Midseason Report: Midlands

The calendar has flipped to October and that means a couple of things – region play has started and we're one month away from the playoffs starting in both the SCHSL and SCISA ranks.   But what have we learned up until this point?   There are new teams rising to the top but the teams we expect to win will have something to say about it in the end.   We've seen two distinct themes so far – great defense is being played around the area but there is a young crop of quarterbacks that look like they're primed for big-time success.   So many questions but also so many answers by what we've learned so far. We're going to break down the players and teams that made a mark in the first half of the season and what you can expect the rest of the way.   BIGGEST SURPRISES   Dutch Fork and Hammond lost early   Let's face it, we aren't used to the Dutch Fork and Hammond losing often, much less in the first full month of the season. The Silver Foxes saw their 24-game losing streak snapped in a 24-20 loss to Oceanside Collegiate. The Skyhawks lost to Northwoods Academy 23-10, their first loss to a SCISA team since 2020. But we feel like come November, both teams will be ready to make a run in the playoffs.   Dutch Fork running backs [player_tooltip player_id='1818103' first='Kyle' last='Henry'] and Isaac Shine along with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts'] have been the leading ground gainers so far and they will be counted on more heavily in the second half of the season. [player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey'] and Brayden Johnson have been the top receivers. [player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo'] leads the offensive line.   Hammond linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross'] and [player_tooltip player_id='262172' first='Bubba' last='Alexander'] along with defensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1550897' first='Hugh' last='Manning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston'] lead a defense that has allowed 8.8 points per game. That group will keep them in most games while Ben Kiser and [player_tooltip player_id='1647349' first='Cade' last='Amell'] figure out the quarterback situation.   Swansea, Eau Claire, Pelion all winning   For the longest time, Swansea, Eau Claire and Pelion all were looked at as an automatic win on most team's schedules. That's not the case any longer and post season aspirations are on the horizon for all three teams.   The Tigers are undefeated at 6-0. [player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1636916' first='De'Andre' last='Caldwell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1672924' first='Kendall' last='Wright'], [player_tooltip player_id='756588' first='William' last='Geddis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822446' first='Jerel' last='Wine'] have Swansea thinking they can capture the glory of the 1990's when the Tigers were regular candidates to practice on Thanksgiving or longer.   Jahcory Sumpter, Laquarius Summers, BJ Ashford and Tavaras Seibles have been outstanding for the Shamrocks this season. Eau Claire won two games combined from 2019 until 2024 but are 4-2 this season. Sumpter has 740 yards rushing, 504 yards passing and a total of 15 touchdowns. He's also recorded 21 tackles and three interceptions on defense.   Pelion is playing well under first-year coach Cory Helms. The Panthers are 3-2 and have a chance to finish with a winning record, something that hasn't happened since at least 2014. [player_tooltip player_id='1820308' first='Alan' last='Moore'] has 13 touchdown passes with [player_tooltip player_id='1708197' first='Jai' last='Chuniesingh'] accounting for nine of those scores to go along with 31 catches for 669 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1818894' first='Tre' last='Jackson'] leads the ground game with 544 yards and six TDs. [player_tooltip player_id='1618829' first='Brady' last='Cottingham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820309' first='Andrew' last='Northcutt'] lead the defensive effort.   Orangeburg-Wilkinson undefeated, allowed only 14 points   The Bruins started the season 5-0 (one game was a forfeit) and during that time allowed just 14 points. Things will get more difficult once the region play begins but things are looking up in Orangeburg. They've been one of the biggest surprises in Class 3A and have themselves firmly in the Top 10. [player_tooltip player_id='1220232' first='Christopher' last='Glover'], [player_tooltip player_id='1126113' first='Jordan' last='Avinger'], [player_tooltip player_id='1267282' first='Daylin' last='Haltiwanger'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822638' first='Travis' last='Dixon'] have the defense believing they can play with anyone. Games against Hanahan and Oceanside Collegiate will be huge barometers.   ZONE'S BEST   [player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware'] LB, Gray Collegiate   When you look at the physical attributes of Boulware and the uncanny ability to always be around the football, it becomes a little puzzling how he was left off both the Shrine Bowl and Touchstone Energy North-South teams. Boulware leads the state in tackles and is averaging nearly 20 stops per game. He plays in the middle but can make plays sideline-to-sideline with ease. He brings a lot of pressure from the middle as well and is making plays a lot of times at or near the line of scrimmage.   [player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Drevon' last='Dopson'] QB, Irmo   A lot of eyes were on this Yellow Jackets team, but the one question mark would be who would replace AJ Brand at quarterback. Dopson has answered the question loud and clear. The senior has thrown for 1,253 yards and 15 touchdowns with just one interception. He has plenty of weapons around him with [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'], Jay Eady and [player_tooltip player_id='1820287' first='Ethan' last='Singletary'] but this has definitely become Dopson's team. He makes good decisions, has a strong arm and makes all the throws needed to keep this Irmo offense humming right along.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] ATH, Camden   Drakeford (pictured) has turned into one of the most versatile athletes not just in the Midlands but the entire state. The senior rarely comes off the field and plays at a high level in a lot of areas. On offense, he has 24 receptions for 444 yards and five touchdowns while he added 193 yards rushing on just eight carries. He has eight tackles and an interception on defense but that doesn't tell the story as most teams elect to throw away from him and try to neutralize what he does best.