Mid-Season Report In The CSRA

While some schools like Aiken, South Aiken and Midland Valley will remain sidelined during Week 6, here's a good time to look at how some of the CSRA teams have progressed through the first month of the season.   Barnwell (5-1)   An effective power-run game and a stifling defense has the Warhorses in position to both contend for the region title and make a playoff run. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin'] has provided a balanced effort with his passing (45-56, 579 yards, four touchdowns) and rushing (382 yards, 10 touchdowns). The backfield of Jordan Peeples, Ja'Quan Peeples and Nehemiah Brown provide quickness and depth running behind a big offensive line led by  6-foot-5, 290-pound tackle Tony Cherry,  Klayton Zissett and center Lamar Buxton. The Warhorses' defense have aggressive, active linebackers in [player_tooltip player_id='1254065' first='Lex' last='Thomas'], Logan Sturkie and Jeremiah Eady and defensive linemen  Jahlian Carter, Henri Creech and Adrian Saxton help slow down the run. The secondary has athletic, quick-reacting defensive backs with the Peeples, Jayden Pinkney and [player_tooltip player_id='1603960' first='Damahjai' last='Devoe'].     Bamberg-Erhardt (2-2)   The Red Raiders have gone through an up and down season. North Carolina Central quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby'] has operated in the ‘Nascar” package this season with young receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann'] remains one of Bamberg-Ehrhardt's most versatile offensive players rushing and catching the football. He has shared carries with Demetrius Odom running behind offensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1157986' first='Javaris' last='Logan'], Eric Stevens, Tristian Jenkins and Brennan Glover. For the second half of the season, the defense will look to return to its stifling form from last season with Logan and Tristian Jenkins upfront and Cann, Jaden Milhouse and Jalen Willis in the secondary.     Blackville-Hilda (4-1)   The Hawks have won four straight games since losing the season opener to Barnwell. University of South Carolina commit [player_tooltip player_id='605527' first='Jaquel' last='Holman'] is a catalyst on both sides of the football. He leads the team with 648 rushing yards and five touchdowns and the 6-foot 2, 200-pound senior is problematic at the flex position where he can pressure the quarterback, make run stops and even drop back to defend the pass. Quarterback Samari Williams provides a second offensive option for Blackville-Hilda as a dual threat. He's second on the team in rushing and has four touchdowns on the season, three to [player_tooltip player_id='1395064' first='Messiah' last='McFadden']. The offensive line is a blend of youth and experience with Andrew Brown, sophomores Noah Williams, tight end Terrion Johnson,  Timothy Beard, Isaiah Greggs and [player_tooltip player_id='1003565' first='Jayden' last='Dash']. The “Hit Harder Hawks” live up their billing with linebackers Ricky Richburg, [player_tooltip player_id='1359157' first='Jabarius' last='Johnson'] and Brandon Priester. Defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='1036784' first='Kaiden' last='Aiken'] and Jaden Berry are hard-hitters and provide blanket coverage.     Midland Valley (1-4, 1-1)   The Mustangs picked up their first victory of the season last Wednesday after Brookland-Cayce. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='272712' first='Preston' last='McNair'] is coming off one of his best games of the season. Midland Valley has utilized two quarterbacks in Xavier Jeter and Preston Butler. Head coach Brent Dorn believes both players will benefit from the competition as he brings together a young roster.     North Augusta (4-1, 2-0)   Aside from the 1-point home loss to Lexington in Week 2, the Yellow Jackets have maintained their winning ways in the 8-team Region 3-4A. It starts on offense which revolves around the play of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1031336' first='Corey' last='Tillman'] and running back [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe']. Tillman has thrown for 743 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 223 yards and three scores. He's accomplished this despite injuries and the absence of leading wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1013040' first='Connor' last='Brown'] with Hakeem Lawrence, Nick Grant and [player_tooltip player_id='1734528' first='Toian' last='Nabriat']. As for Doe, running behind a relatively experiended offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='1251916' first='Malcolm' last='Gaston'] has kept him on pace for another 1,000-yard season. The defensive line has emerged as one of the team's strengths with Davion McKinnis, [player_tooltip player_id='1254097' first='Deondre' last='Baskett'] , [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] and Alex Powell. An early concern is special teams where PAT struggles proved costly in the 1-point loss to the Wildcats. Like other Aiken County schools, the Yellow Jackets may find themselves having to make up two games.     Strom Thurmond (3-1)   The Rebels have found success in non-region play with a defense which had held opponents to 11.50 points per game and averages 205 rushing yards a contest. Running back Deonte Phillips leads the team with 302 yards and four touchdowns, followed by Cam Blacks and Trenquilis Mathis. Quarterback Bri'Shaun Lee is playing his first full season as a starter, but already has a connection with [player_tooltip player_id='1254050' first='Jay' last='Sewell']. He and the senior have connected on three touchdowns this season. Trent Kelly, Tucker Mims and Micah Warren make up the nucleus of the offensive line. On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1249754' first='Josh' last='Merriweather'] provides a pass rush, Wytravious Dugar is the team's second leading tackler and [player_tooltip player_id='617663' first='Kaleb' last='Simpkins'] plays all over the field in the secondary.     South Aiken (2-3, 0-2)   As expected, it's the [player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards'] show for the Thoroughbreds. The senior has rushed for 1,149 yards and 14 touchdowns in his fourth straight 1,000-yard season. He's boosted by an experienced offensive line with guards [player_tooltip player_id='1394751' first='Michael' last='Cohen'] and Santos Whitt, center Elijah Phillips and tackles Caden Eichelberger and Sebastian Galo. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1454176' first='Tucker' last='Bryan'] has thrown three of his four touchdowns to [player_tooltip player_id='1036785' first='Kyson' last='McLeod']. The defense is led by linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='797153' first='Garrett' last='Still'], defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1172344' first='Ray' last='Harris'] and Markell Brown and defensive backs Kristopher Lee and Justin Bradley.     Ridge Spring-Monetta (3-2)   The Trojans are a victory away from matching their win total from the previous two seasons. Brannon commended the entire team for their growth over the offseason and highlighted seniors like defensive lineman Braylon Smith, defensive back Briston Matthews and linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1578768' first='Jarvis' last='Bush'] for taking a leadership role for the Trojans. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1604020' first='Jaiden' last='Holloway'] has made a quick impact in two games as a starting quarterback. He's also the Trojans' one-man special teams as he returns all kicks and is the team's punter and placekicker. Gabe King has performed well as an H-back in the “Sheepdog Offense”.

While some schools like Aiken, South Aiken and Midland Valley will remain sidelined during Week 6, here's a good time to look at how some of the CSRA teams have progressed through the first month of the season.