Midlands Mid-Season Report

We've reached the midway point for a lot of teams and region play is right around the corner at this point. So, what have we learned? We've had the expected and unexpected at this point.   There are teams that we knew were contenders before the season playing that way. There are some teams that are totally surprised after coming off subpar seasons.   The last weekend in September and all of October sets the stage for the postseason. Let's look at the first half of the season and what we've seen up until this point. And maybe we will talk about what we expect to see the rest of the way.   THE TOP OF THE PACK   Let's start off with the obvious. We knew Dutch Fork was going to be good and the four-time defending state champions have not disappointed. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts'] has been the catalyst. The senior is completing over 72 percent of his passes for 952 yards and 11 touchdowns in four games. And he's the leading rusher with 200 yards on 33 carries. Senior WR [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'] has 24 receptions for 455 yards and five touchdowns. He's proven to be a big play waiting to happen. [player_tooltip player_id='2106772' first='Corey' last='Miller'] [player_tooltip player_id='1821115' first='Anderson' last='Bean'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1818124' first='Jalen' last='Montgomery'] have also been solid contributors in the receiving game. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1821111' first='Quintin' last='Wilson'] is averaging over 13 yards per carry and will likely see his opportunities increase in the second half of the season. OL [player_tooltip player_id='1151291' first='Brody' last='Lorenzo'] continues to show why he's our top-rated prospect in the 2028 Class along with [player_tooltip player_id='1301043' first='Jeremiah' last='McGowan'] showing why he's in the top 20.   Defensively, Clemson defensive lineman commitment [player_tooltip player_id='409882' first='Jaden' last='Wuerth'] has 10 tackles for loss and eight sacks on the season. LB [player_tooltip player_id='1818414' first='Josiah' last='Robinson'] leads the team with 27 tackles with LB [player_tooltip player_id='1777821' first='Ethan' last='Moze'] and DB [player_tooltip player_id='1172353' first='James' last='Smith'] playing huge roles as well.   Fairfield Central was expected to be a contender in the revamped Class A and they steamrolled to a 5-0 record with the closest contest being a 17-point victory. [player_tooltip player_id='1816745' first='Ty'Quarius' last='Shannon'] is committed to Gardner-Webb but his recruitment might not be over. He leads the Griffins with 355 yards on 17 receptions (four games) and makes the spectacular look routine. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1816746' first='Kenyan' last='Douglas'] has 520 yards in just four games. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1821811' first='Kamauri' last='Jones'] makes it all happen and is quickly nearing the 1,000-mark for the season.   Linebackers Wayne Johnson and Chris Perry-Jenty both average over 10 tackles per game while fellow LB Logan Watkins has three sacks. [player_tooltip player_id='1816744' first='Kingston' last='Peay'] anchors a talented defensive front that will give a lot of team's trouble.   THE UNEXPECTED   Staying in Dutch Fork's region and Chapin and River Bluff have been two of the biggest surprises of the season. The Eagles went winless in 2025 but reached the halfway point of the season on a four-game winning streak under first-year coach Cory Helms. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1824394' first='Tyler' last='Black'] and RB [player_tooltip player_id='2210109' first='Charlie' last='Howell'] (487 yards) have been the driving force of the offense with four receivers already over 100 yards each. Ny'Shawn Palmore and [player_tooltip player_id='1825267' first='Anderson' last='Stutts'] lead the way with [player_tooltip player_id='1149041' first='Beckham' last='Diimmler'] and Riley Ashton showing flashes. Sophomore athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1818504' first='Harper' last='Ellerbee'] is the leading scorer with six touchdowns LB [player_tooltip player_id='1811070' first='Parker' last='Collins'] DL Clint Gentry and DB's [player_tooltip player_id='1824923' first='Charlie' last='Todd'] and Charlie Pinner lead a revitalized unit.   