Week 8’s Top Games Along The Coast

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Grand Strand and Pee Dee and Lowcountry zones are officially at the show out or show yourselves out portion of the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By this point in the game, teams know that region success is almost necessary. We also know that this year, the RPI system adopted by the South Carolina High School League that will influence a good bit of playoff seeding is key in Class 5A and Class 4A, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Six of the eight Games to Watch along the two coastal-based zones fall into the state's top classifications, and the teams listed from those two groups are hoping for every percentage point possible over the next few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Add that to what is generally believed to be a de facto region championship in Class 2A and a high-profile Class 3A game, and, yes, Week 8 will be a big one.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MAY RIVER (6-0, 2-0) AT HILTON HEAD (4-2, 0-1) (Thursday)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fans of the ground game won't have any issues with this one. Most teams in the state will throw it more in a half than May River has all season, and Hilton Head's air game isn't much more of an emphasis for the Seahawks. That's because <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013024' first='Troy' last='Timko']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki']</strong> are averaging north of 6 and 8 yards per carry, respectively for Hilton Head and a trio of ball carriers is lifting May River to its best start since it also began the 2019 season 6-0. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592214' first='Andrew' last='Johnson']</strong> (616 yards, 10 touchdowns), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574079' first='Asa' last='Haskins']</strong> (546 yards, four touchdowns) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592230' first='Sean' last='Mitchell']</strong> (541 yards, two touchdowns) are each putting up more than 90 yards per game. Tack on nine rushing touchdowns from quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360121' first='Tanner' last='Macy']</strong> and this offense is potent without a need to throw the ball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BISHOP ENGLAND (5-2, 1-1) AT BEAUFORT (2-5, 1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Beaufort coach Bryce Lybrand's been walking around with a roll of duct tape just trying to hold things together while he team goes through an onslaught of injuries. It doesn't appear as if starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254143' first='Samari' last='Bonds']</strong> will be back yet; that leaves <strong>Caleb Stephan</strong> to hold down the fort. Stephan threw for 124 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a touchdown last week against Colleton County. If tailback <strong>Elias Johnson</strong> can return after missing two games with an injury, that'll help considerably. Bishop England's ability to get behind the line been dynamic. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172361' first='Matthew' last='Ponkow']</strong> (12 TFL), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253903' first='Fletcher' last='Ethington-Carl'] </strong>(11 TFL) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592573' first='Hunter' last='Alex']</strong> (9.5 TFL) have disrupted a lot of opponents this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BERKELEY (3-4, 1-1) AT WANDO (4-3, 1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not often that two Class 5A teams meet during the region slate with each of their quarterbacks appearing to have the opportunity to lead their respective teams in passing and rushing. And yet, here we are with Berkeley's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592323' first='Harris' last='Stone']</strong> at Wando. Rivers has already passed for 1,158 yards and rushed for another 528 (good enough for tops on the Stags' roster as of right now). Stone is sitting at 1,210 yards passing and another 245 on the ground (40 yards behind freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1467849' first='Ryan' last='Jahn'] at the moment). Either way, expect Wando linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1241751' first='Matthew' last='Payes']</strong> and Berkeley's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165076' first='Marcus' last='Henderson']</strong> to have their heads on a swivel.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>BARNWELL (6-1, 1-0) AT HAMPTON COUNTY (6-1, 2-0)&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game won't just shape Region V-2A, but also have a major impact on the Class 2A Lower State playoff field. And it won't simply be the <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin'] </strong>vs. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary']</strong> show, either. While the stars of each team have carved out their own niches this year, they've got plenty of help. Both <strong>Nehemiah Brown</strong> and <strong>Jaquan Peeples</strong> are closing in on 500 yards of total offense for the War Horses. <strong>Chris Terry</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher'] </strong>are already there for Hampton County. Neither one of these teams are prone to turnovers, so even one in this game could be the difference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JAMES ISLAND (4-3, 0-2) AT FORT DORCHESTER (4-3, 1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans' defensive front line led by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012698' first='Hendrix' last='Beran']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272709' first='Malachi' last='Jefferson']</strong> is about to get another heavy dose of an opposing rushing attack this week at Fort Dorchester. Patriots tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473024' first='Ryan' last='Campbell'] </strong>enters the game 28 yards shy of 1,000 for the season after putting up 200-plus in each of his last two games (Ashley Ridge, West Ashley). Campbell is responsible for roughly 46 percent of Fort D's offensive production this year despite missing a game while the team continues to break in sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='640683' first='Kevin' last='Johnson']</strong> at quarterback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ASHLEY RIDGE (6-1, 2-0) AT SUMMERVILLE (7-0, 2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swamp Fox junior quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz']</strong> is a couple of sneezes away from 2,000 yards passing this year already. And while he still clearly has a favorite receiver in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1181027' first='Jaiden' last='Deweese']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036782' first='Jagger' last='Spivey']</strong> and <strong>Jayley Drayton</strong> are mixing in more, too. Summerville safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray']</strong> will factor in heavily in this one. He's going to be charged with tracking down any deep Ashley Ridge passes while continuing to mix in on the offense. He won't be the only Green Wave player adding to what is expected to be a shootout. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='367350' first='Jaden' last='Cummings']</strong> and tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams']</strong> are having big years for undefeated Summerville. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MARLBORO COUNTY (7-0, 2-0) AT DILLON (5-2, 1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the three games in this region circled by outsiders when the season began, the new-look Bulldogs will take their high-powered show on the road to the perennial title contenders. Dillon has found a rejuvenated <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025778' first='Domanick' last='Felton']</strong> (134 yards, three touchdowns last week) serving as a perfect complement for [player_tooltip player_id='346196' first='Jamarion' last='Fling'] (506 yards, nine touchdowns this year). And regardless of which of them get going, the Wildcats have no issue riding the hot hand. That's even more important this week, as the best defense for Marlboro County is keeping tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360219' first='Josiah' last='Robinson']</strong> (pictured), quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='370006' first='Nydarion' last='Blackwell']</strong> and receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271463' first='Justin' last='Purvis']</strong> on the sideline. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RIDGE VIEW (4-3, 3-0) AT WEST FLORENCE (5-2, 2-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After getting lambasted by Sumter, West Florence bounced back nicely with a great defensive effort against Blythewood. The Knights recorded an eye-popping 15 tackles for loss, with defensive linemen <strong>Victor Tabb</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1415772' first='Jamie' last='Williamson']</strong> and linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165145' first='Clayton' last='Folse']</strong> and <strong>Thomas Moore</strong> racking up three apiece. West will again need that type of pressure against Ridge View and quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> (1,610 yards, 15 touchdowns). If Howard is back there comfortable, he's got the accuracy (67 percent this year) to pick apart the Knights with the help of thriving receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris']</strong> (226 yards, four touchdowns), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078102' first='Darius' last='Carter']</strong> (348 yards, one touchdown) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson']</strong> (496 yards, six touchdowns).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->