Midlands Midseason Report: 10 Teams That Impressed

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have reached the midpoint of the season and region play has already started or will start up this week. Weather has been disruptive to several teams in the western part of the state, so we wanted to step back, reset and look at 10 teams from the Midlands that have really impressed during the first half of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Blythewood (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This has become the Year of The Quarterback in the Midlands and <strong>Johnny Collins</strong> has put himself firmly in the conversation. The Bengals junior signal-caller has thrown for 1,467 yards and 17 touchdowns. He will need to cut down on the seven interceptions as they go down the stretch. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong> (29 catches, 537 yards, 8 touchdowns), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172370' first='Kanye' last='Reed']</strong> (23-379, 3 touchdowns) and <strong>Ben Hendrix</strong> (15-284, 5 touchdowns) are a formidable trio that are a big play waiting to happen. The Bengals have not allowed more than 14 points in a game this season and are allowing just nine points per game. A lot of that has to do with the play of linebacker/defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157753' first='Kemuel' last='Little']</strong> (35 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and eight sacks), linebacker <strong>Chandler Boulware</strong> (26 tackles, eight tackles for loss and six sacks) and defensive tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders']</strong> (19 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks). <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578815' first='Jaylen' last='Reaves']</strong> plays a lockdown corner and has three interceptions and 25 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dutch Fork (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 5A champions might be better this season than they were a season ago. The Silver Foxes are undefeated through four games and have allowed just seven points on the season and allow 152 yards per game. The leading tackler is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith']</strong>, who has 26 tackles and three tackles for loss on the season but there is plenty of help. Linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> has 25 tackles and three tackles for loss and <strong>Jarvis Jackson</strong> has tallied 20 tackles with defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254033' first='Derek' last='Smith']</strong> adding 19 stops. The defensive front is anchored by <strong>Daniel Williams</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574071' first='Carl' last='Fulmer']</strong>. The defensive numbers have been off the charts, but the offense has been more than productive. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> has 874 passing yards and nine touchdowns with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360308' first='Boykin' last='Bickley']</strong> (22 catches, 360 yards and four TDs) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith'] </strong>(18 catches, 168 yards and three scores) are his favorite targets. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson']</strong> runs behind <strong>Joshua Benson</strong> and has 361 yards and six touchdowns. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16221893/66f173736e064f47081c76de' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fdb5a24bf5c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Irmo (5-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If one player has placed a team on his shoulders, it's been the play of Yellow Jackets QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong>. The Virginia Tech commitment has thrown for 1,288 yards and 13 touchdowns while rushing for 490 yards and eight scores. Irmo is never out of the game while Brand is still around. But there is plenty of help as well. Wide Receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph']</strong> (pictured) just reclassified to the 2025 Class and has been spectacular with 42 receptions for 600 yards and three touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller']</strong> has been a welcomed addition and added 28 catches for 505 yards and four TDs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amire' last='White'] </strong>has 432 yards rushing and three touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='756223' first='Nathan' last='Carson'] and Steven Hill provide the protection and blocking up front. Defensive lineman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong> is a star in the making and has 32 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. <strong>Matthew Blocker</strong> and <strong>Ethan Gamble</strong> lead the way with 35 tackles each. <strong>Darius Goodson</strong> and <strong>Terin Bowman </strong>are next in line with 26 tackles each. Defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734510' first='Major' last='Taylor']</strong> has five sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sumter (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks just plug people in and keep winning. They played the last two weeks without <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong>, who was the leading rusher at the time with 580 yards and 12 touchdowns in four games. But since he's gone down with injury, quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson']</strong> and <strong>Kam Fortune</strong> have carried the load. Fortune now has 600 yards rushing and nine touchdowns while Franklin has run for 411 yards and passed for another 554 yards. <strong>Christopher Bentley</strong> has been his top target with 10 catches for 335 yards and four scores. Sumter has been stellar on defense, allowing just at 15 points per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359132' first='Jeremiah' last='Burson'] </strong>has been a huge addition since transferring over 52 tackles, nine tackles for loss, a sack, an interception and two caused fumbles. South Carolina commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison']</strong> has 49 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three sacks, four caused fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Throw in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876560' first='Tymaries' last='Thompson-DuRant']</strong> (49 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two caused fumbles) at linebacker and <strong>W'adar Williams </strong>in the secondary and the Gamecocks can compete with anyone on its schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19708165/66fd86ba35593adebaa8fe79' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fdb5a24bf8d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Richland Northeast (6-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Richland Northeast coach Walt Wilson has said it many times this season – “As long as I have No. 1 ([player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']), I have a chance.” And he's not wrong about that assessment. The NC State commitment has done it all for the Cavaliers. Stats were incomplete but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> has over 1,475 yards passing and 700 yards rushing this season. His wide receivers are what make a lot of things happen as well. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette']</strong> has over 600 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603911' first='Isaiah' last='Small']</strong> and <strong>Dillon Hughey</strong> are also a big part of the passing attack, but Hughey has missed time with injury. <strong>Cameron Buckley</strong> is finding his footing out of the backfield. Junior offensive lineman <strong>Brandon McFadden</strong> has helped keep Wilson clean most of the season. Defensively, <strong>Jerell Turner</strong> looks like a big-time defensive back that shows great coverage skills. Linebacker <strong>Joshua Simons</strong> and defensive end <strong>Demarcus Haliburton</strong> have played better of late and that has made the RNE defense a better complement to the high-powered offense. