GSPD Non-Region Games Getting Us Hyped For 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While parts of the next five months will drag as players, coaches and fans continue to prepare for the 2024 season, we're not waiting that long to start pinpointing some games that are worthy of the price of admission.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here on the Grand Strand and Pee Dee, some non-region games check that box.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From long-standing rivalries taking on new forms to big-ticket players meeting on the same field, we're seeing plenty we like out of these matchups even before any of the schools fire up official spring ball in May or camp in late July.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AUGUST 23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>West Florence at South Florence</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There was at least talk that the two F1S schools wouldn't keep their rivalry going after realignment shifted them away from each other, but alas, the Battle of Florence will continue after all. And while it led to different results, the fact that both teams had to call serious audibles in 2023 shouldn't be forgotten. It stands to reason that both will go back to their preferred styles, with West putting it's offense on the shoulders of a running back or two (likely <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360071' first='Bobby' last='Patterson']</strong>) while South will look to move to its traditional spread behind quarterbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson']</strong> or <strong>De'Eric Davis</strong>. That's not a huge surprise, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464881' first='Jayden' last='Sellers']</strong> is back from a knee injury and the Bruins' most dangerous offensive weapon.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Sumter at Dillon</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Go ahead and circle this season opener for the <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison']</strong> vs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='205556' first='Josiah' last='Oxendine']</strong> show alone. The highly rated Sumter defensive end hasn't stopped making recruiting and combine waves this offseason, and Oxendine, about to be an upperclassmen, is ready to put his skills on full display after getting eased into the playbook. Yet, don't sleep on the tailbacks in this game, either. Sumter's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> (1,078 yards, 26 touchdowns) and Dillon's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346196' first='Jamarion' last='Fling']</strong> (1,584 yards, 34 touchdowns) will enter the season already having everyone's attention, too. These similar styles on offense should also have both teams extremely well prepared to put on an entertaining contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AUGUST 30</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Carolina Forest at Hartsville</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hartsville's split-T offense will be put to the test against a Carolina Forest defense that always seems to keep things interesting. Because for as much as we know Red Foxes' tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters']</strong> can wreck the best-laid plans, Panthers' safeties <strong>Charles Mccray</strong> (pictured) and <strong>Carson Kwant</strong> and corner <strong>Zayveon Winns</strong> are all strong against the run. Linebacker <strong>Brayln Fernandes</strong> also steps into a larger role after getting his feet wet on the varsity level last year and putting up decent tackle figures. There are plenty of holes on the Carolina Forest defense, but most of the time, Marc Morris is going to win the numbers game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>St. James at Aynor</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt']</strong> has been waiting his turn to take over at quarterback at St. James for the better part of the last two seasons. And while he will have monster shoes to fill with the departure of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91513' first='Connor' last='Schwalm']</strong> he gives the Sharks even more reason to quicken the pace. Granted, the Sharks will be replacing virtually everyone else who caught a pass or had an offensive carry, too. Aynor, meanwhile, is no secret even though they're also needing to bring in some new faces. One of the more influential stands to be running back <strong>Matt Kerby</strong>, who rushed for 389 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. This will absolutely be a discovery-type game for both squads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Lamar at Lake City</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With Lamar moving into an Upper State region, it stands to reason the Silver Foxes will fly somewhat under the radar early in the year. But if rising junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong> throws well against the ultra-talented back seven from Lake City, it could help increase his personal stock, too. While some of the Panthers' top players from last season graduated, safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464893' first='Treshon' last='Burgess']</strong> will be back in the defensive backfield, along with <strong>Fernandez Witherspoon</strong> and <strong>Shakeem Epps</strong> - two 2026s who got solid and productive reps as sophomores.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Loris at North Myrtle Beach</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While this will now be a game between teams separated by two SCHSL classifications, the long-time rivals stand to give each other a fantastic mid-season test that might be a gauge for their playoff hopes. That's because both teams bring back the vast majority of their 2023 production. For the Chiefs, that crop of players is led by quarterback <strong>Landon Cloninger</strong> and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='929482' first='Kaden' last='Gore']</strong> on offense and linebacker <strong>Sloan McIntyre</strong> and defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025821' first='Zyrion' last='Reed']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025820' first='Lamontae' last='Smith']</strong> on defense. Loris will be loaded on defense, where it will return <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464883' first='Javon' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464897' first='Avery' last='Todd']</strong> and <strong>Landon Connor</strong> to a unit that that allowed fewer than 14 points per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Andrews at Waccamaw</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a rematch of a 23-18 Warriors win from last fall, these two teams will go at it again and we expect it to be just as physical of a game. The Yellow Jackets will return run-first quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1013054' first='Brandon' last='Cumbee'] (996 yards, 16 touchdowns) and fullback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395098' first='AJ' last='Lee']</strong> (1,303 yards, 16 touchdowns). Waccamaw's chances of slowing those two down will likely fall on the shoulders of top tacklers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574036' first='Aiden' last='Hastings']</strong> and <strong>AJ Grate</strong> - both of whom did everything they did despite missing games.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->