The Gators have made the two-quarterback system of [player_tooltip player_id='1344583' first='Brayden' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1600293' first='Davis' last='Taylor'] work for the most part. Moore has attempted more passes and has eight touchdowns to just three for Taylor. It helps with a talent like [player_tooltip player_id='1078102' first='Darius' last='Carter'] is your primary target. The Coastal Carolina commitment has 17 catches for 409 yards and six touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1818960' first='Ashton' last='Boyd'] is a sophomore that is starting to emerge. He leads the team with 393 yards rushing. LB [player_tooltip player_id='262172' first='Bubba' last='Alexander'] transferred from Hammond and he's the second leading tackler with 36 and has three rushing touchdowns in a limited role on offense. LB [player_tooltip player_id='1824104' first='Reece' last='Huffstetler'] and DB Collin Carter are also big hitters on defense. DB Caleb Renwrick has snagged three interceptions. River Bluff is 4-1 after winning six games last season.   Lugoff-Elgin won six games a season ago but are off to a 4-0 mark in 2026. White Knoll transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning'] is just shy of averaging 200 yards per game and has already chalked up 10 touchdowns on the season. He gives this offense an added dimension it didn't have a season ago. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1823858' first='Zach' last='Williams'] has continued to improve and he has a bona fide go-to receiver in [player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson'] (pictured above) on the outside. [player_tooltip player_id='1817112' first='Isaiah' last='Littlejohn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817087' first='Malakhi' last='Cantey'] provide key size and depth along the offensive line.   Linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1817089' first='Cash' last='Majar'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823864' first='Jace' last='Coleman'] both check in with over 10 tackles per game with Majar leading the way with 46 tackles. DB [player_tooltip player_id='1422637' first='Corey' last='Murphy'] is near the top of the state with four interceptions. Freshman RB Ashton Felder has turned into the top ball-carrier with 334 yards and five touchdowns in four games.   Dreher won three games last season and surpassed that total with a Monday night victory over CA Johnson. Transfer QB [player_tooltip player_id='1515057' first='Aiden' last='Fitzgerald'] has been spectacular with 17 touchdowns to go along with well over 1,000 yards on the season. He's thrown just one interception. Junior WR Terry Cantlow is his primary target with 20 receptions for 429 yards and nine touchdowns going into Monday night's contest.  Cantlow and Fitzgerald connected for four TD's on Monday evening. Senior OL [player_tooltip player_id='1818909' first='Aiden' last='Holmes'] checks in at 290 pounds and leads a stout offensive front.   The linebacker trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1823548' first='Joseph' last='Pohlmann'] Hadi Jabali and Jamari Crawford along with defensive linemen Nigel McLamore [player_tooltip player_id='2177594' first='Marcus' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1865375' first='Willie' last='Mazyck'] have made the Blue Devils much better defensively.   Mid-Carolina won five games last season and could reach that number before the calendar rolls over into October. The Rebels have back-to-back shutouts on the strength of play from LB [player_tooltip player_id='1823534' first='Ryker' last='Woolstenhulme'] DE Debronze Wicker and LB [player_tooltip player_id='1824532' first='Akai' last='Williams']. Add in athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1820916' first='Wyatt' last='Mazza'] and Mid-Carolina could be in for their best record in nearly a decade.   Keenan is averaging 36 points a game with the only loss to Class 5A River Bluff. They've scored 36 points or more in each of the four victories on the season. The Raiders had three wins in 2025. Senior RB [player_tooltip player_id='1822187' first='Hunter' last='O'Neal'] is averaging 140 yards per game and should easily eclipse 1,500 yards on the season. He's scored 11 touchdowns already as well. Senior QB [player_tooltip player_id='1771826' first='Dante' last='Howse'] has 10 TD passes with [player_tooltip player_id='1821762' first='Marcus' last='Simpson Jr'] hauling in five of those.     They've had some injuries but that has allowed some players to step up into prominent roles. Sophomore LB Kristian McQueen has four sacks and is averaging 10 tackles per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1615103' first='Conrad' last='Hampton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822186' first='Jaemon' last='Benson'] have played huge roles as well.   