Week 8 Players & Games To Watch: Catawba River
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There are some critical region matchups that will shape who the winner will be as we only have two weeks left. Let’s jump into the games and how they will make an impact: Blythewood (3-4, 1-1 region) at Clover (5-2,…
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Continue ReadingThere are some critical region matchups that will shape who the winner will be as we only have two weeks left. Let’s jump into the games and how they will make an impact:
Blythewood (3-4, 1-1 region) at Clover (5-2, 2-0 region)
Jaylon Hoover | QB | Clover
Hoover (pictured above) went a perfect 8-for-8 passing for 101 yards and a touchdown in the Blue Eagles’ 48-0 blowout win over Spring Valley. He will make the plays in the passing game when needed. He also ran 4 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. He can spread it out to different receivers like TJ McCluney, Carson Pinti and Brayden Woolbright.
Harrison Collins Harrison Collins 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Blythewood | 2024 State SC | QB | Blythewood
Collins can sling it around, but once you get inside the 10-yard line, he can also keep it himself and get it in on the ground, which makes him that much more difficult to defend. Keep an eye on Kaleb Kelly Kaleb Kelly 6'0" | 160 lbs | ATH Blythewood | 2024 SC as he caught a 90-yard touchdown pass from Collins last week in the heartbreaking 34-28 loss to Nation Ford.
Landon Stone Landon Stone 6'0" | 200 lbs | RB Clover | 2025 State SC | RB | Clover
The X-factor for the Blue Eagles is in the backfield. Stone came ten yards short of 200 yards last week against Spring Valley, finishing with 190 yards. He ran for 2 touchdowns. His season total so far? 1280 for 9 touchdowns.
South Pointe (5-2, 2-0 region) at Indian Land (4-3, 0-2 region)
Mason Pickett-Hicks | RB | South Pointe
Pickett-Hicks ran wild to the tune of 244 yards and 3 touchdowns in a tight 29-26 win over Lancaster to move to 2-0 in region play last week. His counterpart, Aiden Turner ran for 101 yards and 1 touchdown in the win as well. You can expect the Stallions to keep it on the ground if these two can keep it going. But don’t forget about Malachi Marshall Malachi Marshall 6'2" | 190 lbs | QB South Pointe | 2024 State SC at quarterback, who also has the athletic ability to make plays in the run and pass game.
Jaxon Scheidt Jaxon Scheidt 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Indian Land | 2024 State SC | QB | Indian Land
Scheidt will not put the ball in danger and will take what the defense gives him. He finished 14-of-30 for 127 yards passing while running 33 yards and 1 touchdown. The Warriors have two receivers who you will want to keep your eye on in Hayden Morris Hayden Morris 6'2" | 160 lbs | WR Indian Land | 2026 SC and freshman Sequel Patterson Sequel Patterson 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Indian Land | 2027 State SC .
J’Zavien Currence J’Zavien Currence 6'2" | 190 lbs | ATH South Pointe | 2026 State SC | DB | South Pointe
The young defensive back continues to turn heads as region play continues. He had 5 solo tackles with 1 TFL while the star of the defensive line continues to be Chris Dixon Chris Dixon 6'2" | 260 lbs | DL South Pointe | 2024 State SC . Dixon had 4 solo tackles and 4 TFLs in last week’s win over Lancaster.
Northwestern (6-1, 2-0 region) at York (6-1, 2-0 region)
Finley Polk Finley Polk 6'2" | 185 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2025 State SC | QB | Northwestern
Polk played in limited action in a 45-14 rout of Indian Land. He went 12-for-16 passing, 99 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jayden Nichols Jayden Nichols 5'11" | 170 lbs | WR Northwestern | 2025 SC , Jaylen Burris and Jonathan Spuregon all caught scores. Multiple receivers catching touchdowns has been a trend for the Trojans offense during their 5-game winning streak.
Will Massey Will Massey 5'11" | 185 lbs | LB Northwestern | 2025 State SC | DL | Northwestern
Massey continues to have a strong year as he had 7.5 tackles and 2 TFLs in the win over Indian Land. Keep an eye on Tomarion Watkins and Jayce Joseph who each had 3 solo tackles.
Ayden Davis Ayden Davis 6'0" | 170 lbs | QB York | 2024 State SC | QB | York
Whether it’s at quarterback or wide receiver, Davis is a difference maker for the Cougars. He had four touchdowns in last week’s win over Catawba Ridge. He can make you miss in space and once he gets into the open field, it could be a house call. His counterpart, Javarus Guthrie Javarus Guthrie 5'10" | 210 lbs | RB York | 2024 State SC is a strong runner who will be a guy to watch as the Cougars will run the ball early and often.
Trey Wagner | LB | York
York will lean on Wagner to make plays on defense, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be up to the challenge. Wagner keeps catching our eye every time we see him. He had tackles galore last week against Catawba Ridge. Keep an eye on Bryson Steele and Dalton Russell Dalton Russell 5'9" | 165 lbs | LB York | 2024 State SC as well.
Nation Ford (3-4, 1-1 region) at Rock Hill (4-3 overall, 2-0 region)
Game will be played on Thursday night at 7pm
Kaden Barnette | QB | Nation Ford
Barnette found a connection between him and Josh Ameo, one of his favorite targets. Ameo had 138 yards as they hooked up for two passing touchdowns last week in a thriller on the road at Blythewood last week. Keep an eye on Kaleb White Kaleb White 5'9" | 205 lbs | LB Nation Ford | 2025 State SC in the running game.
Zay Neely | DB | Nation Ford
Neely was a tackling machine last week against Blythewood, tallying 5 tackles while Braydon Flores had 3 tackles for loss against the Bengals. Keep an eye on these two along with Rylee Cook who had 16 total tackles last week.
Malik Clark Malik Clark 6'2" | 180 lbs | WR Rock Hill | 2025 State SC | WR | Rock Hill
Clark and Matthew Wilson Matthew Wilson 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Rock Hill | 2024 State SC have a great connection and we expect that to continue as region play progresses. Clark had 5 catches for 93 yards and a touchdown in last week’s win over Fort Mill.
Daniel Range | LB | Rock Hill
The Rock Hill defensive front will be fun to watch with Justice Foster Justice Foster 6'2" | 285 lbs | DL Rock Hill | 2025 State SC and Landon Armstrong Landon Armstrong 6'0" | 210 lbs | LB Rock Hill | 2024 State SC of course, but there is an emerging linebacker who has caught our eye the last few weeks. Range can take great angles to the ball and makes sure tackles.