CSRA Non-Region Games We Can’t Wait To See in 2024
In this article:
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…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWhile 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 Cameron Austin Cameron Austin 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB Barnwell | 2025 State SC 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 Jaquel Holman Jaquel Holman 6'2" | 195 lbs | RB Blackville-Hilda | 2025 State SC 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 Traevon Dunbar Traevon Dunbar 5'10" | 205 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2024 State SC last fall. But back in tow are quarterback Preston Butler (1,109 passing yards, nine touchdowns) and tailback Preston McNair Preston McNair 5'9" | 190 lbs | RB Midland Valley | 2025 State SC (1,170 yards, 16 touchdowns). It will be a nice early season test against Mann linebacker Wyatt Ward Wyatt Ward 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB JL Mann | 2025 State SC (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 Hiszari Gantt Hiszari Gantt 5'10" | 150 lbs | WR Silver Bluff | 2026 State SC 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 Jay Sewell Jay Sewell 6'0" | 175 lbs | WR Strom Thurmond | 2025 State SC will have chances to improve upon his 500-plus receiving yards, too.
Lexington at North Augusta
Yellow Jackets quarterback Corey Tillman Corey Tillman 5'11" | 170 lbs | QB North Augusta | 2025 State SC and receiver Connor Brown Connor Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR North Augusta | 2025 State SC 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, Michael Doe Michael Doe 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB North Augusta | 2026 State SC 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 Jevon Edwards Jevon Edwards 5'9" | 195 lbs | RB South Aiken | 2025 State SC – 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 Chris Glover Chris Glover 5'10" | 190 lbs | LB James Island | 2024 State SC 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 Chanston Crosby Chanston Crosby 6'1" | 175 lbs | QB Bamberg-Ehrhardt | 2025 State SC (pictured), but the emergence of Marcus Cann Marcus Cann 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Bamberg-Ehrhardt | 2026 State SC 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.