Midlands Non-Region Games To Watch In 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year's realignment made a sizable change in the region competition aspect of the football regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Midlands, it opened up opportunities to schedule compelling non-region matchups which seemed unfeasible in years' past.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of those games mixed in with others which are considered as more rivalry as a region game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AUGUST 23</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Gilbert at Lexington</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since the longstanding rivalry officially started in 2018, it has served as a springboard for success for the winning team. The Indians have a new head coach in Ozzie Exune but return arguably one of the Midlands' dynamic backfields in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012653' first='Jaylen' last='Jay'],</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157968' first='Krew' last='Morris']</strong>. All three players proved more than capable as dual threats running and receiving. Like Gilbert, Lexington also finds itself seeking a new starting quarterback and looking to fill other key holes on both sides of the football. Among the returning starters on defense is linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='836316' first='Matthew' last='McAulay'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AUGUST 30</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Northwestern at Ridge View </em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This contest has the potential to be one of the early season's highest scoring games. Both teams return impact players on offense. For the Blazers, wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong> continues to attract daily interest from colleges. He's even already received an invitation to the 2025 U.S. Army Bowl and will not have to make a complete adjustment to a new starting quarterback with rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> getting the full-time nod. Speaking of quarterbacks, Class 5A All-State quarterback <strong>Finley</strong> <strong>Polk</strong> enters his senior year having thrown for 6,159 yards and 75 touchdowns the past two seasons and should be healthy by the start of the regular season. While Mr. Football finalist [player_tooltip player_id='265222' first='Turbo' last='Richard'] has graduated, the Trojans return wide receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753896' first='Jayden' last='Nichols']</strong> and rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance']</strong>. On defense, <strong>Tamarian Watkins</strong> had a strong showing at the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/02/u-s-army-bowl-combine-part-ii/">U.S. Army Bowl Combine</a> in Wando playing at defensive back and was third on the team in tackles behind rising seniors linebacker defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'] and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey']</strong>. Rising seniior placekicker [player_tooltip player_id='1578842' first='Matthew' last='Fish'] will give Northwestern an advantage with his near-perfect PAT percentage and 25 touchbacks last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Rock Hill at River Bluff</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bearcats make their first-ever visit to The Swamp. The wide receiver position is once again a position to watch in his contest with Rock Hill's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark']</strong> and River Bluff's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']</strong>. The former creates matchup issues with his speed in the open field, while the latter uses his 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame to a great advantage. He also has the advantage of an experienced quarterback in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> returning as the Bearcats will be looking to replace <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson']</strong>. On the other side of the football, Rock Hill defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='649189' first='Justice' last='Foster']</strong> can create havoc upfront both in pressuring the quarterback and stopping the run. River Bluff hard-hitting rising senior <strong>Elijah Hayes</strong> is one of the team's returning top tacklers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>A.C. Flora at Chapin</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These longtime rivals often produce intense, competitive games against each other. Both starting quarterbacks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro']</strong> of Chapin and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong> of A.C. Flora know how to throw their wideouts open for receptions and use some mobility to make plays. The key will be which team has improved its defense enough in the post-season to make difference in this game and moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 6 &nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Hartsville at Camden</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the Palmetto State's oldest football rivalries remains fresh each years thanks to a continual supply of All-State talent produced by both schools. Look for rising senior running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters'] </strong>to be the focal point offensively for the Red Foxes with the graduation of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208342' first='McKendrie' last='Douglas']</strong>. Meanwhile, linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012620' first='Web' last='Barnes']</strong> is positioned to be this year's Comeback Player of the Year. After missing last year with a foot injury, he put on an impressive showing at the Carolinas Coaches Clinic both running and bench-pressing. As for Camden, the offense lost significant firepower to graduation in quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139311' first='Grayson' last='White']</strong>, wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448982' first='Jaquarius' last='Mayrant']</strong> and running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448993' first='Averee' last='Hickmon']</strong>. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157893' first='Jordan' last='Crim']</strong> has shown potential to become a playmaker at both wide receiver and defensive back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Oceanside Collegiate at Dutch Fork</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is the first of two straight home matchups against charter schools for the Palmetto State's most dominant public school football program. It's also a rare matchup between two programs which won state titles the previous season. The Landsharks move up to Class 3A after winning the Class 2A title last season. Rising sophomore quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian']</strong> made a name for himself during the post-season. Replacing injured starter <strong>Edward Reidenbach</strong> to open the playoffs, he led Oceanside Collegiate on an undefeated championship run capped by a 367-yard, two-touchdown performance in the title game. Rising senior <strong>Gavin Gasper</strong> was the recipient of both scores and returns along with <strong>Will Virgilio</strong>. They face a Dutch Fork defense which retained key pieces of a defense which held playoff opponents to 16.5 points per game. Rising junior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> emerged as one of the leading tackles and rising seniors defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions']</strong> leads an equally athletic secondary. More on the Dutch Fork offense in the next game preview.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 20</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Gray Collegiate at Dutch Fork</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New War Eagles' head coach DeAngelo Bryant is faced with the challenge of leading last year's Class 2A runner-up into the Class 4A ranks. Rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller']</strong> established himself as the starting quarterback, throwing for 1,501 yards and 17 touchdowns. The backfield returns intact with rising seniors 1,000-plus yard rusher <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford']</strong> and the offensive line will mix in newcomers like rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756223' first='Nathan' last='Carson']</strong> with returning rising seniors like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359251' first='Zeb' last='Taylor']</strong>. Defensively, rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware']</strong> led the team in tackles (155) and returns as a team leader along with Taylor and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359229' first='Trequan' last='Singleton']</strong> on the defensive line. For the Silver Foxes, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] </strong>saw action in 14 games and threw for a team-high 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns before suffering an injury in the playoffs. He returns as Dutch Fork's most experienced quarterback and will not have a shortage of weapons with rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']</strong> in the backfield, promising rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1360308' first='Boykin' last='Bickley'] at wide receiver and rising senior Joshua Benson on the offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Myrtle Beach at Irmo</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last time Seahawks' quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe']</strong> visited W.C. Hawkins Stadium; he was “greeted” with eight sacks by the Yellow Jackets' defense. Aside from that, Goodroe did throw three touchdowns in the most points scored against Irmo prior to the Lower State final loss to South Florence. When Myrtle Beach returns, they will still see an athletic Yellow Jacket defense with defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong> and free safety <strong>Matthew Blocker</strong> leading the charge. Offensively, it begins and ends with All-State quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> who came 68 yards shy of throwing for 3,000 yards and rushing for over 1,000 yards in the same season. Wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph']</strong> returns for his junior season, but the Yellow Jackets will have to replace All-State running back [player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix'] and offensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='996935' first='Bryant' last='Ham']</strong> and <strong>Elijah Montgomery</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->