JURY IS STILL OUT   Sumter has lost to Summerville and Dutch Fork but the Gamecocks have a chance to get things corrected in region play. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson'] has missed time due to injury and that has allowed [player_tooltip player_id='2401154' first='Jamarion' last='Witherspoon'] to be the leading rusher with 612 yards and eight touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1817005' first='Reggie' last='Shannon'] has added 451 yards and seven touchdowns. If Richardson can return to full health, Sumter could be a team to make some postseason noise.   Irmo has losses to Rock Hill and Dorman, both of which are ranked in the Top 4 of Class 5A. The Yellow Jackets are in 4A this season and behind the trio of DE [player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant'] DL [player_tooltip player_id='1172366' first='Tyrone' last='Jennings'] and LB CJ Currence will be a factor come November. RB [player_tooltip player_id='1675598' first='Tai' last='Phillips'] has been steady in the running game, QB [player_tooltip player_id='1856841' first='Britton' last='Davis'] and ATH [player_tooltip player_id='1467834' first='Jay' last='Eady'] have shown moments.     Camden is sitting at 3-2, but they've become a team nobody wants to see in the postseason. QB [player_tooltip player_id='1354590' first='Greyson' last='Rimpf'] has 11 TD passes and RB's [player_tooltip player_id='2267937' first='Aaden' last='Manning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1720755' first='Jaden' last='Manning'] along with WR Isiah Smith and [player_tooltip player_id='1772703' first='Bernard' last='Green'] make the Bulldogs a dangerous offensive team. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1825202' first='Lavay' last='Penny'] provides the defensive leadership.   LB Peyton Kenerly and defensive backs [player_tooltip player_id='1820128' first='Elijah' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822638' first='Travis' last='Dixon'] have Orangeburg-Wilkinson sitting at 4-0 but the schedule for the Bruins will get considerably more difficult in October. They've only allowed 26 points but will face Saluda and Strom Thurmond in the next month of the season.   SCISA STANDOUTS   Hammond has a showdown with defending champion Northwood Academy, and the Skyhawks defense has allowed 34 points in five games. Some of those points have come in garbage time as well. Defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1550897' first='Hugh' last='Manning'] has nearly as many tackles for loss (25) and sacks (14) as he does tackles (30). The Richmond commitment also has 27 quarterback pressures. LB [player_tooltip player_id='1603691' first='Jackson' last='Ross'] is a South Carolina commitment, and he has 26 tackles and three of the eight defensive touchdowns so far. Senior DL [player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes'] and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1816478' first='Toona' last='Washington'] also play key roles in the lockdown attack. They've allowed 433 yards of total offense in five games.   Ben Lippen won three games last season and opened the 2026 campaign with four straight wins. That's been in large part due to an offense that includes [player_tooltip player_id='1821935' first='Michael' last='Traynum'] (nine touchdowns) WR Jimmele Smith (six touchdowns) and RB [player_tooltip player_id='1821943' first='Johnathan' last='Eckert'] (four touchdowns). LB [player_tooltip player_id='1821949' first='Stone' last='Porter'] has been the leader of the defense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1720918' first='Keon' last='Mckinley'] is coming off his best performance of the season for Heathwood Hall, last season's Class 4A runners-up. The senior has moved to QB due to injuries, and he threw for 186 yards and two touchdowns, added 75 yards rushing and a score and added an interception on defense. Jayson Bolton has been a bonus in the running game with junior linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='1672907' first='Heyward' last='Belser'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1817611' first='Charlie' last='Taylor'] leading a defense that includes freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2400932' first='Jackson' last='Dickerson'] in the mix.

We've reached the midway point for a lot of teams and region play is right around the corner at this point. So, what have we learned? We've had the expected and unexpected at this point.