Catawba River Region’s Top Week 0 Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are you ready for some football?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024 season officially kicks off on Friday night with some star studded matchups that will bring some attention not only in the Catawba River Region and around the state, but also across the border in North Carolina as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are seven matchups that you should keep your eyes on come Friday evening:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SPARTANBURG AT SOUTH POINTE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The anticipation was that <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon'] </strong>would take the starting snaps at quarterback for the Stallions, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/2024-preview-south-pointe-stallions/">but we wrote in our preview last week</a> that he is recovering from offseason surgery. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'] </strong>will trot out for the opening snap at quarterback at District 3 South Stadium on Friday. Currence will have Navy commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249764' first='Jordan' last='Collins'] </strong>to throw to, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157761' first='Mason' last='Picket-Hicks'] </strong>will anchor things in the backfield. The defense for the Stallions will be loaded as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284136' first='Miles' last='Wilson'] </strong>will be a leader on the defensive line and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157988' first='Aakil' last='Brown'] </strong>will look to clog up run lanes with a linebacking core head coach Bobby Collins is excited about.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartanburg will return two quarterbacks who contributed last year in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592374' first='Trey' last='Burke'] </strong>and <strong>Tamijai Johnson</strong>. It will be interesting to see who gets the first snap, though. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice'] </strong>will be the go to guy at receiver, as part of a trio of receivers with <strong>Zy Williams Bond </strong>and <strong>Zeke Belle Boyd. [player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] </strong>is back at running back <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/2024-preview-spartanburg-vikings/">after exploding on to the scene his freshman season</a>. Keep an eye on <strong>Cam'rich Smith </strong>at linebacker and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346191' first='Calvin' last='Choice'] </strong>at defensive back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>YORK AT INDIAN LAND</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/2024-preview-york-cougars/">The Cougars will be young in 2024</a>, but they still have a good nucleus of talent back including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592333' first='Tayshon' last='Freeman'] </strong>at quarterback along with <strong>Jonathan Tobias </strong>and <strong>Ziggy Byers </strong>(pictured above) at the receiver position. They'll also see time on defense as well. <strong>Jay McCoy</strong> will be a leader at receiver as well. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595706' first='Darrell' last='Harrison'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360047' first='Ryan' last='Carter'] </strong>defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Indian Land, everything begins offensively with quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036748' first='Sequel' last='Patterson']</strong>, who is receiving Division 1 interest as a sophomore with offers from Liberty, UNC and South Carolina. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395038' first='Brysen' last='Conner'] </strong>was an All-Region player at receiver and defensive back last year, who is also garnering interest with offers from UAB and Middle Tennessee State. Defensively, the guy to watch is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249777' first='Omarion' last='Davis'], </strong>who committed to Boston College and he will be a leader at defensive back. <strong>Kent Hampton </strong>was an All-Region performer last year on both sides of the line of scrimmage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NORTHWESTERN VS. HOUGH&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Note: Game will kickoff at 5:15 p.m. at Charlotte's Memorial Stadium</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>GPS address: 1218-1238 Armory Dr, Charlotte, NC 28204</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game should make for an interesting cross border battle between two of the top teams in North and South Carolina. Northwestern returns quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk']</strong>, who can fire it around to his receivers and will have plenty of talent around him including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='753896' first='Jayden' last='Nichols']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance'] </strong>and <strong>Daniel Caldwell. </strong>Keep an eye on <strong>Zymeir Gordon Miles</strong> at running back as well, as <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/2024-preview-northwestern-trojans/">we noted in our season preview last week</a>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans' defensive line will be the core of the defense with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360210' first='Mason' last='Grier'], Danijay McMullen, Dmitri Putman and [player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'] </strong>all back. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey'] </strong>was the team's leading tackler in 2023 and we expect him to begin another run towards keeping that going in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/program-profile-hough-huskies/">Hough has a lot of skill returning</a>, including quarterback <strong>Trey Blakeney</strong>, who committed to Austin Peay and led Hough to a third round playoff appearance in the&nbsp; last year. <strong>Jycen Anciso </strong>was an All-Conference player for the Huskies at running back and will look to start things off well. The receiving core is dynamic with multiple guys that are receiving college interest including <strong>Syir Sutton </strong>and <strong>Tyran Evans.