Lowcountry’s Top Week 0 Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From Charleston to Bluffton, and many points in between, the Lowcountry is going to kick off the 2024 season with some huge matchups.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And to think, these are all non-region games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The tightly packed cluster of Class 5A teams in and around the Holy City are leading the charge, of course. That's only the beginning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Lowcountry zone is going to create plenty of headlines right off the bat.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ASHLEY RIDGE AT BERKELEY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We're going to see one of the best one-on-one quarterback battles of the entire non-region slate here. Ashley Ridge's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz']</strong> (2,989 yards, 28 touchdowns last year) and Berkeley's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers']</strong> (2,302 yards, 25 touchdowns) are each slated to have big 2024 seasons. A lot of that has to do with the players in front of them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kalisz will have arguably the biggest line in the state protecting him. Guards <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395060' first='Mason' last='Driggers']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346190' first='Bryce' last='Lawhon']</strong> and tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1110005' first='Cody' last='Peterson']</strong> proved themselves as pass blockers in the new revamped throw-first scheme last fall and are off to show they can be equally good in the run game to open holes for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157992' first='Jayden' last='Acosta']</strong> (959 yards, 14 touchdowns).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Stags' line is no slouch, either. Tackles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267220' first='Zion' last='Britt']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359180' first='Hunter' last='Drawdy']</strong> (converted from center), guards <strong>Denzel Reid</strong> and <strong>Khanir Coleman</strong> and center <strong>Jaden Berkely</strong> will have a singular goal: Give Rivers as much time as he needs to get the ball to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158021' first='Kevin' last='Boone']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='683478' first='Kayden' last='Bash']</strong> and let them move the chains.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BEAUFORT AT FORT DORCHESTER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaufort was dealt a pretty big blow just before the start of preseason camp when <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816738' first='Jayden' last='Simmons']</strong> was ruled out for the year with a lingering injury. It takes a little of luster off the defensive effort, but nowhere close to all of it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809756' first='Will' last='Codding']</strong> will be back, as will <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395058' first='Chaz' last='Brown']</strong> - a defensive lineman who missed most of last year with an injury of his own. Junior defensive back <strong>Tylik Isom</strong> (54 tackles, interception) is also back.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That group and their cohorts will have their hands full with a Fort Dorchester program that's now had a full offseason under new coach Shaun Lorenzano. Offensive linemen <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575301' first='Marquis' last='Wilson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1320686' first='Lamareon' last='Thompson']</strong> make up an impressive-looking right side of the line that will likely be the first choice for third-year tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473024' first='Ryan' last='Campbell']</strong> (708 yards, 11 touchdowns last year).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SUMMERVILLE AT STRATFORD</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not a stretch of the imagination that the current Stratford roster could put together the most wins since the program won nine games in 2014. The team returns 18 starters on offense and defense, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis']</strong> at quarterback, linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464896' first='Darrell' last='Holmes']</strong> and <strong>Amir Knight</strong> and converted offensive lineman<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1360141' first='DJ' last='Crawford']</strong> (pictured, now playing his own brand of the tight end position). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights will also be leaning on a four-pack of returning starters on the line - <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267289' first='Jameson' last='Pelham']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1573961' first='Wes' last='Snowden']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403903' first='Ben' last='Jordan']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1399623' first='TJ' last='Bryant']</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Summerville, meanwhile, is replacing a ton while still holding onto some of its top-shelf talent from last fall. That includes our No. 1 overall player in the Class of 2027, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray']</strong> - who will not be playing receiver and some tailback after putting himself on every college's radar last fall as a freshman playing safety. Green Wave quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings']</strong> (committed to Dartmouth) and H-Back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249768' first='Keshon' last='Washington']</strong> are the two other big weapons on that side of the ball and will look to show everyone last year's run to the Class 5A Lower State final was no fluke.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>OTHER GAMES TO WATCH</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>AIRPORT AT MAY RIVER</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The opposites at quarterback between these two teams couldn't be more prevalent. May River will be looking to senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360121' first='Tanner' last='Macy']</strong> (1,996 career rushing yards, 1,338 career passing yards, 20 total career touchdowns). Airport is handing the reins to freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady']</strong>. If all goes to plan, don't be shocked if these two teams meet again in the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLLETON COUNTY AT HAMPTON COUNTY</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hampton County has no issue going all-in with its stars. This fall, it appears to be <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary']</strong> getting his shot. He averaged just shy of 8 yards per carry as a sophomore and this year might be in line for 150-plus offensive touches in addition to everything he's already accomplished on defense (six interceptions, 51 tackles last year). How Hampton County uses him might be the biggest news out of this game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHILIP SIMMONS AT HANAHAN</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of tailbacks, we're not sure there's a season-opening game between two teams that graduated more rushing yards than this one. The assumption is that Philip Simmons will turn more toward third-year starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='502413' first='Tavien' last='Orellana']</strong> while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165104' first='Julius' last='Hippenstiel']</strong> will get even more control for the Hawks. These two have both been waiting to be the guy for their respective teams. So Friday will be telling with what comes of it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEST ASHLEY AT LUCY BECKHAM</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Everyone is still playing the wait-and-see game on Beckham until a squad that lost more than one-third of its roster to graduations plays its next game. We're high on linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1039208' first='Hank' last='Aeppli'] </strong>and a few others, but the breadth of the West Ashley lines should dictate this one. Between ends like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249843' first='Davion' last='Kinard-Taylor']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367827' first='Bristol' last='Biegenzahn']</strong> on defense and tackles <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875795' first='Hampton' last='O'Donald']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254118' first='Daniel' last='Dounian']</strong> and a couple others on offense, the Wildcats' establishment is going to see how strong it is.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WHALE BRANCH AT BLUFFTON</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bluffton quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394988' first='Aedan' last='McCarthy']</strong> gets his first start as the 6-foot-3 quarterback looks to open up the season with his active arm cutting loose. He'll target <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402486' first='Carnell' last='Warren']</strong> early and oftenon the outside. The size differential between those two and some of the back seven from Whale Branch - namely <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360396' first='Davon' last='Evans']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='579278' first='Alonzo' last='Allen']</strong> in the hybrid spot - are stark. But don't assume anything in this 4A vs. 2A matchup.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->