Week 3 Slate Loaded with Appealing Matchups in CSRA

The Week 3 menu is an appetizing one in the Central Savannah River Area.   For starters, there are clashes between former region foes and new installments in more recent series. Rugged run games are set to meet hard-nosed defensive attacks, while speedy playmakers will be lining up on both sides of the ball in contests that could become shootouts. Add in a historic rivalry, a matchup of teams riding tons of momentum, a first game played on a new field and an intriguing "first time ever" meeting, and it's another must-watch week in the CSRA.   And that's without even mentioning two enticing matchups taking place just beyond the boundaries of the zone, with former region adversaries meeting as South Aiken visits Brookland-Cayce and Saluda travels to longtime local rival Batesburg-Leesville.   Needless to say, these are more than just pre-region tune-ups.   CHAPIN (1-1) AT AIKEN (2-0)   We can call this one the good vibes matchup of the week, with Chapin rolling into Hagood Stadium after snapping a 12-game losing streak to face an Aiken team that's off to a 2-0 start for the second year in a row. Chapin snapped that skid with last week's 45-22 win over Brookland-Cayce in a game it led 35-0 heading into the fourth quarter. How did the Eagles do it? Offensive efficiency was a big factor. [player_tooltip player_id='1824394' first='Tyler' last='Black'] tossed a pair of touchdown passes and threw for 239 yards while [player_tooltip player_id='2210109' first='Charlie' last='Howell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1818504' first='Harper' last='Ellerbee'] combined for 170 rushing yards and three scores. The offensive line will be tested, particularly [player_tooltip player_id='2173701' first='Henry' last='(Hank) Olds'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2174886' first='Thomas' last='Griffin'] at the tackle spots, by an Aiken defensive front that racked up eight sacks and 23 tackles for loss in last week's 38-21 win over Swansea. [player_tooltip player_id='1840755' first='Malik' last='Cuyler'] had a massive night with six TFLs and three sacks, ZiYon East and [player_tooltip player_id='1840739' first='Benton' last='Osteen'] each had a pair of sacks - and that's before even mentioning chaos agents [player_tooltip player_id='1467819' first='Brandon' last='Poston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1840750' first='Jayden' last='Merriweather'] up front and [player_tooltip player_id='1054957' first='Gray' last='Kitchings'] (pictured) in the secondary.   The Aiken offense produced a performance last week that had the Hornets dipping into the archives to see if any records had fallen. [player_tooltip player_id='1820316' first='Tanner' last='Padgett'] had another big night at quarterback, completing 18 of 24 passes for 322 yards and a couple of touchdowns, [player_tooltip player_id='1530765' first='Darius' last='Walker'] ran for 119 yards and three touchdowns, and the offense as a whole generated 508 total yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1840740' first='Stephan' last='Pope'] had 158 yards receiving, highlighted by a 93-yarder, [player_tooltip player_id='1614255' first='Allen' last='Cummings'] had another big game with 96 yards and a touchdown on nine grabs, and [player_tooltip player_id='1840715' first='Tarrant' last='McKenzie'] averaged just a shade under 20 yards per catch. Those three should have a fun battle with Ziggy Mack, Charlie Pinner and Caden Guy at the cornerback spots, especially if [player_tooltip player_id='1840771' first='Darrenton' last='Jones'] and the offensive line can keep [player_tooltip player_id='2182512' first='Clinton' last='Gentry'] and company up front out of the backfield. The Hornets will also have to watch out for [player_tooltip player_id='1811070' first='Parker' last='Collins'] patrolling the middle of the field.   AC FLORA (1-1) AT MIDLAND VALLEY (2-0, Class 4A No. 10)   It's home opener time for Midland Valley, which followed up a shootout win over Lexington by smothering Lakeside (Ga.) last week, meaning that A.C. Flora logo that's been on the scoreboard all offseason is now finally the opponent. The Mustangs showed off some balance on offense last week, led by a tidy 11-for-15 passing night by [player_tooltip player_id='644030' first='Xavier' last='Geter'] for 190 yards and a couple of touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1615063' first='Preston' last='Smith'] continued his hot start to his junior season, and through two weeks he's already at 268 yards and five touchdowns on 33 carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1010338' first='Cameron' last='Gleaton'] was once again the leading receiver, so it won't come as any surprise to AC Flora who the Falcons most need to try to contain, which could create an extra opening for someone like [player_tooltip player_id='1824057' first='Terrance' last='Smith'] to get behind the defense.   