Four Midlands Games That Should Have Your Attention For Week 3

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After this weekend, we will be thirty percent through the high school football regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Things are starting to take shape and we're starting to see some surprise contenders along with some established teams still trying to find their footing. That's not to say teams should start pushing the panic button or celebrating too early. What it means is we're starting to figure some things out in a small sample size.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are four games that should get your attention this week. There are others but we looked around and these seemed to be a few that we're really eager to keep our eyes on.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CARDINAL NEWMAN (2-0) at HEATHWOOD HALL (0-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals might be one of the surprise teams of the young season. They started with two impressive wins and have been doing it with defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1822323' first='Boland' last='Dupree'] [player_tooltip player_id='1822322' first='Nathan' last='MacMurdo'] Jaxon Holub and [player_tooltip player_id='1817794' first='Jackson' last='Chambers'] have been leading the way. Chambers has 19 tackles and an interception while MacMurdo has 18 tackles and a team-best six tackles for loss. Chambers and Dupree each have 14 tackles and an interception a piece. [player_tooltip player_id='1819795' first='Michael' last='Carlson'] and Hampton Foster also have interceptions. Cardinal Newman has forced 11 turnovers in two games. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1822317' first='Liam' last='Shuping'] and receiver <strong>RJ Hughes</strong> have paced the passing game while <strong>Charlie Lawhead</strong> leads the rushing attack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Highlanders are off to a 0-2 start but saw improvement from week one to week two. They lost a rematch of last year's state championship game 21-14 to Northwood Academy this past week. QB <strong>Harrison Harley</strong> RB <strong>Jayson Bolton</strong> and WR <strong>Alan Rodriquez</strong> have paced the offense. Freshman <strong>Jackson Dickerson</strong> and junior [player_tooltip player_id='1817611' first='Charlie' last='Taylor'] each have 14 tackles on the season to pace the defense. Athlete Keon Mckinley has the lone interception in two games. [player_tooltip player_id='1816236' first='Hill' last='Belser'] is a factor in the trenches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MARLBORO COUNTY (2-0) at</strong> <strong>CRESTWOOD (2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs are off to a 2-0 start thanks and an explosive offense that has averaged over 560 yards per game so far. [player_tooltip player_id='1816916' first='Khrishawn' last='Smith'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2163536' first='Tehvin' last='Easterling'] have combined for 459 yards rushing and four touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='776240' first='Tre' last='Blakeney'] has thrown for 470 yards and accounted for six total touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1818220' first='Mikyi' last='Littles'] has 10 receptions for 222 yards and a TD with freshman <strong>Carson Roberts</strong> scoring two touchdowns on his three catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights come in with a bruising running game with [player_tooltip player_id='1664643' first='Calvin' last='Wofford'] going for 500 yards and five touchdowns on 48 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1907293' first='Darrell' last='Epps'] has added 158 yards and a score on 20 attempts. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1816441' first='Marek' last='Yates'] has only attempted 10 passes in two games. [player_tooltip player_id='1664603' first='Ahmadre' last='Ricks'] [player_tooltip player_id='1664498' first='Yachin' last='Gamble'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820800' first='Peyton' last='Grant-Bradshaw'] have been good defensively. Ricks has 15 tackles and Gamble has 11. Grant-Bradshaw has three tackles for loss to lead that category. [player_tooltip player_id='1561642' first='Matthew' last='Lewis'] and<strong> Jaden Goodman</strong> each have an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HARTSVILLE (1-1) at CAMDEN (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's rare that these two teams lose so the fact they're both coming in off losses makes this an even more important early season matchup for two schools that have built a huge rivalry over the years. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1615056' first='Ford' last='Wallace'] has the Red Foxes averaging 46 points per game, so it hasn't been the fault of the offense. [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] leads the rushing attack with [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] supplying the firepower at receiver. [player_tooltip player_id='2238751' first='Fred' last='Turner'] and <strong>Vance Horton</strong> pave the way upfront. Hartsville returned eight starters on defense so it's a little surprising that unit is allowing 41 points per game in the early going. [player_tooltip player_id='1820409' first='Crayton' last='McKnight'] up front and linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1659005' first='Ziyon' last='Mason'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822989' first='Jamyari' last='Scipio-Bishop'] along with defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1614136' first='Deon' last='McCall'] have the talent, now they just need to put it all together.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But the Bulldogs will be coming in smarting after a loss to rival Lugoff-Elgin on Friday. [player_tooltip player_id='1354590' first='Greyson' last='Rimpf'] has been good at the quarterback position, and the offensive line has been solid with <strong>Worth Thomasson</strong> and [player_tooltip player_id='1823953' first='Kenneth' last='Lawson'] leading the way. [player_tooltip player_id='1772703' first='Bernard' last='Green'] at receiver and [player_tooltip player_id='1720755' first='Jaden' last='Manning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2246636' first='Isaiah' last='Smith'] have shown flashes. <strong>Harrison Arnett</strong> opened the season with 12 tackles and a sack on a win over Dillon. [player_tooltip player_id='1825202' first='Lavay' last='Penny'] has been solid as a returning starter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JAMES ISLAND (2-0) at GRAY COLLEGIATE (1-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There might not be anyone in the state more impressive than the Trojans right now. James Island has opened with big wins over Oceanside Collegiate as well as South Florence. They face another test, this time on the road. [player_tooltip player_id='1820390' first='Brady' last='Dantzler'] has thrown seven touchdown passes already in his first season as a starter. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='874321' first='Raphael' last='Puiu'] has been his main target, but [player_tooltip player_id='1819171' first='Charlie' last='Schrecker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1664605' first='Sam' last='Crumpton'] are doing their fair share. [player_tooltip player_id='485450' first='Mykell' last='Warthen'] is averaging 142 yards on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1036776' first='Israel' last='Harris'] continues to maul defenders in the trenches. Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1274260' first='Bryson' last='Bowers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817511' first='Carter' last='Patno'] have been good but defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='651361' first='Jakayden' last='Pendergrass'] is playing at an all-star level early in the season. Add in Robert Grant and James Island has a lot of good-looking pieces.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gray rebounded from a season-opening loss with a shutout of River Bluff last week. Running back [player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] leads the way offensively, but [player_tooltip player_id='1647592' first='Corey' last='Gleaton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1319663' first='Royce' last='Williamson'] (pictured) have picked up where they left off from a season ago from a receiving standpoint. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1623307' first='Xavier' last='Wright'] has been steady, and everyone is just waiting on him to have that breakout game. [player_tooltip player_id='1422610' first='Jack' last='Armstrong'] has been as good as advertised on both sides of the ball in the trenches. Linebacker Hampton Boling has filled in nicely in his first season starting. Defensive backs Ryan Mobley and [player_tooltip player_id='1825002' first='Jayshon' last='Singleton'] have played well so far. Defensive ends [player_tooltip player_id='2083018' first='Carson' last='Cartwright'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824729' first='Domarion' last='Wilson'] can bring a lot of pressure. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->