Lowcountry Week 3 Games to Watch

We've officially moved to Week 3 of the season (but the fourth game for a lot of teams), and things are starting to shake out across the Lowcountry. Teams we expected to rise to the top have done so but there have been some surprises along the way as well.   Let's take a glance at 10 games across the area that we think could be among the best of this week.   OCEANSIDE COLLEGIATE (1-2) at ASHLEY RIDGE (2-1)   Last year: Oceanside Collegiate 42-29   Players to Watch: OC – [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1821532' first='Zakhi' last='Muncey'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1592182' first='Terence' last='Johnson'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1155334' first='Damonte' last='Green'] (DB); AR – [player_tooltip player_id='1615024' first='MJ' last='Respass'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1824864' first='Malachi' last='Mitchell'] (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='454066' first='Malquan' last='Pimentel'] (LB) Nolan Beatty (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='473024' first='Ryan' last='Campbell'] (RB)   Notable: This one is shaping up to be entertaining, much like last season's contest. Oceanside has played a tough schedule and despite losing the first two, the Landsharks have proven they have one of the best offenses in the state, regardless of classification. Manavian is averaging 338 passing yards per game with Johnson being his top target. Johnson is averaging 132 receiving yards per game and has six touchdowns. If defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1025774' first='Sawyer' last='Arnold'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816747' first='Michael' last='Jones'] can start dominating, Oceanside could be a tough out later in the season. Campbell has helped the Swamp Foxes win two in a row after a season opening loss. He had 303 rushing yards and six touchdowns in the first two games (stats from last week are unavailable). Repass has been a tackling machine and gets a lot of help from Mitchell, Pimentel and TJ Aiken among others.   DREHER (2-1) at BISHOP ENGLAND (2-0)   Last year: N/A   Players to Watch: D – Kaiden Kennedy-Banks (DB) Hadi Jabali (LB) Brandon Mack (RB/LB) D'vion Carter (DB) Joseph Pohlman (WR); BE – [player_tooltip player_id='1592310' first='Quinn' last='Mahoney'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1822196' first='Zachary' last='Balog'] (WR/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1172361' first='Matthew' last='Ponkow'] (DE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1592547' first='Brody' last='Tonon'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1822197' first='Finn' last='Corley'] (DB)   Notable: The Bishops have been playing as well as anyone on the defensive side of the ball. They've allowed one touchdown in two games and Ponkow is turning into a star. The junior has five tackles, four tackles for loss, three sacks and a caused fumble in limited action. Tonon and Corley each have an interception. [player_tooltip player_id='1640504' first='Luke' last='Russell'] has chipped in with two sacks.  Mahoney and Balog get a lot of attention for what they do in the passing game but [player_tooltip player_id='1822192' first='Mitchell' last='Plaisance'] keeps the chains moving in the running game. Dreher has played quarterbacks in [player_tooltip player_id='1823546' first='Walker' last='Rowe'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820928' first='Chris' last='Baker'] but Mack has been the workhorse in the ground game. Jabali leads the defense but sophomore defensive end Marcus Davis is starting to expand his game.     BLUFFTON (3-0) at HAMPTON COUNTY (3-0)   Last Year: Hampton County 50-36   Players to Watch: B – [player_tooltip player_id='1394988' first='Aedan' last='McCarthy'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1827471' first='[player_tooltip player_id='1827459' first='[player_tooltip player_id='1827460' first='Aaiden' last='']' last='']' last='Howell'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='402486' first='Carnell' last='Warren'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1820466' first='Roman' last='Benjamin'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1664526' first='Malcolm' last='Gordon'] (LB); HC – [player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary'] (RB) Karinton Sabb (WR/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1824660' first='Gavin' last='Polite'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1821932' first='Kaveon' last='Tyler'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1820423' first='Braydon' last='Blake'] (DL/OL)   Notable: This might be the game of the week in the Lowcountry and will seem like a playoff atmosphere despite this one being a non-region matchup. It was a shootout last season and with the offensive weapons on both sides, it easily could be a repeat from that contest. McCarthy already has over 1,000 passing yards on the season with 10 touchdowns to go along with 212 rushing yards and three scores. Warren and Benjamin are the leading receivers but [player_tooltip player_id='1036774' first='Amare' last='Patterson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820451' first='Victor' last='Jimenez'] both have big-play potential. The Hurricanes are more balanced offensively and have allowed just 34 points on the season.  If Polite and [player_tooltip player_id='1823004' first='Damien' last='Priester'] continue the solid play, Hampton County will be difficult to move the ball on. Tyler is just a freshman but could be a star in the making.   WEST ASHLEY (1-1) at BERKELEY (2-1)   Last year: Berkeley 22-0   Players to Watch: WA – [player_tooltip player_id='1821338' first='D'Anthony' last='Coleman'] (ATH) [player_tooltip player_id='1295662' first='Matthew' last='Atkinson'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='367827' first='Bristol' last='Biegenzahn'] (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1821340' first='Dorian' last='Bond'] (DL) Spencer Rockers (LB); B – LJ Washington (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1016577' first='Elijah' last='Mitchell'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1639678' first='Gehad' last='Sneed'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1766100' first='Dennis' last='Thompson'] (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1357963' first='Landon' last='Jackson'] (DL)    The Wildcats have a new coaching staff and have benefited from Coleman playing football after not playing in 2024. He is a highlight reel waiting to happen as he already has a kickoff return and the bulk of the rushing yards to his credit. Atkinson is a huge presence up front at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds. [player_tooltip player_id='1816850' first='Sha'quan' last='Mulligan'] is another big-body offensive lineman that will try to open holes against a Stags defense that's had some issues stopping the pass this season. Berkeley might not know who the quarterback will be until later in the week but if [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1766341' first='Keller' last='Wofford'] are unable to go, Washington has led a potent rushing attack with 333 yards on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1766590' first='K'Den' last='Foxworth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1271259' first='Jessie' last='Brown'] can help in the rushing game as well. Snead has been the top tackler with 17 stops.   