GSPD Week 0 Games to Watch

While some of the bigger teams in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee will start their 2025 campaigns next Friday, Week 0 in the GSPD should more than do the trick to let everyone know its here.   We've got a rivalry game older than anyone reading this.   There's some in-county matchups the will leave the winner with various degrees of bragging rights.    And let's not forget an intriguing cross-state contest that could actually start off either program on the right foot toward massive improvement.    Week 0 is here. Let's get to it.    SOUTH FLORENCE AT WEST FLORENCE   Everyone knows what South Florence quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson'] is capable of. He played a huge hand in the Bruins' 2024 Class 4A state championship and is now the offensive face of an offense that will be replacing some other stars and moving some others around. His counterpart at West is still a big under the radar. [player_tooltip player_id='1664594' first='Avery' last='Weaver'] split time at the position a year ago but completed 58 percent of his passes for 736 yards and eight touchdowns against just one interception. He can also run, as he put up another 275 yards and three scores on the ground.    This won't be Weaver's first real test, but it may be one of the real difficult ones. South Florence's secondary - corners [player_tooltip player_id='1259789' first='Will' last='Wilson'] and Johnquis Johnson and safeties [player_tooltip player_id='1267265' first='Amare' last='Reaves'] and Gerkeim Hall - should be considered among the best in all of Class 4A. Meanwhile, Jackson is going to have to keep his eye on West Florence linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1025773' first='Romello' last='Patterson'] and converted linebacker-turned-safety [player_tooltip player_id='1165145' first='Clayton' last='Folse'] bearing down on him. And keeping tabs on defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1669645' first='Jamie' last='Williamson'] isn't a bad idea, either.    WILSON AT CONWAY    We were instructed to be highly cautious of what kind of an impact quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg'] would have for Conway early in the year. But he quickly put those concerns to rest during last week's CNB Kickoff Classic. The big lefty has more arm than he showed during his sophomore year before his knee injury, and his potential for putting it more into action is sky high during his junior season. Receivers Aden Day, Javon Smalls, [player_tooltip player_id='1371931' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins'] and Tramaine Hunter give Legg the team's best receiving corps since pre-pandemic.    That brings us to Wilson. This won't be the Tigers' squads of the last few years very soon, and the secondary is loaded. Standout retuning safety Zion Back (6-foot-3, 175 pounds) has a pair of established incoming teammates in Sumter transfers [player_tooltip player_id='1623916' first='Brian' last='Wilson II'] (5-foot-10, 165 pounds, pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='1640595' first='Da'von' last='Bowman'] (6-foot-1, 190). Those positional groups are going to get after it on Friday, and the back-and-forth between Conway's passing game and the backside of the Wilson defense should be a highlight reel on every throwing play.   AIKEN AT AYNOR    Every year, we look back at some early season games between two teams and see where a program's ascent started. For that, you might want to pin-point the Green Hornets' trip to Aynor. Aiken junior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1054957' first='Gray' last='Kitchings'] is starting to look like he's going to be the centerpiece of a rebuilt defense - something that new coach Steve Hibbitts hung his hat in during his past job in Georgia. Kitchings will have some help in the form of sophomore defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1467819' first='Brandon' last='Poston'] (6-foot-1 and some change and 220 pounds) and incoming freshman Johnny Dobbs (6-foot, 180). By the time Friday is over, all three of them could have been extremely active.   That's because Aynor's offense is going to run the ball, and then run it some more. The Blue Jackets averaged 53 carries for 316 yards per game in 2024. Big half back [player_tooltip player_id='1734403' first='Luke' last='McCracken'] (483 yards, six touchdowns last fall) is back, and wing back [player_tooltip player_id='1822622' first='Blaise' last='Hucks'] and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1820108' first='Alex' last='Lewis'] and a number of others will be elevated up the depth chart following some graduations.    MYRTLE BEACH AT LAKE CITY    A relatively low-scoring game a year ago, a solid match-up in the trenches could ensure this is a ball-control game again in 2025. Specifically, we're looking at a senior-laden Lake City offensive line and an a high-potential front four from Myrtle Beach. Panthers seniors Tyler Williams (LT), Luke Strickland (LG), Antonio Singletary (C) and Blaise Purvis (RG) will be joined by sophomore Jaylen Brown (RT). They're going to be charged with protecting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1820580' first='Amari' last='Hanna'] (nine-of-17 for 122 yards in last year's game) and opening holes for Jordan Dobson - Lake City's new starting tailback.    On the other side of the line, Myrtle Beach will counter with three seniors and a junior of their own. TJ Brown and [player_tooltip player_id='1395042' first='Malachi' last='Gethers'] and tackles [player_tooltip player_id='1818470' first='Elijah' last='Williams'] and Jayden Pratt will be the first point of attack. But also keep an eye on talented 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='1591729' first='Dylan' last='Schneider'] in a back-up role off the edge. He's the only freshman on the Seahawks' preseason two-deep since 2013.    THIS AND THAT   LAKE VIEW AT MARION (Thursday) - We get to start seeing how big of a role 2028 Kaleb Moore will play this year for Marion.    CARVERS BAY AT WACCAMAW - Warriors tailback Bryce Holloway against an interior of the Carvers Bay line anchored by Triston Diggs will be a fun match-up.    PEE DEE ACADEMY AT TRINITY COLLEGIATE - Pee Dee tailback and safety Tristan Heckman needs to be on your list of players to watch in 2025.   LORIS AT GREEN SEA FLOYDS - [player_tooltip player_id='1732668' first='Dy'lon' last='White'] (GSF) and [player_tooltip player_id='1639761' first='Jamarious' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1395062' first='Damarea' last='Thurmond'] (LOR) are worth the price of admission in the trenches, even if this game is a likely blowout.   LAMAR AT DARLINGTON - Maleak Duncan didn't even play offense for Darlington last year but could be a 1,000-yard back with some nice breaks along the way.

While some of the bigger teams in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee will start their 2025 campaigns next Friday, Week 0 in the GSPD should more than do the trick to let everyone know its here.