Upstate Players To Watch In Week Zero

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school football season is here, and we're starting with some big-time matchups. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the Upstate in Week Zero, there are a ton of intriguing matchups within the games, as a bunch of top players will be competing head-to-head as their teams match up across the line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From talented DL taking on immovable OL to quarterbacks, running backs and receivers who are going to be a problem for opposing defenses, here's a look at players to watch across the area as the ball is spotted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165105' first='Trent' last='Garner']</strong> DL, Pendleton - Garner is a hybrid beast who can play OLB or line up at Edge, and he does both extremely well. He'll likely do a lot of both against a new-look Chesnee team. Juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822683' first='Nolan' last='Fusaro']</strong> and <strong>Cody Brietenbach</strong> and senior <strong>Benjie Lazarin</strong> will be tasked with slowing Garner down. All three return up front for the Eagles, who will look to utilize the talents of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809232' first='Evan-Reece' last='Lawter']</strong>, who is moving into the QB role full time after splitting snaps last season. Pendleton will have a bit of a new look on offense as well, as RBs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820872' first='Bray' last='Spear']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823502' first='Dashaun' last='Jenkins']</strong> will look to continue their success from last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15158331/66d32556bd4ec8f734e46620' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a492c49e82b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295076' first='Josiah' last='Hill']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473029' first='Jaiden' last='McDowell']</strong> RBs, Gaffney - Ok let's talk about how scary the Indians might get. Hill transferred in from Kings Mountain, where he already had a monster career at RB. He's shown such immediate dominance that the Indians feel comfortable moving McDowell, one of the fastest backs in the state, out to WR just to get them on the field at the same time. If that's not enough, Gaffney has a wealth of talent at QB as well, as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403906' first='Banks' last='Bouton']</strong> has played extremely well in scrimmages. Defense for the Indians is business as usual, which is to say dominant. There are plenty of big names, but keep an eye on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1793448' first='Kelton' last='Smith']</strong>. The massive East Carolina commit is a seriously underrated force on the Indians' defensive line. He transferred in from eight-man football at Oakbrook Prep, and he's going to have an impact.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592470' first='Kylan' last='Dixon']</strong> DL, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820561' first='Keylan' last='Dixon']</strong> OL, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820562' first='Keagan' last='Mosher']</strong> OL, Belton-Honea Path - The defending 3A Upper State champions are loaded again, and it starts up front. [player_tooltip player_id='1592470' first='Kylan' last='Dixon'] is a force on the DL, demanding double teams and allowing the Bears' linebackers to run around and make plays. His brother Keylan and Mosher are four-year starters up front for the bears, and likely the best guard duo in the state. Broome will have their hands full up front, but the Centurions' <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615627' first='Kelvin' last='Crook'] </strong>will present plenty of problems for the Bears. The talented tackle will play on both sides of the line for Broome. The Centurions will also get a big boost from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1676737' first='Asher' last='Littlejohn']</strong> (pictured), who's shown dramatic improvement and opened a ton of eyes at camps and combines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16888185/676471afa309f09ece50fa4b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68a492c49e860"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165153' first='Gavin' last='Thoma']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615026' first='Jeremiah' last='Hunter']</strong> WR, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1667450' first='Amari' last='Verner']</strong> RB, Seneca</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Seneca's got a bunch of talent at the skill positions, and these three on offense lead the way. Thoma's got a big arm and does a great job managing the game, Hunter had a breakout freshman year and looks poised to do even more as a sophomore. And Verner emerged from a role in which he shared time into the Bobcats' feature back, and he had a fantastic off-season. The Bobcats also return some talent on the defensive side of the ball, including standout DEs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1732603' first='Mekhi' last='Mendez']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1659150' first='Jermaine' last='Miller']</strong>. Powdersville has a bunch of guys back from a region title team, including QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821270' first='Keagan' last='Reid']</strong>, who will direct an offense that includes game-breaking receivers in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821275' first='Xavier' last='Huggins']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823887' first='Bennett' last='Brooks']</strong>. Brooks <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821280' first='Jayden' last='Wertz']</strong> returns at LB to lead the Patriots, and he's an all-region player who turned a ton of heads in the offseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->