GSPD Non-Region Games Getting Us Hyped For 2024
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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. Here…
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Continue ReadingWhile 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.
Here on the Grand Strand and Pee Dee, some non-region games check that box.
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.
AUGUST 23
West Florence at South Florence
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 Tre Leonard Tre Leonard 5'9" | 180 lbs | RB West Florence | 2025 State SC and Bobby Patterson) while South will look to move to its traditional spread behind quarterbacks Messiah Jackson Messiah Jackson 6'1" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2026 SC or De’Eric Davis. That’s not a huge surprise, as Jayden Sellers Jayden Sellers 5'11" | 160 lbs | WR South Florence | 2025 State SC is back from a knee injury and the Bruins’ most dangerous offensive weapon.
Sumter at Dillon
Go ahead and circle this season opener for the Anthony Addison Anthony Addison 6'3" | 210 lbs | DL Sumter | 2025 State SC vs. Josiah Oxendine Josiah Oxendine 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Dillon | 2026 State SC 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 John Peeples John Peeples 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB Sumter | 2025 State SC (1,078 yards, 26 touchdowns) and Dillon’s Jamarion Fling Jamarion Fling 5'8" | 160 lbs | RB Dillon | 2025 State SC (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.
AUGUST 30
Carolina Forest at Hartsville
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 Hakeem Watters Hakeem Watters 5'6" | 170 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2025 State SC can wreck the best-laid plans, Panthers’ safeties Charles Mccray (pictured) and Carson Kwant and corner Zayveon Winns are all strong against the run. Linebacker Brayln Fernandes 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.
St. James at Aynor
Alex Sandt 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 Connor Schwalm Connor Schwalm 5'11" | 205 lbs | QB St. James | 2024 State SC 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 Matt Kerby, who rushed for 389 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. This will absolutely be a discovery-type game for both squads.
SEPTEMBER 13
Lamar at Lake City
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 Zori Pierce Zori Pierce 6'0" | 160 lbs | QB Lamar | 2026 State SC 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 Treshon Burgess Treshon Burgess 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Lake City | 2025 State SC will be back in the defensive backfield, along with Fernandez Witherspoon and Shakeem Epps – two 2026s who got solid and productive reps as sophomores.
Loris at North Myrtle Beach
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 Landon Cloninger and receiver Kaden Gore Kaden Gore 5'8" | 150 lbs | WR North Myrtle Beach | 2025 SC on offense and linebacker Sloan McIntyre and defensive backs Zyrion Reed Zyrion Reed 5'6" | 150 lbs | DB North Myrtle Beach | 2026 State SC and Lamontae Smith Lamontae Smith 6'0" | 220 lbs | LB North Myrtle Beach | 2026 State SC on defense. Loris will be loaded on defense, where it will return Javon Johnson Javon Johnson 6'0" | 235 lbs | DL Loris | 2025 State SC and Avery Todd Avery Todd 6'0" | 190 lbs | LB Loris | 2025 State SC and Landon Connor to a unit that that allowed fewer than 14 points per game.
SEPTEMBER 20
Andrews at Waccamaw
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 Brandon Cumbee Brandon Cumbee 5'10" | 160 lbs | ATH Andrews | 2025 State SC (996 yards, 16 touchdowns) and fullback AJ Lee (1,303 yards, 16 touchdowns). Waccamaw’s chances of slowing those two down will likely fall on the shoulders of top tacklers Aiden Hastings and AJ Grate – both of whom did everything they did despite missing games.