Midlands Week 2 Games To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Midlands will feature several games in Week 2 that feature ranked teams going against each other but also there are some games that feature other teams that have caught people's attention early in the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at seven games that we think could end up being outstanding early season matchups.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Batesburg-Leesville (1-0) at Abbeville (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In years past, this was one of the top games whenever these two programs met. It looks like it's heading back in that direction. Abbeville is the top ranked team in Class A after being successful in Class 2A for several years. Batesburg-Leesville moved into the Class 2A ranking this week with a shutout win over Wagner-Salley in their season opener.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abbeville will bring the talents of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249802' first='Damarcus' last='Leach']</strong> who might line up anywhere for the Panthers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249809' first='Karson' last='Norman']</strong> and <strong>Jha'Louis Hadden</strong> will handle the bulk of the ground game, but Leach is a threat anytime he touches the ball. <strong>Will New</strong> and <strong>Cooper Hansen</strong> lead the way up front. <strong>Altavious Patterson</strong> and <strong>AJ Speech </strong>anchor a solid defensive front with <strong>Gage Evans</strong> at linebacker. Leach patrols the middle from his safety spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers will lean on the running of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong>. The junior ran for nearly 200 yards in the win last Friday. <strong>Tanner Watkins</strong> is a three-year starter at quarterback. <strong>Ty Anderson</strong> and <strong>Matthew Howard</strong> are two mainstays on the offensive line. <strong>Jamarius Clark</strong> will play both receiver and defensive back. Defensive lineman <strong>John Sawyer</strong> is a three-year starter on a unit that only must replace one starter from a season ago. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton (1-1) at Newberry (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Devils will lean on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012830' first='Tushawan' last='Richardson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook']</strong> against a strong Newberry defense. Richardson is the trigger person and is a throw first quarterback with <strong>Devin Swindler</strong> being the top option when they do throw the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='150043' first='Brett' last='Young']</strong> is a tackling machine from his linebacker spot with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592507' first='Luke' last='Young']</strong> and <strong>Chris Boyd</strong> providing more than adequate support.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newberry has <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254060' first='Isaiah' last='Glymph']</strong>, <strong>Stephen Joseph</strong> and <strong>Caleb Levy</strong> on the defensive side of things that has allowed 14 points in two games. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473022' first='BJ' last='Jones']</strong> leads the ground base offensive attack with <strong>Bryce Satterwhite</strong> at quarterback. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816735' first='Jamel' last='Howse']</strong> is a beast as a 6-foot-3, 208-pound receiver. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dutch Fork (1-0) at Ridge View (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nobody can claim Ridge View isn't playing a difficult schedule. Dutch Fork will be the third ranked opponent in three games and the Silver Foxes are currently No. 1 in Class 5A. The Blazers have explosive offensively with QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> being the trigger man. In two games, the sophomore has 579 passing yards and five touchdowns. And that is with his top target in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']</strong> getting off to a slow start. Defenses are keying on Gidron and that has limited the junior to just 87 yards receiving on 15 catches. That has allowed <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078102' first='Darius' last='Carter']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson']</strong> to become bigger factors. Carter leads the team with 182 yards receiving on 12 receptions with Jackson posting 155 yards on nine grabs. <strong>Aidan Keefe</strong> is going to the main ball carrier. On the other side of the ball, linebackers <strong>Markeith Thomas</strong> and <strong>Tyler Cheatham </strong>lead the way. DE <strong>Darryl Spencer</strong> helps apply pressure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 5A champion Silver Foxes have only played once. The defense limited Spartanburg to seven points and 130 yards of total offense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong>, <strong>Jarvis Jackson</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254033' first='Derek' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] </strong>and <strong>Daniel Williams</strong> were the main reasons the Vikings only rushed for 11 yards on 19 attempts. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574071' first='Carl' last='Fulmer']</strong> added two sacks. Dutch Fork has QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> and he looks healthy early in the season. He threw for 228 yards and three touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360308' first='Boykin' last='Bickley']</strong> caught 8 passes for 129 and two scores. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith'] </strong>added the other receiving TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Hartsville (0-0-1) at Camden (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a rivalry between two of the best programs in the state over the last several years. Camden looks very strong defensively in the early going. <strong>Logan Freeman</strong> leads the way after two games with 20.5 tackles and <strong>Evan Presbot</strong> (19.5) and <strong>Tyler Edwards</strong> (18) just off the pace. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267206' first='Dontrell' last='Wilson']</strong> and <strong>Tanner Bracey</strong> apply pressure on the quarterback. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157893' first='Jordan' last='Crim']</strong> is a top prospect in the secondary. