Midlands Week 8 Games To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's October, the weather is turning cooler and that always means region races are heating up and playoff implications are happening every week. There are several games across the Midlands this week that will go a long way in determining playoff seedings but there are still three weeks in the regular season to sort everything out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at six games that will be keys to the region standings come Saturday morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fox Creek (4-2) at Keenan (5-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This game is a position battle in the Region IV-AAA race with both teams hoping to host a home playoff game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon']</strong> (90 tackles) and <strong>Ty'quez Taylor</strong> (84 tackles and nine tackles for loss) are the mainstays for the Keenan defense. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734638' first='Tyreik' last='Davenport-Smith']</strong> has 35 tackles and 4.5 sacks. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578683' first='Nykeim' last='McNeil']</strong> is a two-way standout that has 54 tackles and 21 receptions for 526 yards and five touchdowns. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington']</strong> is coming off a six-touchdown performance and has 1,710 passing yards and 157 rushing yards. <strong>Hunter O'Neil</strong> leads the rushing attack with 705 yards and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578660' first='Tyheim' last='McNeil']</strong> is the leading receiver with 35 catches for 688 yards.&nbsp; Fox Creek QB <strong>Nathan Owens</strong> is a dual-threat player that will rely on <strong>Jaylen Bledsoe</strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Mekhi Quiller </strong>to provide most of the rushing yards. The offense was shutout last week and looking for a bounce back performance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gilbert (2-3) at Brookland-Cayce (2-4)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These two teams had higher expectations coming into the season but the winner of this one can still be a factor in the Region IV-AAAA race. Gilbert is coming off a close victory over Midland Valley and will need to see the continued growth of QB <strong>Cooper James</strong>, who is coming off his best game of the season. James has weapons in <strong>Conner Gooding</strong> and <strong>Chandler Guthrie</strong> at receiver. Add in the running back tandem of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012653' first='Jaylen' last='Jay']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson']</strong> and the Indians should be able to score points. Defensively, Gilbert must get huge contributions from linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1054176' first='Grayson' last='Gunter']</strong> and secondary players <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze']</strong> and <strong>Knox McFarland</strong> to play their best. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Drevon' last='Dopson']</strong> is back healthy and leads a resurgence Bearcats team. <strong>David Daniels</strong> and <strong>Jvonn Edwards</strong> have turned into big-play threats at receiver and <strong>Jimmy Thompson</strong> handles a lot of the rushing attack. Defensive end <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615051' first='Jabari' last='Corbett']</strong>, <strong>Shaylen Blanding</strong> and <strong>Tyree Johnson</strong> lead a defense that has improved the last few weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dreher (3-4) at AC Flora (6-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are rivals that share the same home field so this one should be good. Dreher is going to have to rely on the efforts of RB/LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575390' first='Willie' last='Smith']</strong>, maybe one of the more underrated players in the Midlands. Smith is a workhorse and excels on both sides of the ball. QB <strong>Walker Rowe</strong> along with fellow running backs <strong>Luka Cruz</strong> and <strong>Justin Jones</strong> help carry the load. <strong>Tyler Tisdale</strong> is Rowe's favorite target when passing. <strong>Amarri Ellison</strong> and <strong>D'Vion Carter</strong> are two defensive standouts to watch. AC Flora will counter with the trio of QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong>, RB <strong>BJ Mack</strong> and WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'] </strong>that have shown to be explosive at times. Roper is over 1,500 yards passing. Mack is over 700 yards rushing and Byrd is over 650 yards receiving and all are juniors. The sophomore tandem of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis']</strong> and <strong>Hugh Manning</strong> at linebacker will be the key for the Falcons defense. Davis leads the team with 79 tackles and Manning has 16 tackles for loss. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592609' first='Azel' last='Banag']</strong> has 61 tackles and two interceptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westwood (4-3) at Lugoff-Elgin (3-5)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westwood is looking to stay in contention in the Region V-AAAAA race while the Demons are trying to snap a four-game losing streak. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734561' first='Carrington' last='Carter'] </strong>along with RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603902' first='Angelo' last='Rios']</strong> and <strong>Quentin McGill</strong> have been hard to stop so far this season. Throw in WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1579091' first='Sean' last='Goddard']</strong> and it's no surprise that Westwood is a contender in the region race. Defensive backs <strong>Justin Washington</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422637' first='Corey' last='Murphy']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='790770' first='Christian' last='Smith']</strong> along with a defensive front that includes <strong>DJ Jones</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267288' first='Elijah' last='Williams']</strong> have been a huge key for the Redhawks as well. Lugoff-Elgin will try to get its offense back on track after being shut out last week. That will take huge efforts from QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1515057' first='Aiden' last='Fitzgerald']</strong>, RB <strong>Jar'Kese Grant </strong>and wide receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson']</strong> to move the ball consistently. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639661' first='Fernando' last='Simuel']</strong> is a tackling machine.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Irmo (7-0) at White Knoll (4-3)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets just keep rolling along with an explosive offense and outstanding defense. Irmo ran for almost 400 yards last week thanks to the efforts of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157979' first='Ryan' last='Love']</strong> along the offensive front. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> and RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amire' last='White']</strong> have run behind that huge offensive line. Throw in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph']</strong> and <strong>Leek Miller</strong> at wide receiver and its no wonder Irmo hasn't scored less than 34 points in a game this season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755914' first='Jaiden' last='Bryant']</strong>, <strong>Matthew Blocker </strong>and <strong>Ethan Gamble</strong> have led the defensive effort that has been solid all season. White Knoll has lost its first two regions and are in danger of falling deeper into the standings with another loss. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='346199' first='Landon' last='Sharpe']</strong> must lead the offensive charge from his quarterback spot. The Timberwolves were shutout last week against Dutch Fork. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025815' first='Caleb' last='Geronomi']</strong> is the top receiving threat, and it would help to get RB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036740' first='Tiyon' last='Fanning']</strong> off the injury list. The offensive line <strong>Donovan Sims</strong> and <strong>Hayden Hohlwein </strong>must be better. LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1083060' first='Connor' last='Burgess']</strong>, LB <strong>Bradley Benjamin</strong> and DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012621' first='Devin' last='Geronomi']</strong> will be counted on to slow the Irmo offense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sumter (7-0) at Blythewood (6-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks remain one of the 14 unbeaten teams remaining in the SCHSL ranks. They're doing it with a potent rushing attack that already has over 2,300 yards rushing and defense that continues to shine. <strong>Kameron Fourtune</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson']</strong> have combined for over 2,000 yards on the ground with Fortune leading the way with 801 yards. Peeples is next with 689 and he's missed two games. <strong>Christopher Bentley</strong> is a big play receiving threat. LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359132' first='Jeremiah' last='Burson']</strong> and DE <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison']</strong> have been a two-headed monster on the defensive side of things. LB<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='876560' first='Tymaries' last='Thompson-DuRant']</strong> and DB <strong>W'adar Williams</strong> are also in the mix of causing trouble for opposing offenses. The Bengals will need a big night from QB <strong>Johnny Collins</strong> (1,922 yards passing) and WRs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong> (730 yards), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172370' first='Kanye' last='Reed']</strong> (467 yards) and <strong>Ben Hendrix</strong> (339 yards). It will be up to LBs <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157753' first='Kemuel' last='Little']</strong> and <strong>Nathanael Bonneau</strong> and DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012579' first='Sterling' last='Sanders']</strong> to try to slow the Sumter offensive attack.    </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->