&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, <strong>Ledarrion Menter </strong>will be a guy to watch on the defensive line, who is committed to Old Dominion University. The secondary will be led by <strong>Samari Matthews, </strong>who is one of the top defensive backs in the class of 2026 with offers from numerous Power Four schools including Clemson, Oregon, Florida, Florida State and Ohio State, to name a few.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHAPIN AT CATAWBA RIDGE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapin is <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/2024-preview-chapin-eagles/">under the direction of new coach Ryan Cole</a>, who served as the defensive coordinator prior to being elevated to head coach. The Eagles have talent back, including quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro']</strong>, who threw for 2,992 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. He will have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149052' first='Khalen' last='Bostick'] </strong>to throw to, who caught 57 passes for 743 yards in 2023. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360369' first='Gavin' last='Stam']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1255998' first='Anthony' last='Turnbow'] </strong>on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Copperheads, they will look to turn the page after <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/2024-preview-catawba-ridge-copperheads/">a tough 1-9 campaign a season ago.</a> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574007' first='CJ' last='Couch']</strong> will run out as the starting quarterback on Friday, and he will have his two primary targets in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1283702' first='Braylen' last='Burgis'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] </strong>to throw to. On defense, the headliner is up front with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360198' first='Lewis' last='Price'] </strong>on the defensive front while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1290615' first='Jaylon' last='Richardson'] </strong>will look to assert himself as a leader in the secondary heading into his sophomore season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NATION FORD AT BLYTHEWOOD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons will be led by quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575359' first='Carson' last='Sanford']</strong>, who we expect to get his first start on the road if <strong>Kaden Barnette </strong>can't go, as he is recovering from an injury during baseball. Whoever starts will have receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575429' first='Josh' last='Ameo'] </strong>to throw to, along with <strong>Jaydon Scott </strong>who are the Falcons' real speedsters on the outside at receiver. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360338' first='Jeff' last='Papin'] </strong>at tight end. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253939' first='Kaleb' last='White'] </strong>and <strong>Malachi Drayton </strong>will be two guys to watch on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood kicks off the 2024 season with quarterback <strong>Johnny Collins</strong>, who is moving up from JV into the primetime spot of varsity. He'll have <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/07/2024-preview-blythewood-bengals/">who transferred to the Bengals from Ridge View</a>. Running back <strong>Chase Brown </strong>will provide speed in the backfield as well to help out the first time starting quarterback. The defense will be led by Georgia Southern commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157753' first='Kemuel' last='Little'].</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>OTHER NOTABLE GAMES TO WATCH</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JULIUS CHAMBERS AT CLOVER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clover is a team that will be a youth movement in 2024, but you can expect running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012627' first='Landon' last='Stone']</strong> to be the focal point of the offense – he ran for 2,107 yards and 19 touchdowns in 2023. They will need to figure out their quarterback situation, which Blue Eagles' head coach Perry Woolbright says will be a two-quarterback system with <strong>Brody Woolbright </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey']</strong>. Whoever takes the starting snaps will have <strong>TJ McCluney </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402485' first='Cameron' last='James'] </strong>to throw to. Keep an eye on <strong>Sam Lee, [player_tooltip player_id='1743683' first='Carson' last='Pinti'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='995603' first='Brody' last='Rowan'] </strong>defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Chambers, keep an eye on defensive lineman <strong>Alique Hart </strong>and defensive back Tiquan Cromartie, who has several college offers. <strong>Marquise Byrd </strong>will line up on multiple sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LANCASTER AT CHESTER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins will look to recapture that fire from a late season surge into the third round of the playoffs in 2024. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown'] </strong>will be the trigger man for the Bruins along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158006' first='Avery' last='Alexander'] </strong>who can play on both sides of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the Cyclones, they come into the season ranked as the preseason No. 1 in 3A, and will look to take the first step on Friday night. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='457973' first='Trooper' last='Floyd'] </strong>returns at quarterback, after throwing for 2,000 yards a season ago. He'll have <strong>Omari Pendagrass </strong>and <strong>Tyler Williams </strong>at receiver along with [player_tooltip player_id='1603999' first='Caleb' last='Feaster'], <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/05/on-campus-chester-cyclones/">who Floyd expects a big year out of</a>. Keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816734' first='Terry' last='Radford'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165099' first='Darriyarn' last='Baxley']</strong> on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->