CSRA Non-Region Games We Can’t Wait To See in 2024

While a sizable landscape shift in the CSRA based around realignment, the non-region games slated for this fall had to follow suit.   With the Class 4A schools swapping to the Lower State, and teams even changing classifications, what we were left with was a handful of super-interesting non-region games. Many of them are non-traditional games that could spur rematches for years to come beyond the two-year scheduling window.   These are some that we can't wait to see take place this fall.   AUGUST 22   Barnwell at Blackville-Hilda   In what will be the first SCHSL kickoff of the 2024 season, Barnwell will hit the road and head to Blackville-Hilda on the Thursday prior to everyone else joining the fray. And what we expect to see is two of the very best small-school players in the state. War Horses quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin'] is a dark horse candidate for one of the state's top all-star games after throwing for 1,700 yards, rushing for another 900 and combining for 32 total touchdowns. Meanwhile, Blackville-Hilda tailback [player_tooltip player_id='605527' first='Jaquel' last='Holman'] is very realistically going to flirt with a 2,000-yard season after a huge junior season of his own.    AUGUST 23   JL Mann at Midland Valley   The Upstate power vs. the CSRA upstart? Yes, sign us up. The Mustangs' offense is going to be a bit of an enigma after going all in on [player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar'] last fall. But back in tow are quarterback Preston Butler (1,109 passing yards, nine touchdowns) and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='272712' first='Preston' last='McNair'] (1,170 yards, 16 touchdowns). It will be a nice early season test against Mann linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1249737' first='Wyatt' last='Ward'] (155 tackles last year) and his mates on that side of the ball, and it might just be a chance for Midland Valley to prove it wasn't a one-year wonder.   AUGUST 30   Strom Thurmond at Silver Bluff   Silver Bluff's new head coach, Chris Hayes, was most recently the assistant head coach at Strom Thurmond, so even though he's working with a new crop of players, there will be plenty of familiarity. What Hayes will also be tasked with is finding a way to maximize the potential of standout receiver [player_tooltip player_id='205787' first='Hiszari' last='Gantt'] and linebacker Trevion Harris while replacing three huge defensive components. Strom, meanwhile, will be replacing the vast majority of its offensive and defensive production, as well. Tailback Cam Blacks and quarterback Bri'shaun Lee will have every opportunity to increase their playing time in the backfield, while rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1254050' first='Jay' last='Sewell'] will have chances to improve upon his 500-plus receiving yards, too.   Lexington at North Augusta   Yellow Jackets quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1031336' first='Corey' last='Tillman'] and receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1013040' first='Connor' last='Brown'] should become one of the better pitcher-catch combinations in the entire CSRA, and proving it against a strong Lexington defense could do wonders for North Augusta the rest of the way. What makes this game really interesting is coming from the team's third prong of its arsenal, [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe'] at tailback. Last year, he topped 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging 5.7 yards per carry. That came during his sophomore year when the Yellow Jackets were still sort of figuring themselves out. This season, the plan is in place and the execution could all come at a much higher level.   SEPTEMBER 13   South Aiken at Barnwell    OK, so maybe Barnwell head coach Brian Smith wants to test his team's run-stopping potential  prior to the region slate. Because after playing against Holman in the season opener, he's lined up a date with South Aiken and [player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards'] - who has amassed 4,200 rushing yards and 50 touchdowns on the ground over the course of the last three seasons. If linebacker Jeremiah Eady and defensive back Jordan Peeples and Co. can keep Edwards even remotely in check, all best are off starting the a few weeks later when region play fires up. On the flip side, if Edwards comes into the game with a head of steam, South Aiken might flirt with some ridiculous scoring figures again.    Calhoun County at Bamberg-Ehrhardt   The Raiders are already playing a game of I Spy with Calhoun County 2026 linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='340395' first='Chris' last='Glover'] and his big-play potential. And while it would take both teams making the state finals for this to serve as the appetizer, we're also not going to rule it out given how strong both teams are and the privates moving out of the classification. With Bamberg-Ehrhardt, the offense might run through quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby'] (pictured), but the emergence of [player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann'] and the team's willingness to let him put his athletic abilities on display both as a ball carrier and a receiver make this team even more dangerous. That's saying a lot for a team that made the third round of the playoffs last fall.

While a sizable landscape shift in the CSRA based around realignment, the non-region games slated for this fall had to follow suit.