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson'] </strong>has taken the controls at quarterback and has rushed for a team-best 182 yards and 184 yards passing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford']</strong> is a matchup problem at wide receiver.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hartsville played to a rare tie this past week when the game against Carolina Forest was halted in the second half. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters']</strong> led the way with 58 yards rushing and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578854' first='EJ' last='Smith']</strong> threw for two touchdowns and ran for another. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578873' first='Coleman' last='Radcliff']</strong> was credited with 13 tackles with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012620' first='Web' last='Barnes']</strong> adding 11 stops and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272699' first='Da'Marion' last='Coe']</strong> added nine tackles. Coe added a kickoff return for a TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orangeburg-Wilkinson (2-0) at Airport (0-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's make no bones about it. The Bruins want to line up and run right at you. In two wins this season, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1361647' first='Derrick' last='Thomas']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1126113' first='Jordan' last='Avinger']</strong> are each averaging over 112 yards rushing per game and <strong>Demonta Sistrunk</strong> has added 80 yards on the ground. Freshman&nbsp;<strong>Brendan Peoples</strong> has only thrown nine passes but completed eight of them for 103 yards and three touchdowns with two of those going to <strong>Hughston Free</strong>. Avinger has added six tackles as well. Defensively, Sistrunk, <strong>Nicholas Payne</strong> and <strong>Davonte Myers</strong> lead the way with double digit tackles on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The O-W rushing attack might lead to the strength of the Airport team. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157982' first='Montrelle' last='Keys']</strong>, <strong>Justin Conyers</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry']</strong> are a formidable trio in stopping the run. They each recorded nine tackles in the season-opening loss for the Eagles. Each had a tackle for loss and Keys and Conyers recovered fumbles. Airport had a bye week and that was more time to work with freshman QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady']</strong>. He threw for 92 yards and added 45 yards rushing against May River. <strong>Isahia Clemons</strong> is the leading receiver after one game and <strong>Kendrick Pearson</strong> is the leading rusher.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Porter-Gaud (3-0) at Hammond (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner']</strong> is the person that drives the Hammond attack that averages 52 points per game. He's thrown for 515 yards and five touchdowns and is the second leading rusher with 121 yards in two scores for an offense that is averaging 420 yards per game. He has a go-to back in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575317' first='Immanuel' last='Johnson']</strong> (199 yards and four TD's) and a bruising backup in <strong>Kinson Holland</strong> (107 yards on just nine carries and 107 yards on three receptions). His receiving group also includes LSU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler']</strong>, <strong>Jack Croft </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267282' first='Daylin' last='Haltiwanger']</strong> (pictured). Defensively, linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262172' first='Bubba' last='Alexander']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross']</strong> are key in the front seven with <strong>Adis Jamison</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360365' first='Jaiden' last='Haltiwanger']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston']</strong> leading a talented secondary. Jamison leads the way with 10 tackles, three pass breakups and an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cyclones on the other hand have a three-headed monster for running the ball. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157754' first='JJ' last='Fludd']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360313' first='Tony' last='Brown']</strong> and <strong>Nolen Shuman</strong> have combined for 1,086 rushing yards in three games and average 48.1 points. Fludd is already at 524 yards and 11 touchdowns in three games. Shuman has thrown just 17 passes in three games but that will have to change against the Skyhawks. <strong>Mills Knapp</strong> leads the defensive charge with 36 tackles, five tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble. Brown and <strong>Benjamin Tolley</strong> added 26 tackles and <strong>Austin Smith</strong> chipped in with 23 tackles. Ten different players have 11 tackles or more for Porter-Gaud with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360276' first='Chase' last='Anderson']</strong> next in line with 18 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westwood (1-1) at Richland Northeast (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This might not have been a game on the radar before the season but now it looks attractive. Westwood received 138 yards rushing from <strong>Angel Rios</strong> and <strong>Quentin McGill</strong> added 89 yards with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734561' first='Carrington' last='Carter']</strong> throwing for 215 yards in a win over Lakewood. <strong>Cam Bennett</strong> was the top receiver. Linebackers <strong>Jayce Rios </strong>and <strong>Matthew McCoy</strong> have been the driving force for the Redhawks defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers counter with a three-headed attack on offense that includes QB [player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson'] and WRs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette']</strong> and <strong>Dillon Hughey</strong>. Those three have been most of the attack on offense with Wilson accounting for over 500 yards of total offense in the win over Crestwood last week. Defensively, <strong>Demarcus Haliburton</strong>, <strong>Donohue McNeal</strong> and <strong>Jerell Turner</strong> lead the defensive attack. Turner looks like a lockdown corner that can shadow the opponent's best receiver. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->