Midlands Players To Watch Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have one week under our belt and there is still lots to learn about each team. After looking at the landscape, we have a little better feeling for what teams and players to watch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midlands is loaded with talent. Most teams have that one game under their belts, but others will be starting their season this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We look at the players we think will have a huge impact on this week's games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong> QB, AC Flora and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro']</strong> QB, Chapin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two programs have played some entertaining games in recent years and this one could be shaping up to be a shootout. Wentzky and Albro are capable of throwing for a ton of yards and touchdowns as they both did in week zero. Wentzky threw for 157 yards and four scores while Albro threw for 301 yards and four scores as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis']</strong> will be the top targets for Wentzky with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149052' first='Khalen' last='Bostick']</strong> being the top options for Albro.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15187465/66ca5cbcc91f14cc9220efe8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ce1f22998c8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braden Marye</strong> RB, Ben Lippen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior will be key as freshman QB <strong>KJ Dupree</strong> gets his feet under him. Marye ran for over 100 yards in the season-opening win while Dupree added 38 yards rushing and 49 yards passing. The Falcons face a strong Trinity Collegiate team on the road Friday and will need Marye to have a huge game again. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trace Nettles</strong> RB, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators went for almost 500 yards of total offense last week. Nettles had 136 yards rushing while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592250' first='Hayden' last='Myers']</strong> added 97 yards and another touchdown. River Bluff gets a Brookland-Cayce team that is playing its first game this week. If Nettle and Myers run the ball with success, it can keep the Bearcats offense off the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> QB, Irmo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brand hasn't missed a beat from the video game numbers he posted last season. He passed for 220 yards and ran 75 and accounted for four total touchdowns. He will be facing Byrnes's defense that limited TL Hanna to just 19 points in the season-opener. If Brand can have another strong showing, he has a chance to place another assault on the record books.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EJ Richardson</strong> WR and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq']</strong> WR, Lugoff-Elgin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Demons offense proved they have more weapons than seasons past and Richardson (pictured) and Saadiq are at the forefront. Richardson scored in three different ways last week – receiving, kickoff return and passing. His game winner to Saadiq came from 41 yards out with 16 seconds remaining. They now face a Camden defense that limited White Knoll to less than 300 yards of total offense. Those two will have to come up huge if Lugoff-Elgin wants to keep it close.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson']</strong> QB, Camden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thompson got his first start, and it came with mixed results. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes and threw two interceptions. But he was very effective running the ball, finishing with a team-best 74 yards rushing. He will be facing a Lugoff-Elgin defense that allowed 34 points and big rushing numbers last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jack Laird</strong> OL, Cardinal Newman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford'] is getting all the headlines with over 700 yards rushing in the first two games but Laird, a Marshall commit, is one of the big reasons why. Laird is a 6-foot-6, 300-pound mountain but he's also got help in creating holes for Ford. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172369' first='Wells' last='Lewis']</strong>, <strong>Zach Rhodes</strong> and freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301043' first='Jeremiah' last='McGowan']</strong> (6-foot-4, 300 pounds) have also been instrumental in the Cardinals ground attack so far.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575390' first='Willie' last='Smith']</strong> RB, Dreher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Devils play host to Cardinal Newman this week and it could end up being two huge nights for the ground attacks. Smith rushed for four touchdowns last week and will be looking for another huge night against the Cardinals defense. Whichever team runs the ball the best should control the outcome of this one. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Justin Wright</strong> QB, Columbia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Capitals opened the season with a win for the first time since 2020. Wright was instrumental in that with 127 yards rushing and another 42 yards passing. Now Columbia gets a Pelion team coming off a 27-6 loss to Williston-Elko. If Wright and the running game can get going, Columbia might start the season 2-0. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell']</strong> RB, Swansea</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers won for the first time since 2022 thanks to the efforts of Caldwell. He ran for 87 of the 301 rushing yards for Swansea and scored three touchdowns. At one time, Swansea was a powerhouse. Coach Willie Fox is in his first season and hopes to return to that glory. Running the football is going to have to be the staple if that is the case. They have a chance to improve to 2-0 with a matchup with Denmark-Olar this Friday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> QB, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 5A champions are playing their season-opener on the road against Spartanburg. The Silver Foxes started 2-5 last season, including a 17-6 loss to the Vikings, before winning eight games in a row to win their eighth championship since 2013. Offing is healthy and has the job to himself after sharing time last season. He threw for 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns with six interceptions. His play will be key if Dutch Fork wants to start fast.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware']</strong> LB, Gray Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The War Eagles will be traveling to Baylor School in Tennessee this week. If Boulware can match his output from last week – 13 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack and one quarterback pressure – Gray can make this game competitive. Baylor School just played on ESPN and has several Power 4 prospects on their roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575317' first='Immanuel' last='Johnson']</strong> RB, Hammond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Skyhawks opened the season in impressive form with a big win over Christ Church. He ran for 106 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 1, 17 and 4 yards. Johnson has to continue running the ball hard behind a revamped offensive line. Hammond will travel to Pinewood Prep in a showdown with one of the teams that are hoping to knock off the seven-time defending SCISA state champs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='836316' first='Matthew' last='McAulay']</strong> LB/RB, Lexington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If the Wildcats are going to be successful this season, the defense will be the catalyst. McAulay is right there in the middle of it all, recording 11 tackles, two pass breakups and for good measure rushing for a touchdown in the win over Gilbert. North Augusta has a better offense than the Indians and McAulay and defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249786' first='Artem' last='Kalinkin']</strong> will have to be huge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong> WR, Blythewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Quarterback <strong>Johnny Collins</strong> threw for four touchdowns last week and Coleman showed he's going to be a huge part of the offense after transferring in this offseason. He finished with five catches for 105 yards with a touchdown and added an 84-yard kickoff return for another score. The Bengals get another test against Midland Valley this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17786336/66c9c71b922f7c8e9dbc3bb5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66ce1f229991a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong> WR, Ridge View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ok, this one is a no-brainer for us. We've been high on Gidron for a while, and he never seems to be disappointed with his performance. He returned a kickoff for a score, added nine receptions for 55 yards and added 26 yards rushing and a TD. The Blazers now face a talented Northwestern team. The scoreboard should get a workout this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> RB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Peeples always seems to be good for over 100 yards rushing and one to two touchdowns each and every week. Those yards might be hard to come by with a trip to White Knoll on the horizon. But until proven otherwise, Peeples will be the workhorse for the Gamecocks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings']</strong> DL, White Knoll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Timberwolves lost a ton defensively from last season but proved in a hard-fought win over Camden that they might have just reloaded. Jennings, the 6-foot-2, 285 sophomore recorded 10 tackles in the opener and will be a key in trying to slow the Sumter rushing attack.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->