NORTHWOOD ACADEMY (3-0) at CANNON/CONCORD ACADEMY(NC) (2-1)   Last year: N/A   Players to Watch: NA – [player_tooltip player_id='640683' first='Kevin' last='Johnson'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1821464' first='Jordin' last='Carter'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1683039' first='Kaven' last='Ford'] (RB/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1741086' first='Dominic' last='Russell'] (LB) Antwaun Henderson (DB) Cody McCleary (LB) CA – Lucas Lopez (QB) Seth Henry (RB) Marcus Sales (WR) Brady Ravin (DB) Jackson Laws (LB)   Notable: The Chargers haven't been challenged yet and seem to be one of the top teams in the SCISA Class 4A division. Carter and Ford (pictured) have combined to rush for 520 yards and 10 touchdowns on just 47 attempts. Carter is averaging over 18 yards per touch and has two interceptions with 10 tackles on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1821659' first='Drew' last='Wolfe'] leads the receiving corps with three touchdowns, but Johnson spreads the ball around with four players in double figures on receptions on the season. Freshman defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1825599' first='Ethan' last='Hogan'] is a player that could develop into a Division I prospect for the Chargers. The Cougars will try to counter Northwood with the passing of Lopez and the rushing of Henry. They've outscored their opponents 110-8 in the last two weeks. Ravin and Laws have 28 and 27 tackles respectively and lead an active defense that already has nine players in double digits of tackles.      OTHERS TO WATCH   LUCY BECKHAM (1-1) at HANAHAN (1-2)   Last year: Lucy Beckham 35-28   Players to Watch: LB – Jack Lamonica (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1656624' first='Nick' last='Buggie'] (TE/DL) Finn Gunter (QB) Jaden Gethers (ATH); H – [player_tooltip player_id='1615084' first='Tripp' last='Gallus'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1819697' first='Grayson' last='Mathes'] (DB/WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1822223' first='Landen' last='Ritchie'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1819692' first='Joshua' last='Amara'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1819698' first='Ben' last='Jackson'] (DE)   Notable: Both teams come in off a loss and need to rebound with region play right around the corner. Gunter can throw for big numbers and Buggie is effective in blocking in the run game and as a big-body receiver. Gallus is going to be the leader of the Hawks attack.     HARDEEVILLE (1-2) at HILTON HEAD (2-1)   Last year: Hilton Head 41-8   Players to Watch: H – Camari Brown (ATH) Joseph Ferguson (LB); HH – [player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher'] (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1820333' first='Jeremiah' last='Walters'] (WR/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1172368' first='Andrew' last='Massey'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1822839' first='Josh' last='Bigger'] (DE/DL)   Notable: Hilton Head has used the running of Risher and Czarnecki (333 yards combined) for ball control with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] picking his spots to throw for 424 yards. This is a contest between the Class 4A Skyhawks and the Class A Canes.   CANE BAY (1-1) at JAMES ISLAND (3-0)   Last year: James Island 16-3   Players to Watch: CB – Tyler Myers (RB) Tyrell Bess (DB); JI – [player_tooltip player_id='1592342' first='Connor' last='Dantzler'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='874321' first='Raphael' last='Puiu'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1274260' first='Bryson' last='Bowers'] (LB) Isaac Lorentz (K/P) [player_tooltip player_id='1822901' first='Harper' last='Woods'] (LB)   The Trojans have leaned on a defense that has allowed just two touchdowns and 16 points on the season. They have a weapon in special teams with Lorentz and a capable running back in [player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington'], who has 168 yards this season. Dantzler has 687 yards passing and eight touchdowns.   STRATFORD (2-1) at SOCASTEE (1-2)   Last year: Stratford 23-17   Players to Watch: ST – [player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis'] (QB) Maliq McGowan (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1628932' first='DJ' last='Grant'] (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1765902' first='Bryce' last='Clemons'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1615105' first='Kermit' last='Davis'] (DE); SO – [player_tooltip player_id='1429140' first='Christian' last='Royals'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1823641' first='Hayes' last='Hardwick'] (WR)   Davis is coming off a game in which he passed for 145 yards and ran for another 140 with four total touchdowns. The Knights have played a tough schedule so far and could be one of the most improved teams in the area. [player_tooltip player_id='1822240' first='J'Qwan' last='Crosby'] is the leading receiver. Royals and Hardwick connected on TD passes of 26 and 44 yards last week to give the Braves their first win.   ST. JAMES (1-1) at WANDO (2-1)   Last year: Wando 34-20   Players to Watch: SJ – [player_tooltip player_id='1145762' first='Hayes' last='Cochrane'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1592675' first='Zack' last='Zurawski'] (WR); W – [player_tooltip player_id='1592323' first='Harris' last='Stone'] (QB) Jake Glassburg (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1602363' first='Ben' last='Eikenberry'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1241751' first='Matthew' last='Payes'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1820622' first='Liam' last='Crady'] (LB)   St. James snapped a 14-game losing streak by winning last Friday over Lucy Beckham. The Sharks are averaging 36 points per game. The Warriors like to run the football behind Stone, Glassburg and [player_tooltip player_id='1467849' first='Ryan' last='Jahn']. Eikenberry is averaging over 10 tackles per game and leads the Warrior defense.

We've officially moved to Week 3 of the season (but the fourth game for a lot of teams), and things are starting to shake out across the Lowcountry. Teams we expected to rise to the top have done so but there have been some surprises along the way as well.