Upstate Games To Watch In Week 9

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The schedule is nearly back to normal in the Upstate, with several teams wrapping up a stretch of three games in eight days. There are several crucial battles for playoff positioning starting this week. Here's a look at some of this week's key matchups in the area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Byrnes at 5A No. 7 Spartanburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This one is all about defense. Both teams are among the statewide leaders in 5A, and both are good at creating havoc. Byrnes is giving up just more than 14 points per game, has 16 sacks, 24 hurries, and 20 tackles for loss, led by <strong>Torrian Mills</strong>, who leads the team in both categories, along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254251' first='Jaidyn' last='Ferguson']</strong> (pictured), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592388' first='Jonathan' last='Montgomery']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575309' first='Shayne' last='Dixon']</strong>. The Rebels have also scored a defensive TD, and have nabbed five interceptions, with Montgomery's pair of picks leading the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartanburg allows fewer than 13 points per game, with seven sacks, 16 hurries, and 32 tackles for loss. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624354' first='Cam'Rich' last='Smith']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249806' first='Peyton' last='Jones']</strong> are two of the best LBs in the state, and lead a group that has scored twice and nabbed five interceptions. <strong>Quincy Haywood</strong> is as vicious a hitter as you'll find anywhere, and <strong>CJ Woodruff</strong> flies around all over the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pickens at 4A No. 9 Seneca </strong>(Saturday)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both the Blue Flame and the Bobcats are coming off a slog of what will be three games in eight days, as they both played last Friday and again on Tuesday before this Saturday matchup in order to make up time missed due to Hurricane Helene. This one could be decided up front and on the ground, where both have put up some good rushing numbers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359200' first='Carter' last='McCollum']</strong> leads the Blue Flame, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark just halfway through the season and continuing his strong pace this week, with 129 yards and a touchdown against Greer. <strong>Liken Hamilton</strong> and <strong>Zach Gainey </strong>are among the standouts on defense for Pickens.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seneca had an <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/what-we-saw-seneca-47-blue-ridge-21/">outstanding night on the ground on Tuesday</a>, rushing for 339 yards in a big win over Blue Ridge. <strong>Amari Verner </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158147' first='Payson' last='Jones']</strong> handle the bulk of the work for the Bobcats, with QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165153' first='Gavin' last='Thoma']</strong> a dual-threat. Freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615026' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunter']</strong> is a playmaker, and huge DT <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360008' first='Avery' last='Butler']</strong> sees double duty as one of Seneca's defensive stoppers as well as the team's short-yardage back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A No. 1</strong> <strong>Belton-Honea Path at Pendleton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears come in as the top-ranked team in 3A, with a loss to 4A No. 1 Westside as their only blemish. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson']</strong> leads the way, with 1,077 yards on just 78 carries, a ridiculous 13.81 yards per carry average. He's got 13 TDs on the ground, another through the air, and has returned a kick for a score. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon']</strong> and <strong>MJ Earle</strong> provide added punch in the rushing game, while QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas']</strong> has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and rushed for 227. On defense, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249760' first='Tye' last='Kelly']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='779428' first='Tajeh' last='Watson-Martin']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1372151' first='Jakyri' last='Anderson']</strong> lead the way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pendleton has turned the controls of the offense over to freshman <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094520' first='Jace' last='Grass']</strong>, and he hasn't disappointed. Grass has embraced the challenge, throwing for 1,453 yards and 14 touchdowns. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157733' first='Abijah' last='Webb']</strong> is his main target, and the North all-star has caught 28 balls for 499 yards and three scores, leading four Bulldog receivers with at least 200 yards. <strong>Bray Spear</strong> and <strong>Deshaun Jenkins</strong> lead the Pendleton rushing attack, while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165105' first='Trent' last='Garner']</strong> is a game-wrecker on defense with 55 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and two forced fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3A No. 6 Woodruff at Chapman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This series has been dominated by Chapman in recent years, but the Wolverines are a legitimate contender to make a deep playoff run this season. This game will go a long way toward region seeding. Led by QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253917' first='TJ' last='Morris']</strong> and RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036753' first='Aiden' last='Gibson']</strong>, Woodruff is putting up nearly 450 yards and more than 41 points per game. Morris does a good job spreading things around, with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592034' first='Kori' last='Moates']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1395078' first='Kam' last='Taylor'],</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578787' first='Hunter' last='West']</strong>, and <strong>Snoop Green</strong> all putting up big numbers. Defensively, four Wolverines have at least 50 tackles, led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592408' first='Shaun' last='Graybill']</strong> with 77. He's added 10 tackles for loss and three hurries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapman has been fighting injuries and looking to find some magic on offense, and they seem to have hit on something on the ground recently. Last week, five different Panthers rushed for touchdowns in a 35-13 win over Union County as Chapman rushed for 277 yards. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1041795' first='Chanson' last='Mickles']</strong>, <strong>Josiah Moore</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1732619' first='Justin' last='Dawkins'],</strong> <strong>Jasiah Copeland</strong>, and <strong>Teegan Cantrell</strong> all accounted for TDs on the ground. Mickles, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1732638' first='Khamari' last='Turner']</strong>, and <strong>Hank Tolleson</strong> help lead the Panthers on the defensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->