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq'] WR, Lugoff-Elgin   The Touchstone Energy North-South selection is on pace to reach 1,500 yards on the season and he's done so as smoothly as possible. Sophomore quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1823858' first='Zach' last='Williams'] has been fantastic in his first season starting and that has helped Saadiq put up huge numbers in the first half of the season. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Saadiq already has 42 receptions for 817 yards and seven touchdowns. He can stretch the defense or make the tough catches over the middle.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] QB, AC Flora   Wentzky is capping a three-year starting stretch with his best season so far. He was selected for the Touchstone Energy North-South game and his numbers more than back up that pick. He's completing over 61 percent of his passes (93-of-152) for 1,305 yards with 15 touchdowns and one interception. He has weapons in [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'], [player_tooltip player_id='1592441' first='Charlie' last='Scott'], [player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824148' first='Josh' last='Davis'] so he can spread the ball around and not focus on just one receiver. The Falcons could make a deep playoff run if they stay healthy.    SECOND HALF PREDICTIONS   [player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters'] LB and [player_tooltip player_id='1592529' first='Julian' last='Walker'] DL/DE, Dutch Fork   Let's face it – the Silver Foxes defense hasn't been as dominant as we thought they would be but there's still reason to believe it can still happen. Salters and Walker both made the Shrine Bowl and will be the leading force in the second half of the season. Salters is the quarterback of the defense and he's going to make sure everyone is fine-tuned going into the playoffs. Walker pairs with [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] to form one of the best 1-2 punches in the state. These two along with [player_tooltip player_id='1734522' first='Mario' last='Anderson'] will be motivated to end their senior seasons the same way they have the rest of their high school career and that's with a state championship.     [player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson'] QB, Sumter   Richardson is rounding into form the deeper we get into the season. He does it with his arm and his legs as he's run for 655 yards and 15 touchdowns while throwing for 404 yards and three TDs. He pairs with [player_tooltip player_id='1817005' first='Reggie' last='Shannon'] (613 yard and 10 touchdowns) to form a nice 1-2 punch running behind a big, physical offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='1821998' first='Zy'Quaz' last='Kelley'].  The Gamecocks are quietly going about their business with one loss on the season but could be a factor come playoff time.   [player_tooltip player_id='1823496' first='Jayden' last='Martin'] ATH and [player_tooltip player_id='1592632' first='Da'Shan' last='Scriven'], Crestwood   Martin and Scriven are impacting games in a number of ways. Martin is by far the Knights leading receiver with 25 catches for 302 yards and four touchdowns but also is making his mark on special teams and defense. He's the top kick returner and locked down one cornerback spot with three interceptions and four passes defended. Scriven plays on the other side and has four interceptions and 22 tackles. Martin and Scriven allow the Knights to be aggressive on defense and that will make them a tough out come playoff time.   [player_tooltip player_id='1149057' first='Spencer' last='Bobian'] RB, Ridge View   The Blazers have two losses by a combined 14 points to Dutch Fork and Northwestern and it's scary to think how good they could be without the injury bug. Starting QB [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] was lost for the season against the Trojans but Bobian and backup QB [player_tooltip player_id='1350429' first='Ashton' last='Chapman'] have helped them keep moving along. Bobian is at 599 yards and five touchdowns but when WR [player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson'] and defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1267280' first='Jordyn' last='Best'] return from injury, Ridge View will be one of the most explosive teams in the state and will be able to defend against just about anyone.   [player_tooltip player_id='1850165' first='Kenton' last='Caldwell'] QB, Newberry   If we had to name a Player of the Year for the first half of the season, the nod would likely go to Caldwell. He's been electric for an offense that is averaging 45 points per game. Caldwell has accounted for 1,947 all-purpose yards and 27 total touchdowns. Add in his weapons of [player_tooltip player_id='1771641' first='Cash' last='Brown'], [player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks'] and [player_tooltip player_id='816735' first='Jamel' last='Howse'] and it's going to be hard to slow down this Bulldogs attack. Newberry could head into the playoff undefeated and be a major factor in Class 3A.    UNDERCLASSMEN TO THE FRONT   [player_tooltip player_id='1816457' first='Andrew' last='Frick'] QB, Brookland-Cayce 2028   We mentioned earlier that the Midlands area is seeing an influx of good, young quarterbacks. Frick would have to be right in the middle of that mix. The 6-foot-4, 170-pound right-hander stands tall in the pocket and can make every throw needed to be successful. He's got a big arm that can throw the deep ball well and also the more precise shorter routes. He's thrown for 1,062 yards and nine touchdowns and is only getting better with each rep he receives.     [player_tooltip player_id='1817978' first='Najhir' last='Pelzer'] LB, Orangeburg-Wilkinson 2029   One Thing is for certain – Pelzer does not look like an ordinary freshman. He's already 6-foot-4, 205 pounds and is making plays all over the field for the Bruins. He has 28 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five sacks, two fumble recoveries and a blocked punt to his resume. He's fast, physical and hasn't backed down on a defense that has allowed just 14 points in the first five games of the season. He's only going to get better playing with a talented group of upperclassmen.   [player_tooltip player_id='1623307' first='Xavier' last='Wright'] QB, Gray Collegiate 2028   We've seen Wright in person and came away very impressed with his ability and his demeanor. Nothing rattles the freshman and he's always thinking about the next play, not what happened previously. Wright has filled in for an injured [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] so Gray Collegiate will be in good shape when Waller is healthy again. Wright threw for 376 yards in a Top 10 showdown with North Augusta and is sitting at 635 yards passing with seven touchdowns and no interceptions in the three games he's played

The calendar has flipped to October and that means a couple of things – region play has started and we're one month away from the playoffs starting in both the SCHSL and SCISA ranks.