Midland's Top Week 0 Games

A lot of seasons, a Week 0 matchup might be a time for a team to ease into the schedule and get things corrected for later down the road. A lot of Midlands teams are taking a different approach with teams with state title aspirations opening against each other.   Some of these games are new and we haven't seen them before. Some others are your classic backyard brawls with teams that have been playing each other for years.   Here is a glance at the best games in the Midlands to open the 2024 season.   CHRIST CHURCH AT HAMMOND   This contest features the two-time SCHSL defending Class A champion Christ Church making a visit to seven-time SCISA defending champion Hammond. That leads to playmakers all over the field.   It starts with the Cavaliers receivers – [player_tooltip player_id='1012637' first='Jackson' last='Repp'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816751' first='Jude' last='Hall'] – against a Hammond secondary that includes [player_tooltip player_id='1360106' first='Zay' last='Mathis'], [player_tooltip player_id='1360365' first='Jaiden' last='Haltiwanger'], Adis Jamison and Preston Springs, all starters a season ago. Add in transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston'] and the back of the Skyhawks defense should be stout.   Repp had over 1,500 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. Hall is a 6-foot-4 ball hawk that finished 2023 with 540 yards and nine touchdowns on 24 receptions. The Skyhawks secondary only allowed 1,585 yards passing a season ago. They held six opponents to less than 80 yards through the air.   [player_tooltip player_id='1013068' first='Tucker' last='Hendrix'] is the triggerman for Christ Church. He finished with 2,803 passing yards and 43 touchdowns.   If those two play to a stalemate, there are plenty of other standouts. Hammond has TE [player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler'], who this week committed to LSU, along with running backs Emmanuel Johnson and Kinson Holland. Those two backs combined for over 2,100 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. Tyler had 33 receptions for 548 yards and seven touchdowns a season ago.   The Shyhawks used four different quarterbacks and three of them returned. [player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner'] saw the bulk of the action in the postseason and is the likely starter. Hammond only returns one starting offensive lineman and no defensive lineman on the other side of the ball. Brewer Lamotte and Drew McCall will anchor the Skyhawks linebacker group.   Christ Church has [player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins'] back in the secondary. George Stathakis, Jackson Linz, Ford Glenn and [player_tooltip player_id='1214975' first='Will' last='Marguet'] lead the front seven on defense.   GILBERT AT LEXINGTON   These two teams are located just 8.9 miles apart and have become a heated rivalry since they started playing each other again.   The Indians will try to control things with a potent 1-2 punch between running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1012653' first='Jaylen' last='Jay']. The pair combined for over 2,400 yards rushing and will try to do the same this season. Gilbert has eight starters back on offense but will have a new quarterback in Cooper James. [player_tooltip player_id='1249788' first='Connor' last='Gooding'] is a large target at tight end and [player_tooltip player_id='1157968' first='Krew' last='Morris'] will be able to stretch the field.   Safety [player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze'] returns after finishing last season with 148 tackles and four interceptions. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1054176' first='Grayson' last='Gunter'] and Cole Keisler will be counted on to be big factors on defense as well.   The Wildcats will counter with a defense that showed no signs of slipping from last season. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='836316' first='Matthew' last='McAulay'] is primed for a huge senior season if he doesn't have to fill in at quarterback or running back for long stretches. Defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1249786' first='Artem' last='Kalinkin'] and Isaiah Saxon should also have big years.   Offensively, Lexington will have a mostly new crew of skill players. Brennan Connor is the new starting quarterback with Nigel Lewis and Bennett Watford being two receiving options. Torie Jones is one the smaller side for a running back, but he can flat out fly. If he gets a step, he's likely taking it to the house.    JAMES ISLAND AT GRAY COLLEGIATE   James Island was one of the best in Class AAAA last season and Gray Collegiate was the runner up to Oceanside Collegiate in Class AA. The Trojans are making the jump to Class AAAAA with the War Eagles jumping to Class AAAA.   James Island built its success on a defense that allowed less than nine points per game last year. Defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1012698' first='Hendrix' last='Beran'] anchors the front along with defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='486418' first='Dalton' last='Woodall'] and [player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson']. Coleman Jones and Luke Thomas return at linebacker with Jamari Rivers locking down the secondary. Jalen Brown-Singletary will see an increased role on offense at receiver and running back.   Gray Collegiate will rely on the experience of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery']. [player_tooltip player_id='1349328' first='Carter' last='Stephens'] and Cameron Davis will anchor the offensive line. The addition of Silver Bluff transfer [player_tooltip player_id='205787' first='Hiszari' last='Gantt'] brings a different level of speed to the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='1359251' first='Zeb' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='402489' first='Davon' last='Toney'] lead the defensive front with linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware'] looking to add to his impressive resume.   OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE AT IRMO   How about this for a season opener – the defending Class AA champion Landsharks on the road against a Class AAAA Yellow Jackets team that made the state semifinals a season ago.   