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17716221/66ef92e05c583c944d7659de' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fdb5a24bfb0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Keenan (4-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Raiders have losses to Pendleton and Blythewood but have used an explosive offense to be a contender for the Region IV-AAA crown. The trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422608' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578683' first='Nykeim' last='McNeil']</strong> has been hard for teams to keep up with. Throw in the performance of QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington']</strong> and it's easy to see why Keenan has been successful. O'Neal has accounted for 607 rushing yards and four touchdowns while [player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil'] has seven rushing scores and 181 yards rushing. He leads the team with 27 receptions for 535 yards and four touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1578683' first='Nykeim' last='McNeil'] has 11 catches for 169 yards and one TD. Washington has thrown for 1,047 yards and rushed for three touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon']</strong> (66 total tackles) is averaging 13.2 tackles per game with <strong>Ty'quez Taylor</strong> right behind him with 10.3 tackles per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734638' first='Tyreik' last='Davenport-Smith']</strong> leads the leads the team with 4.5 sacks and <strong>Adonis Evans</strong> has two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19693167/66f86f565d6a19cc6b5fd6e7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fdb5a24bfd2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Swansea (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers won four games combined the previous four seasons, so this is one of the more incredible turnarounds in the state. Coach Willie Fox is using old school, smash-mouth football and a senior-laden lineup and only has a loss to a ranked Barnwell team heading into region play. <strong>Teysean Charley</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell']</strong> have been the leaders offensively. Charley has 534 yards rushing and seven touchdowns while Caldwell has added 404 yards and six scores. They run behind a couple of offensive linemen in <strong>Kevin Sightler</strong> and <strong>Kasiah Harkless-Adams</strong> that open huge holes. <strong>Jacob Harper</strong> can make throws but is rarely asked to put the ball in the air. Defensively, Swansea has not allowed more than 20 points in a game this season. That success stems from the play of <strong>DJ Green</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='756588' first='William' last='Geddis']</strong>, <strong>Jerel Wine</strong> and <strong>Chase Alley</strong> from the linebacker safety positions. They're all fast and physical and play through the whistle. Green leads the pack with 54 tackles, but they all have at least 35 tackles on the season. <strong>Ahmad Johnson</strong> has two interceptions and <strong>Jeremiah Williams</strong> leads the team with seven quarterback pressures.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Batesburg-Leesville (5-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The resurgence in Batesburg-Leesville is loud and clear. The Panthers got everyone's attention with an early season win over Abbeville and haven't slowed down since. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong> leads a ball-controlled offense with 824 yards and nine touchdowns on 90 attempts. <strong>Tanner Watkins</strong> isn't asked to throw it much but when he does, he's completing 80 percent of his passes. Watkins is 36-of-45 for 676 yards and 10 touchdowns. The favorite target is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592414' first='KD' last='Whitt']</strong>, who is an explosive play waiting to happen. Whitt has 13 catches and six rush attempts on the season and has scored 10 touchdowns. He has 437 yards combined in receiving and rushing and has a special teams TD. Whitt doubles as a defensive back that plays as anyone in the area. Defensively, Batesburg-Leesville is big and physical. It starts with defensive ends <strong>John Sawyer</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592434' first='Tyler' last='Wootton']</strong> providing the pressure. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1472383' first='Christian' last='Burkett']</strong> plays in the middle but can go sideline-to-sideline to make plays. <strong>Gabe Johnson</strong> and <strong>Clarence Springs</strong> are two additional key contributors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fairfield Central (5-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier']</strong> has been as special of a playmaker as any in the state the first half of the season. The Griffins all-purpose star has 868 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns to go along with four receptions for 104 yards and a score. Fairfield Central has played two quarterbacks so far – <strong>Kaden Diggs</strong> (33-for-50, 413 yards and one touchdown plus 299 yards rushing and seven touchdowns) and <strong>Ford Davis</strong> (12-of-27, 247 yards and three TDs). Sophomore <strong>Kenyan Douglas</strong> has added 224 yards rushing and four rushing scores. <strong>Jayden Boyd</strong> is the top receiver with 209 yards on 14 receptions with <strong>TyQuarius Shannon</strong> leading the way with three TD catches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578741' first='Chauncery' last='Turner']</strong> (56 tackles), freshman <strong>Yusef Muhammad</strong> (55 tackles) and <strong>Dre Walker</strong> (55 tackles) all average at least 11 tackles per game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592601' first='Douglas' last='McCloud']</strong> is the leader with 59 stops. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1170192' first='Antario' last='James']</strong> has three interceptions to lead a secondary that has seven picks on the season.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18098762/66f429351a7d4709840d1c60' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66fdb5a24bff7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saluda (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers have been limited to four games and have been limited with injuries but remain one of the top programs in Region II-AA. Saluda is allowing eight points per game and haven't allowed more than 14 points in a game this season. A lot of that has to do with the play of defensive tackle <strong>JT Lott</strong> (36 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks) and linebacker <strong>Jordan Hagler</strong>, who has 25 tackles and a blocked punt. <strong>Amir Johnson</strong> and <strong>Devon Wallace</strong> each have five sacks. Hagler, <strong>Mekhi Linton</strong> and <strong>Jayden Foulks </strong>each have defensive touchdowns. Foulks, Hagler and <strong>Zeb Penny</strong> each have two of the team's 11 interceptions. The offense has played most of the season without QB <strong>Drew Arant</strong>, but <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> has stepped in and done well. Williams has 371 passing yards, 217 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards in a ground oriented attack. Williams has rushed for four touchdowns, thrown for four touchdowns and caught a TD pass. <strong>Tristian Daniels</strong> leads the way with 224 yards rushing and 82 yards receiving. &nbsp;<strong>Victavis Gaines</strong> is the leading receiver with 10 catches for 187 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->