AC Flora is looking to bounce back from a tough loss last Thursday to Gilbert in which the Indians had a lot of success running the football. The Falcons will be looking to players like [player_tooltip player_id='2163707' first='Brannon' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1819887' first='Justin' last='Conyers'] to apply some pressure to the Midland Valley offense to keep that from happening again. [player_tooltip player_id='1821802' first='Riggs' last='Scott'] had a nearly perfect completion percentage last week, going 19-for-21 but with no touchdowns and an interception. He hit eight different receivers, so the Mustangs will turn to [player_tooltip player_id='1508020' first='Issack' last='Staley'] to lead the charge defensively and try to fluster Scott into opening the door for playmakers like [player_tooltip player_id='1821367' first='Triston' last='Garrett'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824045' first='Jaylen' last='Washington'] in the secondary. Midland Valley got a much-needed strong defensive effort last week, and the Mustangs will look to slow [player_tooltip player_id='1817082' first='Zion' last='Gaddist'] in the run game in order to force the Falcons into more difficult passing downs.   GREENWOOD (1-1, Class 4A No. 9) AT NORTH AUGUSTA (1-1, Class 4A RV)   North Augusta bounced back in more ways that one in the second half last week against Lexington, overcoming a deficit to beat the Wildcats to get into the win column after a difficult season-opening loss at defending 2A state champion Strom Thurmond. The Jackets have still been struggling to find and maintain consistency, but showed some good flashes in the passing game with hookups between [player_tooltip player_id='1819537' first='Collin' last='Tillman'] and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1839952' first='Zay' last='Harris'] and Tristan Anderson against Lexington. The Jackets know they can also count on Tillman to run when needed, and when paired with [player_tooltip player_id='1827171' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] they like their chances at moving the ball on the ground.   That could potentially be tough sledding against a Greenwood defense that just held Spartanburg's run game in check in last week's slugfest. If [player_tooltip player_id='1820252' first='Malik' last='Stevens'] and the Eagles' stout defensive front can do the same this week, they can disrupt the Jackets' consistency and force them into some uncomfortable situations that guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1823975' first='Jamere' last='Jackson'] could use to their advantage. Greenwood rotated quarterbacks last week, so North Augusta will have to be prepared to possibly face Quay Justesen and [player_tooltip player_id='1820240' first='Zatavion' last='White'] in addition to trying to slow down [player_tooltip player_id='1820235' first='Martavious' last='Hamilton'] in the run game. The Jackets always like their chances as far as their defensive front is concerned and will again turn to [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones'] [player_tooltip player_id='1819540' first='Joshua' last='Simpkins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1839899' first='Dez' last='Davis'] up front with [player_tooltip player_id='1811107' first='Javon' last='Ryans'] ready to spoil whatever offensive consistency the Eagles may find.   HAMPTON COUNTY (1-1, Class A No. 6) AT SILVER BLUFF (1-1)   Silver Bluff heads into Week 3 with a little bit of weight removed from the Bulldogs' shoulders. Their 32-14 win over Fox Creek was their first of the season and first under new head coach Lemuel Lackey, and it came in a game with some added juice considering Lackey came to Silver Bluff from Fox Creek. The young Bulldogs handled the emotions well enough to produce a big fourth quarter for the win, and now they're looking to build on it. [player_tooltip player_id='1820962' first='Jermaine' last='Turner'] ran for three short-yardage touchdowns, freshman quarterback Chanse Miles threw for two scores, and Akeem Payne and [player_tooltip player_id='1820957' first='Dorian' last='Jones'] each hauled in touchdown catches.   