Upstate Games To Watch In Week 1

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of 5A top 10 matchups and several games showcasing intriguing strength-on-strength battles are on tap for Week 1 in the Upstate. Here's a look at what could shape up to be four of the best games in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A No. 2 Gaffney at 5A No. 6 J.L. Mann</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Suddenly, this Upstate rivalry has taken a huge spot on the schedule, as both teams played deep into the 5A playoffs a year ago. Expectations are sky-high in both communities, and particularly in Gaffney. The Indians have a ton of talent back on offense, notably standout RB [player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell'], WR [player_tooltip player_id='1254122' first='Jamarcus' last='Smith'] and transfer QB [player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore']. But the Indians are loaded beyond just the skill positions. They've got two of the best OL in the state in [player_tooltip player_id='797158' first='Shedrick' last='Sarratt'] (pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='212409' first='Scottland' last='Dover'], and LBs [player_tooltip player_id='605522' first='Andrew' last='Ruppe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1394986' first='Zyan' last='Ratchford'] are as good as you'll find. Throw in the fact that Indians' coach Dan Jones has already announced 2024 as his last ride with the team, and you've got a talented, motivated Gaffney team ready to take the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the other side of the ball, Mann is just reinforcing last year's fantastic season. Ethan Anderson is gone at QB, and so are some of the weapons that made him great, but the Patriots have PLENTY back. Start with one of the deepest backfields in the state, as OJ Jones, [player_tooltip player_id='1249774' first='Nacyus' last='Morrison'], and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1012565' first='LaDainnian' last='Martin'] combined for 174 yards and three TDs last week. New QB <strong>McLeod Darnell</strong> was 15-for-16 and threw for 188 yards and two more scores, with [player_tooltip player_id='1249825' first='Keyshun' last='Henderson'] leading the way at WR. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1249737' first='Wyatt' last='Ward'] is an absolute wrecking ball, and the secondary is among the strongest in the area. Aside from all-everything standouts <strong>Ramone Whitner</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='390438' first='Ramani' last='Bruton'], <strong>Joshua Lee</strong> picked off two passes in last week's win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>5A No. 1 Dutch Fork at 5A No. 10 Spartanburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the past couple years, the Vikings have fared pretty well against the Silver Foxes in the regular season, pushing Dutch Fork to the limit in 2022 and beating them last season. But the last thing the two-time defending state champs need is a chip on their shoulder, and that's what they've got. Last season's early injuries and struggles seem to have motivated Tom Knotts' squad, and they're back with a vengance. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] is back to lead the offense, with RB [player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson'] and ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']. The Foxes' OL is deep and talented (as usual), led by [player_tooltip player_id='1012842' first='Josh' last='Benson']. On defense, DL [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] is a game-wrecker, with DB [player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions'] and LB [player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters'] giving Dutch Fork an explosive player at every level on that side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartanburg rallied from 10 points down to win last week, largely on the strength of [player_tooltip player_id='816752' first='Will' last='Love']'s performance. Love broke the school record - twice - with kicks of 49 and 51 yards, then knocked in a 10-yarder in the closing seconds to push the Vikings past South Pointe. Spartanburg was a little beat up, but when they're right, the Vikings are as good as anyone. [player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1249806' first='Peyton' last='Jones'] often look unstoppable as a duo at LB, with ATH [player_tooltip player_id='346191' first='Calvin' last='Choice'] contributing on both sides of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1278414' first='John' last='Hammond'] and <strong>Trey Weathers</strong> are standouts at OL, and a young group should continue to grow around them. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] has been special since his first carry as a freshman, and WR [player_tooltip player_id='1359184' first='Justin' last='Rice'] is a gamebreaker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A No. 1 Belton-Honea Path at Greer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game will be an interesting battle between BHP's all-everything RB [player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson'] and Greer's talented DL. But as talented as Henderson is, the BHP offense has a lot more to offer. QB [player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas'] is capable of taking over a game with his arm as well as his legs, while [player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon'] and <strong>MJ Earls</strong> will see more carries in support of Henderson. The Bears are similarly loaded on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin'] was one of the best DBs in the state last year regardless of class, and he's just a sophomore. [player_tooltip player_id='1372151' first='Jakyri' last='Anderson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1249760' first='Tye' last='Kelly'] are absolute monsters at LB, while Lathon will play heavily on defense as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greer will counter with a defensive front that brings everybody back, including [player_tooltip player_id='1359146' first='Isaiah' last='McCoy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1405194' first='Paden' last='Armstrong'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1405166' first='Aiden' last='Jones'], all of whom excel at stopping the run as well as getting pressure and making tackles behind the line of scrimmage. LB [player_tooltip player_id='1254107' first='Brody' last='Diggins'] is another player the Yellow Jackets will lean on, and he's explosive getting to the ball and violent when he gets there. Offensively, Greer is a work in progress. <strong>Nick Holmes</strong> will lead the way on the ground, with [player_tooltip player_id='600452' first='Kaden' last='Rowland'] running the offense at QB. <strong>Max Hannon </strong>and <strong>Brock Diggins</strong> will be his main targets, and Rowland will operate behind a veteran line led by [player_tooltip player_id='1013076' first='Kaleb' last='Nelson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1319670' first='Eduardo' last='Garcia-Duran']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wren at Easley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How about a game that could turn into a battle of gunslingers before the night's over? Both of the QBs in this game are more than capable with their legs as well as their arms, and that could show up early. For Wren, QB [player_tooltip player_id='1158040' first='Colten' last='Bagwell'] threw for 145 yards and two scores on Friday, while [player_tooltip player_id='1253994' first='Reese' last='Price'] accounted for 99 yards and a touchdown in a 35-0 win over Palmetto. Those two will be crucial to the Hurricanes' success, as will [player_tooltip player_id='605526' first='Tyler' last='Morgan']. Morgan has played all over the place for Wren, but seems to have found a home at DB.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morgan and his teammates in the defensive backfield will be tested, because Easley is gonna sling it. All QB [player_tooltip player_id='1025811' first='Jay' last='Stoker'] did last Friday was to throw for 408 yards and rush for 82 more, giving him 490 total yards and five total TDs on the night. <strong>Kaidin Davis </strong>had a huge night at WR, with seven catches for 237 yards and a score, while Aaron Tolbert churned out 67 yards on the ground for the Green Wave. Defensively, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592570' first='Kobe' last='Preston']</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1254142' first='Kyler' last='Turner'] will be among the standouts to watch for Easley. They totaled 16 and 13 tackles respecrively last week, with turner adding an interception and a pass deflection</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->