Oceanside Collegiate QB [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] made a splash in the postseason last year and capped it off with a 367-yard performance in the state championship. His top target will likely end up being [player_tooltip player_id='809757' first='Will' last='Virgilio']. [player_tooltip player_id='809745' first='Max' last='Moorman'] is a beast at linebacker that finished with 97 tackles, 12 sacks and eight pass breakups.   Irmo counters with a high-scoring offense led by Virginia Tech commit [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] (2,932 yards passing, 1,113 yards rushing and 62 total touchdowns). He has one of the top junior receivers in the country in [player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] (57 catches, 1,084 yards and 17 touchdowns). The Yellow Jackets are experienced on the offensive line with [player_tooltip player_id='1157979' first='Ryan' last='Love'], [player_tooltip player_id='1165106' first='Bryson' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1267313' first='Vernen' last='Hairens'] leading the way.   Defensively, Irmo was dominant a year ago, allowing eight points a game. They suffered some key losses, but defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] is back along with defensive backs Darius Goodman and Matthew Blocker.   WHITE KNOLL AT CAMDEN   The weekend is capped off with a Saturday tilt between the Timberwolves, the Class AAAAA runner-up last season against the host Bulldogs, the runner-up in Class AAA.   White Knoll has an abundance of experienced talent and is led by QB [player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']. The senior threw for 2,521 yards and 29 touchdowns with just five interceptions last season. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning'] is back but the receivers will be a new look with [player_tooltip player_id='1025815' first='Caleb' last='Geronomi'] and Javon Griffin. Donovan Sims and Jeadon Johnson lead the way on the offensive line. DB [player_tooltip player_id='1012621' first='Devin' last='Geronomi'] and LB [player_tooltip player_id='1083060' first='Connor' last='Burgess'] lead the way.   Camden must replace Grayson White at quarterback and likely will return to [player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson']. [player_tooltip player_id='1157893' first='Jordan' last='Crim'] (pictured) will be a multi-use guy at both receiver and defensive back and he's receiving a lot of attention from Power Four schools. [player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] is another emerging prospect that will help on both sides of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1267206' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson'] is key at defensive end with Tanner Bracey looking to make a bigger impact on the defensive line.   OTHER GAMES TO WATCH   DREHER AT KEENAN   Keenan returns 27 seniors to roster that better as last season progressed. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington'] will have key pieces in receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil'] and Ny'keim McNeil. [player_tooltip player_id='1253913' first='Titus' last='Bowman'] is back on the defensive line with Nigel Williams also providing key depth.     Dreher won five games last year, the most since 2018. Receiver Tyler Teasdale will be a larger part of the offense with [player_tooltip player_id='816750' first='Kaleb' last='Berry'] transferring to Gray Collegiate. Walker Rowe is in line to be the new starting quarterback. [player_tooltip player_id='1575390' first='Willie' last='Smith'] will be counted on to handle duties at running back and linebacker.     ROCK HILL AT RIVER BLUFF   Two teams looking to rebound from subpar campaigns will kick things off at River Bluff.   The Gators went 5-6 least year but have all-everything [player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier'] playing receiver and safety. The East Carolina commit looks primed for a solid senior season. [player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray'] returns at quarterback with an offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='1249821' first='Pac' last='Pitts'] and Kaleb Long. Nathan Shuman will lead a revamped defense.   The Bearcats (6-5 last season) received a boost with the transfer of QB [player_tooltip player_id='809751' first='Ian' last='Grissom'] from Lewisville. He threw for 2,904 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2023. He has a huge receiver target in Florida State commit [player_tooltip player_id='1012834' first='Malik' last='Clark']. Jeremiah Hines and [player_tooltip player_id='1360412' first='EJ' last='Ratley'] will be two other options for Grissom. Defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='649189' first='Justice' last='Foster'] anchors the line.      RIDGE VIEW AT FAIRFIELD CENTRAL   Two teams with high hopes in different classifications will start the season in Winnsboro.   Ridge View comes in with [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron'], one of the top receivers in the country in the 2026 Class. He will be an ample target for first-year starter in QB [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']. Add in fellow receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris'] along with running back [player_tooltip player_id='1283827' first='Aidan' last='Keeffe'], the Blazers should have a potent offense. [player_tooltip player_id='1157942' first='Cleve' last='Tellery'] is the center of the defense on the line with Jordan Best and [player_tooltip player_id='1168540' first='Quency' last='Grant'] holding down the secondary.   The Griffins will be breaking in a new quarterback in either Ford Davis or Kaden Diggs. Leading receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier'] returns but Fairfield Central might be more of a ground and pound attack this season. Grier could slide into a running back role.   SPRING VALLEY AT RICHLAND NORTHEAST   This is another backyard brawl to open the season. North Carolina St commit [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] returns for Richland Northeast and is poised to have a huge senior campaign. He will have [player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] to throw too which will help his cause.   QB [player_tooltip player_id='477819' first='Dylan' last='Redden'] and RB Elijha Dillard hope to improve the Vikings from an 0-10 record in 2023. Linebacker Zakery Burelson hopes to lead a revamped defense.

A lot of seasons, a Week 0 matchup might be a time for a team to ease into the schedule and get things corrected for later down the road. A lot of Midlands teams are taking a different approach with teams with state title aspirations opening against each other.