Week 8 Catawba River Region Games To Watch

The last three weeks of the regular season are upon us. These weeks will determine not only if teams will make the playoffs, but also how teams will be seeded in the playoffs. That can make a huge difference between having home games and having to go on the road in the playoffs.   Let's take a look at four games that you'll want to keep your eye on in the Catawba River Region in Week 8:   CLOVER (4-3) AT INDIAN LAND (7-0)   Last meeting: Clover won 21-7 (2024)   Players To Watch: IL – [player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1042719' first='Hayden' last='Morris'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1422617' first='Jackson' last='Conner'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1822503' first='Noah' last='Terry'] (CB), [player_tooltip player_id='1592288' first='Jamol' last='Horton'] (RB); CLOVER – [player_tooltip player_id='1407416' first='Aaron' last='Shealey'] (QB), LaTrell Ellison (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1824427' first='Grady' last='Stone'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1404968' first='Jackson' last='Hill'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1743683' first='Carson' last='Pinti'] (LB)   Notable: The Warriors are rolling in region play, and they are doing it with a dominant defense, as they had two pick sixes by Conner and Terry in a 34-7 win over Catawba Ridge last week. Kucia was efficient, throwing a 34-yard touchdown to Morris. Horton ran for three rushing touchdowns in the win as well. The Blue Eagles defensive front will need to be aware of the duo of the quarterback and running back and try to limit mistakes offensively against a defense that has only allowed more than nine points once this season.   ANDREW JACKSON (4-3) AT CENTRAL (6-0)   Last meeting: Central won 20-0 (2024)   Players To Watch: AJ – Demais Seegars (ATH), [player_tooltip player_id='1820142' first='Jantzen' last='Jeffers'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1395000' first='Kamron' last='McGill'] (LB), J'von Kelley (RB); CENTRAL – [player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1639753' first='Aiden' last='Short'] (RB), Jakari Holloman (ATH), [player_tooltip player_id='1592629' first='Taveon' last='Moore'] (ATH)   Notable: This game could decide the region in 3-2A as both teams are playing well at the right time on the back end of region play. The Vols emptied the bench as everyone got to play in their rout of <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/andrew-jackson-dominates-chesterfield-in-key-region-game/">Chesterfield last week</a>. It will take a complete effort to knock off the top team in 2A on the road. Can they generate some pressure up front against an offense that is averaging 38 points per game and that can sling it around with Louallen and Moore (pictured above) in the passing game?   NORTHWESTERN (7-1) AT ROCK HILL (5-3)   Last meeting: <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/10/what-we-saw-northwestern-55-rock-hill-7/">Northwestern won 55-7 (2024)</a>   Players To Watch: NW – [player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1267334' first='Kameron' last='Vance'] (WR), Jonathan Spuregon (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1823340' first='Nigel' last='Smith'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1823343' first='Malik' last='Darby'] (LB); RH – [player_tooltip player_id='1816896' first='Jonah' last='Young'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='618765' first='Katarius' last='Gill'] (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1676087' first='Kamron' last='Wilson'] (WR), Jojo Brooks (ATH), [player_tooltip player_id='1088328' first='Nigel' last='Lightner'] (DB)   Notable: The city rivalry in Rock Hill adds another chapter on Friday night. The Trojans are putting up points in bunches, averaging 48.9 points and 441.4 yards per game. Means ran for six rushing touchdowns against Fort Mill and is a threat in the run game that the Bearcats will have to be aware of. Can Rock Hill run the ball with [player_tooltip player_id='1823452' first='Donovan' last='Franklin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1818213' first='Devan' last='Erby'] to take some of the pressure off the quarterback and limit the Trojans' possessions? They did it last week <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/turnovers-run-game-key-for-rock-hill-over-nation-ford/">in a win over Nation Ford</a>. If they can, they can make this interesting.   CATAWBA RIDGE (4-3) AT NATION FORD (3-4)   Last meeting: Catawba Ridge won 34-7 (2024)   Players To Watch: CR – [player_tooltip player_id='1824265' first='Will' last='Griggs'] (QB), Casey Fikis (LB), [player_tooltip player_id='1422524' first='Josh' last='Dobson'] (CB), Connor McFadden (DL); NAFO – [player_tooltip player_id='1592521' first='Kason' last='Canupp'] (QB), [player_tooltip player_id='1635014' first='Malachi' last='Drayton'] (RB), [player_tooltip player_id='1821733' first='Jayden' last='Scott'] (WR), [player_tooltip player_id='1821314' first='Joey' last='Reagan'] (DL), [player_tooltip player_id='1858215' first='Isaiah' last='Johnson'] (DL)   Notable: Both teams need a win to stay on track to make the playoffs. Nation Ford can put up points with the duo of Canupp and Scott on offense, but they'll need to avoid the critical turnovers like they did last week in the loss against Rock Hill. And for the Copperheads, they will also need to avoid the mistakes on offense that cost them in a rout against Indian Land. Whichever team can establish the run game may have the advantage in this one.

The last three weeks of the regular season are upon us. These weeks will determine not only if teams will make the playoffs, but also how teams will be seeded in the playoffs. That can make a huge difference between having home games and having to go on the road in the playoffs.