Week 8 Games And Players To Watch: CSRA

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After this week, there are only two weeks remaining in the regular season. Teams are vying for region titles and playoff spots. Here are some of the top games in the CRSA. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Airport (5-3, 1-1) at South Aiken (1-6, 0-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one might come down to who can make the biggest adjustments. South Aiken is coming off of a bye week, but the Thoroughbreds need to find a way to slow down teams. They are allowing 52 points per game and haven't allowed less than 34 points in any game this season. That will put a lot of pressure on the likes of linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797153' first='Garrett' last='Still']</strong> and defensive back <strong>Jalen Johnson</strong> to slow the Airport offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Terrance Smith</strong> has more than held his own offensively. The senior quarterback has thrown for 1,104 yards and ran for an additional 675 yards while accounting for 19 touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards']</strong> is a help in the ground attack with 381 yards and four scores. When Smith takes to the air, he has capable receivers in <strong>Malik Scurry</strong> (24 catches, 560 yards) and <strong>Ryan Lubeck</strong> (18-254).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jesse Hoover</strong> leads the Eagles attack. The senior quarterback has thrown for 930 yards and 10 touchdowns. His top two targets are <strong>Shiloh Perry</strong> (42-529 yards) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157959' first='Avery' last='Jones']</strong> (18-263). <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360401' first='Amari' last='Lewis']</strong> leads the rushing attack with 405 yards behind an offensive line that features <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771066' first='Dylan' last='Barbrey']</strong>. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry']</strong> has 97 tackles and <strong>Trey Neil</strong> has 79 stops with eight tackles for loss and five sacks. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In Airport's three losses, they've allowed an average of 53 points per game. In the five wins, they've only allowed 8 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Midland Valley (7-0, 1-0) at Aiken (0-7. 0-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs seemed to be kicking it into another gear in recent weeks. They've outscored the last two opponents 133-7. Any talk of the Midland Valley attack has to start with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar']</strong>. The senior RB has 1,409 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns. But <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272712' first='Preston' last='McNair']</strong> (pictured) has quietly rushed for 672 yards and 10 scores. Quarterback <strong>Preston Butler</strong> can keep defenses honest with 700 yards through the air. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267472' first='Antrone' last='Butler']</strong>, <strong>Evan Phillips</strong> and <strong>Torion Whiteside</strong> all have double digit catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272716' first='Andon' last='Hawkins']</strong> and <strong>Dominic Morgan</strong> are a pair of ball-hawking linebackers. They both have over 80 tackles for the Mustangs. <strong>Shawn Butler</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='141041' first='Jadyn' last='Simpkins']</strong> lead the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Green Hornets are still searching for their first win of the season. They've been better of late with a 2-point loss to Airport and a 16-point setback to North Augusta in the two region games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Terrell Lockett</strong> ran for 104 yards and a touchdown in the loss to North Augusta last week. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605528' first='Jameat' last='Williams']</strong> added 118 receiving yards and a touchdown. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Batesburg-Leesville (2-5, 0-2) at Fox Creek (1-5, 0-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one might go a long way in determining a playoff spot considering one win region last season got a team in.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a 34-28 loss to Silver Bluff last week, <strong>Tanner Watkins</strong> threw for 181 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers. They also received rushing scores from <strong>Legend Tolen</strong> and <strong>Jayden Davis</strong> along with a kickoff return TD by <strong>Amadre Wooden</strong>. It was the best offensive showing since mid-September when Batesburg-Leesville knocked off Newberry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Devonta Holmes</strong> has been a do-everything player for the Predators. He's thrown and ran for touchdowns as well as caught TD passes from <strong>Nathan Owens</strong>. They will need to find a way to get the ball in his hands after a 21-3 setback to Pelion last week. They have three points in the last two weeks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ridgeland-Hardeeville (3-4, 0-2) at Barnwell (4-3, 1-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Jaguars visit Barnwell on a two-game losing streak in which they only scored 25 points. They must get the ball into the hands of <strong>Wenson Smith</strong> and <strong>Xavier Plowdeniz</strong> to boost the ground attack. Receiver <strong>Jaquise Johnson</strong> is the biggest threat when the ball goes into the air. Plowdeniz will play a huge role defensively as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Warhorses have won three of four and that's been because of an improving offense.<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin']</strong> has 1,002 yards passing and 434 yards rushing. <strong>Logan Sturkie</strong> and <strong>Jaquan Peeples</strong> combined for 59 receptions and 783 yards. <strong>Jordan Peeples</strong> has added 281 yards rushing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254065' first='Lex' last='Thomas'] </strong>is one of the leading defenders from his linebacker spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denmark-Olar (4-3, 1-2) at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (6-1, 3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans bounced back from their first loss of the season with a 57-0 win over Williston-Elko last week. HKT has four shutouts this season. <strong>Jayshawn Smalls</strong> has been a big reason for that. The two-player standout is one of the top ball-carriers and plays defensive back as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings jumped to a 14-0 lead last week over Calhoun County but ended up with a 28-14 loss. <strong>Robert Bovain</strong> returned a fumble for a score and <strong>Tre Hinton</strong> threw a TD pass <strong>Terrance Hinton</strong>. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605527' first='Jaquel' last='Holman']</strong> RB, Blackville-Hilda – The Hawks have one of the top games in Class A this week when they travel to Calhoun County. Holman has 1,243 yards for Blackville-Hilda and the Hawks have 2,205 yards as a team. If the Hawks can use a strong run game to win this one, they will have beaten the top two contenders for the region title and will be undefeated with one game to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quan Edmond</strong> QB, Strom Thurmond – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208338' first='Braylon' last='Staley']</strong> gets lots of the headlines with is 41 catches for 710 yards and seven scores, but Edmond triggers the Rebels attack. He has 1,358 passing yards and 12 touchdowns with just one interception. A win this week against Pelion sets up a showdown with Silver Bluff next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91351' first='Jayden' last='Fuller']</strong> LB, Silver Bluff – The Bulldogs must go on the road against a Saluda team that is coming off a 48-3 loss to Strom Thurmond. Silver Bluff only allows just over 12 points a game and Fuller is a huge reason why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->