Midlands Week 4 Games To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region play is beginning across the state and that includes several intriguing matchups across the Midlands. This will be the halfway point for a lot of teams. The weather will start turning much cooler soon and we know not long after that, the playoffs will start.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at six of the top games across the Midlands this week as we hit the midway point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BARNWELL (3-1) at SWANSEA (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swansea might be one of the surprises of the season, sitting undefeated after four weeks. But the competition gets tougher this week with Barnwell paying a visit. The War Horses will look to <strong>Nehemiah Brown</strong> and <strong>Jaquan Peeples</strong> to carry the load on the ground but don't count out <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin']</strong> playing a huge role in both the run and passing game. Those three have combined to rush for 668 of Barnwell's 703 yards. <strong>Logan Sturkie</strong> is the leading receiver with 102 yards on nine receptions. Ten players have double figures in tackles. <strong>Demajahi Devoe</strong> has 28 tackles to pace the attack with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254065' first='Lex' last='Thomas']</strong> (25 tackles) and <strong>William Robinson</strong> (24 tackles) adding plenty of support.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swansea hasn't allowed more than 20 points in a game this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756588' first='William' last='Geddis']</strong> has 43 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks and interception and fumble recovery. <strong>Jerel Wise</strong> has added 23 tackles and <strong>Jeremiah Williams</strong> has 20 tackles and six quarterback pressures. <strong>Chase Alley</strong> has recovered two of the Tigers seven caused fumbles. Offensively. <strong>Teysean Charley</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell']</strong> combined to rush for 685 yards and 12 total touchdowns. QB <strong>Jacob Harper</strong> has thrown it just enough to keep defenses honest. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHERAW (2-2) at RIVER BLUFF (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators survived a scare against Gilbert to remain undefeated and now welcome the Braves team that snapped a two-game losing streak with a win over Darlington.&nbsp; It's very evident that Cheraw wants <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1303846' first='Cam' last='McClendon']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321038' first='Justyn' last='Joint'] </strong>to do the bulk of the offensive work. Those two have dominated the carries so for this season and have combined to rush for over 600 yards. Defensively, defensive back <strong>Robert Brown</strong> and defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422635' first='Anthony' last='Strong']</strong> lead the way that held three of four opponents to 20 points or less.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>River Bluff with counter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592250' first='Hayden' last='Myers']</strong> running and the passing of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray'] </strong>(811 passing yards). Myers has 463 yards and three touchdowns to lead a revamped ground attack. Murray has only one interception with eight touchdowns. His top two targets – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360145' first='Aaron' last='Griffin']</strong> (pictured) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']</strong> – have combined for 45 receptions for 521 yards and four scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249821' first='Pac' last='Pitts']</strong> and <strong>Kaleb Long </strong>lead an experienced and big offensive line. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578721' first='Blaine' last='Fender']</strong> has 23 tackles with <strong>Nathan Shuman</strong> leading the way with four tackles for loss.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEENAN (2-2) at ORANGEBURG-WILKINSON (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This should be a good one with Keenan suffering two close losses to higher classification schools and the Bruins coming in undefeated. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington']</strong>, RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422608' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal']</strong> and receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578683' first='Nykeim' last='McNeil']</strong> are the bulk of the offense for the Raiders. Washington has 754 passing yards with [player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil'] being the leading receiver with 16 catches for 304 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1578683' first='Nykeim' last='McNeil'] is next with 11 grabs and 169 yards. O'Neal has 459 yards rushing and another 117 receiving with a total of five touchdowns. Linebacker <strong>Ty'quez Taylor</strong> is one of the leading tacklers in the state with 43 on the season. A pair of sophomores, <strong>Nicholas Thomas</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon']</strong> have contributed 33 tackles each.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1361647' first='Derrick' last='Thomas']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1126113' first='Jordan' last='Avinger']</strong> have 775 yards rushing between them and both are averaging over 14 yards per carry. The Bruins show a lot of balance on the defensive side of things with nine different players already in double figures for tackles. LB <strong>Nicolas Payne</strong> leads the way with 24 tackles, but LB <strong>Derrick Neals</strong> has added 23 stops with LB <strong>Demonta Sistrunk</strong> adding 21 tackles. LB <strong>Davonte Myers</strong> is next with 18 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MYRTLE BEACH (1-2) at IRMO (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Much is always made about the Irmo offense and rightfully so, but the defense could be shaping into form as we near region play. The Yellow Jackets are allowing just over 18 points a game but held Carolina Forest to just 7 points a week ago. Now they welcome Myrtle Beach to town. Defensive end <strong>Ethan Gamble</strong> along with defensive backs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1604012' first='Jamar' last='Grissett']</strong>, <strong>Terin Bowman</strong> and <strong>Darius Goodson</strong> will try to keep the Seahawks at bay. Sophomore defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong> continues to impress every time we look at his film.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myrtle Beach will lean on the passing of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe']</strong> and running of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394751' first='Michael' last='Cohen']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267229' first='Antonio' last='Brown'] </strong>to keep pace with the Yellow Jackets offense. The Seahawks have lost two straight. Brown comes up big in the passing game with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272701' first='John' last='Simmons'] </strong>being a big-time playmaker as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RICHLAND NORTHEAST (4-0) AT CAMDEN (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You might want to grab your popcorn for this Region 3-AAAA opener. It's the high-powered RNE offense (41 points per game) against a strong Camden defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's start with what should be an entertaining matchup in the passing game. The Cavaliers trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] </strong>(27 catches, 478 yards), <strong>Dillon Hughey</strong> (13 catches, 233 yards) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603911' first='Isaiah' last='Small']</strong> (18 catches, 251 yards) against the Camden secondary that includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157893' first='Jordan' last='Crim']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford']</strong> among others. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] </strong>is the triggerman for the Cavaliers, and he already has 1,152 yards passing and 479 yards rushing. Linebackers <strong>Logan Freeman</strong> and <strong>Evan Presbot</strong> will be key when Wilson tucks it and runs. The Bulldogs will try to keep pace with the high-soaring RNE offense with the running of quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson'] </strong>(442 yards rushing). &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>WEST FLORENCE (3-1) at LUGOFF-ELGIN (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is Region 5-AAAAA opener, and it should go a long way towards playoff seeding. The Demons are one of the bigger surprises from the Midlands area, but coach Leon Boulware expected this quick turnaround. Lugoff-Elgin uses a big offensive line paced by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='790770' first='Christian' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>Daniel McCaskill </strong>to open things up for the skill position guys. Receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson']</strong> have been electric. <strong>Jar'kese Grant </strong>leads the rushing attack. Defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639661' first='Fernando' last='Simuel']</strong> is a tackling machine with 64 on the season. &nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592561' first='Preston' last='Rhodes']</strong> is not far behind with 52 tackles. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422637' first='Corey' last='Murphy']</strong> has three interceptions, and seven passes defended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights will want to run the ball with <strong>Jeremiah Bryant</strong> and <strong>Zion Hill</strong> running behind an experienced led by <strong>Kairahn Curry</strong> and <strong>Clinton Free</strong> – both tackles. Versatile <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013062' first='Keshawn' last='Johnson']</strong> filled in for injured starter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664594' first='Avery' last='Weaver']</strong> at quarterback last week and threw for 228 yards and four touchdowns. Receivers <strong>Ja'Aun Perkins</strong>, <strong>Kielen Thomas</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159496' first='Terry' last='Lowery']</strong> are the top targets. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165145' first='Clayton' last='Folse']</strong> had a pick-6 in a 41-0 win over Wilson last week.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->