Week 5 Games To Watch on the Coast

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Did you blink?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If so, you might have already missed out on some of the biggest headlines through the first four weeks of the football season in the GSPD and Lowcountry. A short time ago, we were talking about what was about to be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, we're talking about what is.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 5 along the two zones of the South Carolina Coast isn't messing around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've got two split-zone match-ups that will produce results that will be followed statewide. There is a massive SCISA game that might just feature two state championship contenders. Did we mention a possible region opener that could shift a landscape? Not to be out-done is a Lowcountry slugfest between a pair of small-class programs capable of making postseason runs of their own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These five games should all sell a decent number of tickets.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PINEWOOD PREP (3-0) AT HILTON HEAD CHRISTIAN (4-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pinewood is on fire. The Panthers haven't had a game decided by fewer than 27 points. And, better yet, every returning player from last season's state title team is essentially ahead of schedule with their individual production.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That begins with quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2045815' first='Silas' last='Brawner'] (1,365 yards, 18 touchdowns, one interception). But it keeps going with tailbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1065555' first='Grayson' last='Salego'] (299 yards, five touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='2163482' first='Jeremy' last='Kendall'] (232 yards, four touchdowns) and receivers [player_tooltip player_id='896094' first='Lavoris' last='Lucas'] (426 yards, nine touchdowns) and [player_tooltip player_id='2045814' first='Tre' last='Green'] (399 yards, four touchdowns).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles - who have won all of their games by double digits - will be bringing in their own fireworks display to the game, as well. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='2349778' first='Kres' last='Langhals'] has been a dual-threat wrecking crew. He's already thrown for 980 yards and 13 touchdowns while leading the team with 254 yards and three scores on the ground. [player_tooltip player_id='1822732' first='Jackson' last='Richardson'] has been his favorite target so far with 19 catches for 406 yards and five touchdowns, while [player_tooltip player_id='1607177' first='Joey' last='Houpt'] has 14 receptions for 298 and five touchdowns.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amid all that, keep an eye on [player_tooltip player_id='1820220' first='Hayne' last='Burden'] for HHCA. He's on pace for 28 tackles for loss this year and could change a possession with one play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BISHOP ENGLAND (4-0) AT HAMPTON COUNTY (3-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For everything both of these teams have at their disposal, get ready for a ball-control type of game in which neither takes too many risks as they each inch a week closer to their all-important region play. For the Hurricanes, that means a heavy dose of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819440' first='Nigil' last='Fripp']</strong> at tailback. Clearly he's got some game-breaking skill, as he busted out for 353 yards against Class 4A Bluffton last week. But he's not a one-hit wonder. He was already averaging 7 yards per carry and 135 per game before that contest. The fact that he's within two or three games of hitting quadruple digits tells you all you need to know about the offensive line and the staff's confidence in it.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hampton's offensive line is doing it's part. [player_tooltip player_id='1585670' first='Charles' last='Williams'] (LT), [player_tooltip player_id='1819438' first='Lonzo' last='Johnson'] (LG), Craig Sanders (C), [player_tooltip player_id='1823009' first='Cautey' last='Taylor'] (RG), [player_tooltip player_id='1820603' first='Ty'Quavian' last='Jones'] (RT) and tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1823006' first='Ja'Shon' last='Williams'] are working extremely well as a unit.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop England's front seven is obviously going to present its own set of problems. [player_tooltip player_id='1172361' first='Matthew' last='Ponkow'] (pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='1640504' first='Luke' last='Russell'] on the ends, [player_tooltip player_id='1819655' first='Jackson' last='Kunz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1850112' first='Luke' last='Balog'] in the interior. Behind them, look for [player_tooltip player_id='1582108' first='Trevor' last='Tonon'] Henry Verner [player_tooltip player_id='1819653' first='Tate' last='Murray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1664589' first='William' last='Donato'] manning the middle. And don't lose track of [player_tooltip player_id='1674089' first='Chase' last='Tonon'] on the backside as a possible spy on Fripp.