 sacks in just five games. He'll add another layer to a high-flying defense averaging just under 12 points allowed per game. Timberland has impressed in a tough region, getting a tremendous boost from sophomore offensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473011' first='Desmond' last='Green']</strong> to power an explosive run game of <strong>Demarri Middleton</strong> and two-way standout <strong>Kavon Green</strong>. The Wolves will need to step up defensively to hang in this game, and they'll need a special effort from sophomore <strong>Shamarion Bynum</strong> who will be tasked with neutralizing a dangerous Landsharks run game. It should be a fantastic battle at the line of scrimmage to decide the champion of a tight region race in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bamberg-Ehrhardt (8-1) at Whale Branch (7-0)</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Whale Branch head coach Jerry Hatcher knew that Region VII-1A would come down to this last week. And the Warriors will get a chance to host it this Friday as they face Bamberg-Ehrhardt in a top-10 matchup. It's been a workmanlike season so far for the Warriors, who have established a hard-nosed ground game led by dynamic quarterback <strong>KJ Chisholm</strong> and breakout running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='997381' first='Darrell' last='Cummings']</strong>. And with the improved play of fledgling sophomore passer <strong>Jermon Bowers</strong>, we could see Chisholm line up out wide in passing situations. His eye-popping athleticism and reach to make plays on the football make him tough to beat both at wideout and defensive back. Hatcher's defense has been a well-oiled machine this year, led by a tenacious <strong>Bradford Thompson</strong> on the line and versatile playmaker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='579278' first='Alonzo' last='Allen'] </strong>who can win with his alert quickness or impressive physicality. The Red Raiders have the horses to compete defensively, with reliable 288-pound nose guard <strong>Yzorian Washington </strong>(19 TFL, 5 SCK) and explosive linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142485' first='Jamie' last='Downing']</strong> (24 TFL, 5 INT, 3 FF). They'll look to set up a dynamic Bamberg offensive attack, with an underrated quarterback in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby']</strong> (98/143, 1,922 yards, 14 TD, 3 INT) who has produced in the clutch with excellent mechanics and poise. He'll need a good showing from tackle <strong>Jarvis Logan</strong> to give time to hook up with quick and reliable wideout <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='998689' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson']</strong> (38 rec, 684 yds, 3 TD) and 6-foot-1 standout and dynamic threat <strong>Nigel Myers </strong>(28 rec, 363 yds, 5 TD). An agile threat who can produce in the run game and make defenders miss in the open field, Downing (456 rush yds, 6 TD, 15 rec, 216 rec yds,  2 TD) is skilled on offense as well and could be the defining factor on both sides in this region-title bout.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->