Up next is a visit from the defending 2A Lower State champions, who battered Colleton County in the opener before falling to Wilson last week to split their first two games against 4A opponents. Junior running back [player_tooltip player_id='1819440' first='Nigil' last='Fripp'] has been the focal point of the offense so far, with 266 yards and a touchdown to his credit on 41 carries. Following [player_tooltip player_id='1820603' first='Ty'Quavian' last='Jones'] and company up front has been a proven path to success for the Hurricanes, so there's no point in changing things up now. Hampton County will want to limit the turnovers after losing six fumbles and two interceptions in the first two games, and the Bulldogs will look to force [player_tooltip player_id='1820426' first='Roderick' last='Loadholt'] into more passing downs.   WHALE BRANCH (0-2) at BLACKVILLE-HILDA (2-0, Class A RV)   It's the first Friday of football season for Blackville-Hilda after back-to-back dominant Thursday night performances. The Fighting Hawks are riding a powerful rushing attack to a 2-0 start, with [player_tooltip player_id='1819832' first='Jayden' last='Peeples'] having already rushed for 425 yards and four touchdowns while [player_tooltip player_id='1820087' first='Josh' last='Epps'] and Marcus Jacobs have also contributed some key runs. Blackville-Hilda has passed it sparingly, but a receiving attack led by [player_tooltip player_id='1603960' first='Damahjai' last='Devoe'] is averaging 26.4 yards per reception. [player_tooltip player_id='1820086' first='Jasiah' last='Gibson'] and Jayden Dash are applying the pressure up front, while Devoe, Epps and [player_tooltip player_id='1856574' first='Kaleb' last='Brooks'] are ball hawks in the secondary.   Whale Branch is looking to break into the win column after playing up in losses to 2A Battery Creek and 4A Beaufort. Freshman Jamar Bronner is the Warriors' leading passer and rusher, and fellow young playmakers like sophomore Makai Zachery and freshman Jamon Hayward should have the full attention of the Fighting Hawks' defense, which will have to play with discipline to keep short gains from turning into huge ones. Hayward and [player_tooltip player_id='1822239' first='Jamari' last='Smalls'] have led the defense through two weeks, and if freshman Aiden Jackson can continue to get into the backfield the Warriors will much better like their chances of slowing the run game.   NINETY SIX (1-1) AT WAGENER-SALLEY (2-0, Class A RV)   It's out with the old and in with the new for Wagener-Salley, which said goodbye to its old field with a blowout win over Branchville last week and now welcomes Ninety Six onto its new turf this week. That's a lot of moving parts to deal with early in the season, but the War Eagles have shown during the first two weeks that they've been more than capable of adjusting to a new coach and several new pieces on both sides of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1822723' first='Zamien' last='Capers'] is off to a big start to the season at quarterback, and having speedy playmakers like [player_tooltip player_id='1664511' first='Trenton' last='Summers'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1537080' first='Jaden' last='Gilchrist'] at his disposal certainly doesn't hurt, not to mention a bruiser like [player_tooltip player_id='1519361' first='Kaleb' last='Landy'] running the ball while also blowing up opponents' offensive lines. Landy did that to the tune of three tackles for loss and a sack last week, and he had plenty of help defensively from Quentin Kearse and Riley Salley to hold Branchville in check.   Up next is a Ninety Six team that split its opening games against 2A opponents, most recently a hard-fought - and delayed - win over Landrum this past Saturday. [player_tooltip player_id='1819327' first='Jacob' last='Evans'] led the way for the offense with a 194-yard, three-touchdown passing performance to go with a team-leading 39 yards on the ground. He connected with six different receivers, with Kobi Quarles [player_tooltip player_id='1651024' first='Camrhyn' last='Mathis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1821700' first='Parker' last='Sutley'] each hauling in a touchdown catch. The Wildcats fought hard defensively, with MJ Garner making a key interception, and the offense found a way to respond each time the defense did give up a score. That will be key against a Wagener-Salley offense averaging 51 points per game to start the year.

The Week 3 menu is an appetizing one in the Central Savannah River Area.