Catawba River Region’s Top Week 5 Games

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Region play is in full effect this week across the Palmetto State, and the Catawba River Region has some of the toughest competition all within a few miles that separate the schools. There are some critical matchups on the docket this week that will go a long way in determining how things will shake out once we get to the end of October.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at four matchups we'll be keeping our eye on:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CATAWBA RIDGE (4-1) AT NORTHWESTERN (4-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last meeting: Northwestern won 59-17 (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players To Watch: NW – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823340' first='Nigel' last='Smith'] </strong>(RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance'] </strong>(WR), <strong>Jaylon Richardson </strong>(DB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149051' first='Kamerin' last='McFadden'] </strong>(DB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301735' first='Dash' last='Holley']</strong> (LB); CR – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824265' first='Will' last='Griggs'] </strong>(QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821286' first='Tyler' last='Robinson'] </strong>(DB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592496' first='Nolan' last='Jones'] </strong>(LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824256' first='Curtis' last='Dayson'] </strong>(RB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notable: Northwestern bounced back last week with their highest scoring output of the season of 75 points. That's not a typo. The Trojans have a rhythm running and throwing and that was clearly evident as they put up 420 yards of offense. Whoever can make a play in the special teams game may have an advantage. For the Copperheads, Griggs threw for 162 yards and one touchdown, while running for 32 yards. They'll need to run the ball to try and limit the possessions against the Trojans' offense. If Jones and Robinson can force the Trojans' offense into some mistakes, it could be interesting at District 3 Stadium.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ROCK HILL (3-2) AT INDIAN LAND (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last meeting: Rock Hill won 35-28 (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players To Watch: RH – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816896' first='Jonah' last='Young'] </strong>(QB), <strong>Jojo Brooks </strong>(DB/WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1088328' first='Nigel' last='Lightner'] </strong>(DB/WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1635381' first='Kaleb' last='Wright'] </strong>(LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='618765' first='Katarius' last='Gill']</strong> (LB); IL – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819992' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] </strong>(ATH), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592288' first='Jamol' last='Horton'] </strong>(RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris'] </strong>(WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822503' first='Noah' last='Terry'] </strong>(DB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notable: Rock Hill found a way to survive in two overtimes at District Three Stadium as the Blue Eagles missed the extra point after Bearcats' coach Leon Boulware chose to ice the kicker. Young threw for 264 yards and three touchdown as Lightner had a huge night with 9 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown in overtime to go along with 7 tackles and 1 interception. Wright had 17 tackles, 3 QB pressures, 2 sacks and 3 tackles for loss in the win. Indian Land blasted Parkwood out of Charlotte behind Horton (pictured above), who scored on a 53-yard touchdown run to open the scoring and Patterson, who took a kick back for a touchdown. The University of South Carolina commit is someone the Bearcats will have to be aware of. Keep an eye on Morris, who is a threat in the receiving game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CHERAW (3-2) AT CENTRAL (4-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last meeting: Cheraw won 30-13 (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players To Watch: CHERAW – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271257' first='Nick' last='Gordon'] </strong>(WR/DB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1321038' first='Justyn' last='Joint'] </strong>(RB/DB), <strong>Demaurice James </strong>(DB), <strong>Austin Adams </strong>(LB); CENTRAL – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen'] </strong>(QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639753' first='Aiden' last='Short'] </strong>(RB), <strong>Jakari Holloman </strong>(LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639669' first='Ashten' last='Wilson'] </strong>(RB/LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639763' first='Marques' last='Allen'] </strong>(RB/LB)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notable: When we asked Central head coach Jonathan Eason about this week's highly anticipated showdown against Cheraw, he said it feels like some of those early 2000s matchups, where teams are competing for home field advantage in the playoffs. The Eagles are <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/09/louallen-stifling-central-defense-rout-blacksburg/">rolling after a rout of Blacksburg last week</a>, as Louallen ran for two touchdowns and threw another one. Cheraw is coming off a non-region loss to River Bluff, and will look to bounce back on the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CLOVER (3-2) AT FORT MILL (3-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last meeting: Clover won 33-3 (2024)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Players To Watch: CLOV – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey'] </strong>(QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1776870' first='Brody' last='Woolbright']</strong> (QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824427' first='Grady' last='Stone'] </strong>(RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1404968' first='Jackson' last='Hill'] </strong>(LB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823062' first='Jaytwon' last='Croom'] </strong>(RB); FM – <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149056' first='Quinn' last='Kelly'] </strong>(QB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1266099' first='Broden' last='Mitcheson']</strong> (RB), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394975' first='Joseph' last='Duey'] </strong>(LB), <strong>Josiah McKenzie </strong>(WR), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820447' first='Noah' last='Hardy'] </strong>(K)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Notable: This game is critical for both teams as they look to avoid an 0-2 start to region play. Clover fell in a heartbreaker to Rock Hill in double overtime, but Croom and Stone were some of the bright spots offensively for the Blue Eagles and they will want to run the football again this week. Fort Mill took their first loss of the season against Catawba Ridge as they came up on the wrong end of a defensive slugfest outside of a touchdown from <strong>Josiah McKenzie</strong>. Whichever team can establish the run game and try to play keep away will likely walk away with the win in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->