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>LORIS (3-1) AT ATLANTIC COLLEGIATE ACADEMY (2-2)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loris has been the last team playing along the Grand Strand for the last two seasons. Atlantic Collegiate wasn't even eligible for the playoffs three years ago. The two schools separated by a short drive in the middle of Horry County are going to play at Myrtle Beach's Ashley Booth Field with a chance at an early lead what's expected to be a contentious Region VI-3A race. For the Lions, their first regular-season loss since 2023 came only three days ago, when [player_tooltip player_id='1422632' first='Makel' last='Stephens'] and his 307 rushing yards weren't enough to top upstart North Myrtle Beach. The Lions are still acclimating to <strong>Ayden Scott</strong> at quarterback and massive losses on the defensive side of the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There, [player_tooltip player_id='1817499' first='Jay' last='Todd'] (41 tackles) and [player_tooltip player_id='1881794' first='Ethan' last='Shaw'] (36 tackles) are doing their jobs. But Loris is still looking for more production from the defensive line that has been its mainstay. <strong>Thomas Nichols</strong> (13 tackles) <strong>Treymarius Cook</strong> (13 stops) and <strong>Ashton Pautnaude</strong> (eight tackles) are all going to be asked to do more and more as the season progresses.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Across the line, the grittiness of ACA did well against the likes of Mullins and Carvers Bay, and it was respectable against Marlboro County in a loss. But the Armada need some explosiveness on offense to keep up with the Lions. More than likely, that means tailbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1821585' first='Semaj' last='Wilson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1988035' first='MJ' last='Singleton'] will have to secure the football and move the sticks. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1821584' first='Broderick' last='Evans'] is going to have to use his big frame to stretch the field with some throws, too. If he's able to do that, we could be in line for an early upset in the region.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NORTHWESTERN (2-1) AT BERKELEY (4-0)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If there's a Class 5A team everyone expects to win the state title, it's Dutch Fork. Behind the Silver Foxes,, it's Northwestern. And if you've paid attention to the early results so far this year, Berkeley is in the conversation, too. So why not pit two of the best against each other?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We were going to love this matchup based upon the quarterback duel between [player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] alone. Means has thrown for 484 yards and five touchdowns while going for 185 and a score rushing in three games. Rivers has countered with 888 and 10 touchdowns passing and another 316 and three on the ground in four games. They're two of the top three dual-threat quarterbacks in the class for a reason, after all.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And while we can't stop complimenting their development enough this season, we're loving how their teams are building around them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You've got talented offensive lines that are highlighted by guys like Northwestern's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816519' first='Shaq' last='Aghenebit']</strong> (No. 81, Class of 2028) and tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1820781' first='Beau' last='Chumley'] and Stags senior tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1766922' first='Caden' last='Freeman'] (No. 350, Class of 2027). There are defensive stars such as [player_tooltip player_id='2113658' first='Jakai' last='Chapman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1301735' first='Dash' last='Holley'] - not to mention some potential big-time newcomers like Berkeley's [player_tooltip player_id='2325388' first='Marshaun' last='Porchia'] (team-leading 29 tackles) and NHS linebacker <strong>Alex Hingle</strong> (12 tackles). This one is gonna get some attention in advance of the full Class 5A region slates cranking up across the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>CAMDEN (3-1) AT HILTON HEAD (3-1)</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Say this for Camden and Hilton Head: They knew when to go all-in on their schedules when it came to some senior-heavy rosters. Their only losses are to teams from larger classifications, and neither of them should be overlooked come November in their respective divisions.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Experienced quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1354590' first='Greyson' last='Rimpf'] (848 yards, 10 touchdowns, two interceptions) and [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] (820 yards, seven touchdowns, three interceptions) are being meticulously efficient. At the same time, both teams are getting decent production from a slew of ball carriers - [player_tooltip player_id='2267937' first='Aaden' last='Manning'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1720755' first='Jaden' last='Manning'] from Camden and [player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1820333' first='Jeremiah' last='Walters'] from Hilton Head. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The wild cards in this game, though, are what Seahawks senior [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] and Bulldogs counterpart [player_tooltip player_id='2246636' first='Isaiah' last='Smith'] are able to do in any of the other capacities they hold down each Friday night. Smith is a dangerous return man who can flip a field on his kickoff returns. Czarnecki - who sat out a couple games while dealing with a minor leg injury - is pure power who can wear down a front seven or blow up an opposing tailback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two squads are going to go toe-to-toe, and it's a prime mid-September matchup worthy of the build up.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->