Non-Region Games To Watch In The Catawba River Region In 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 season kicks off in a little over four months.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As schedules have been released for teams in the Catawba River Region, there is a level of excitement with the recent region realignment that teams who haven't played each other in the last few years will now get that opportunity.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But that doesn't mean the non-region schedule isn't loaded with games that will catch your attention. We picked out four games happening locally that feature a lot of speed on the field and cross town rivalries, some of which will happen on the same night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AUGUST 30</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>South Pointe at Rock Hill</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Note: As of April 17, 2024: Lewisville QB [player_tooltip player_id='809751' first='Ian' last='Grissom'] has transferred to Rock Hill for his senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The annual city rivalry between the Stallions and Bearcats will feature some new faces this fall.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Former Gaffney defensive coordinator Randy Birch is the new head coach for the Bearcats, replacing Bubba Pittman. [player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson'] has graduated and is off at App State. <strong>Kason Cannup </strong>appears to be the presumptive starter at quarterback. Cannup will have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark'] </strong>(pictured above)<strong> </strong>to throw to, who has numerous Division 1 offers along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360412' first='EJ' last='Ratley']</strong>. Both are burners at the receiver position who are threats to score at any point. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1088328' first='Nigel' last='Lightner'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036779' first='Kaiden' last='Watkins'] </strong>saw significant playing time as freshman last year and they'll be a year older in the Bearcats defense this year. Keep an eye on <strong>Zy'on King </strong>and <strong>Rakwon Stratford </strong>as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stallions will also have a new quarterback in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon'] </strong>who transferred from Fairfield Central. He comes in after throwing for 57 touchdowns and 5713 yards over his first two seasons. He'll have a dynamic duo in the backfield in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012612' first='Aidan' last='Turner'] </strong>who ran for 1025 yards in 2023 and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157761' first='Mason' last='Picket-Hicks']. </strong>Expect the Stallions to be tough again on defense with a trio of stars in the backfield with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012611' first='Fred' last='Reese'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown'] </strong>back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Indian Land at Andrew Jackson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Land will have a core of sophomores and juniors that will lead the way in 2024, starting with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036748' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] </strong>who will likely get the snaps at quarterback. He'll have <strong>Camdin Portis </strong>to throw to, who has numerous offers already as a sophomore from schools like Colorado and Georgia Tech. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395038' first='Brysen' last='Conner'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris'] </strong>will be other guys to watch at the receiver position.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrew Jackson moves on without [player_tooltip player_id='317140' first='Trey' last='Thompson'] in the run game but <strong>Damais Seegars </strong>looks primed and ready to take the reins. We expect <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395004' first='Jase' last='Fair'] </strong>to be a thumper on defense and come up and lay the lumber, like <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/09/what-we-saw-run-game-helps-andrew-jackson-pull-away-from-lamar/">we saw against Lamar last season.&nbsp;</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SEPTEMBER 13</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Richland Northeast at Nation Ford</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game was a tight one won by RNE, 41-38 in the Midlands last season. Could the same thing happen this year? RNE returns <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong>, who threw for 2,237 yards and 22 touchdowns. The senior is committed to NC State. He'll have junior wide <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette']</strong> back who recorded 39 receptions for 733 yards and six touchdowns. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='797612' first='Jarell' last='Turner'] </strong>in the defensive backfield as well.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons return quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253889' first='Kaden' last='Barnett'] </strong>who is committed currently to play baseball at the University of North Carolina. He'll have a good nucleus of talent of skill returning with <strong>Lucas Barz </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575429' first='Josh' last='Ameo'] </strong>back at receiver, both of whom can score at any time.&nbsp;Keep an eye on <strong>Zyon Neely </strong>and <strong>Sayvion Drayton </strong>up front on defense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Clover at York</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone'] </strong>returns for his senior season for the Blue Eagles after running for over 2000+ yards and over 19 touchdowns in 2023. They will need to replace quarterback Jaylon Hoover and it appears that <strong>Brody Woolbright </strong>will be the guy as we head into spring practice. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='995603' first='Brody' last='Rowan'] </strong>will be counted on as one of the leaders defensively, after tallying over 24 tackles and 6.5 sacks in 2023. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1743683' first='Carson' last='Pinti'] </strong>heads into his junior year after seeing action on both sides of the ball in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tashon Freeman </strong>is the presumed starter at quarterback for the Cougars as he will step into the full role now that [player_tooltip player_id='208367' first='Ayden' last='Davis'] has graduated. <strong>Jonathan Tobias </strong>returns for his senior year as he will be a guy to watch in the secondary along with <strong>Ziggy Byers </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595706' first='Darrell' last='Harrison'] </strong>at the linebacker position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->