Week 8 Lowcountry Games To Watch

It seems like just a few weeks ago, we kicked off the 2025 season with a lot of unknowns. Now we have three weeks remaining and we've learned some things but there's still a lot to be worked out.   It will start this week with games that will impact region standings and playoff seedings.   Let's take a look at five games in the Lowcountry that we think are the best matchups for the week.   Summerville (6-1, 2-0) at Ashley Ridge (4-3, 2-0)   Last year: Summerville 49-48   Players to Watch: S – [player_tooltip player_id='1061094' first='Jaylen' last='Pryor'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1816968' first='Eli' last='Pressley'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1267285' first='JT' last='Williams'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1432172' first='Cameron' last='Grayson'] (RB); AR – [player_tooltip player_id='473024' first='Ryan' last='Campbell'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1615024' first='MJ' last='Respass'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1824864' first='Malachi' last='Mitchell'] (DL) [player_tooltip player_id='1036782' first='Jagger' last='Spivey'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='454066' first='Malquan' last='Pimentel'] (LB)   Notable: The Green Wave are coming off a hard fought 14-9 win over James Island and the trio of linebackers in Pryor, Pressley (pictured) and [player_tooltip player_id='1267285' first='JT' last='Williams'] were spectacular in that contest. Now they face Ashley Ridge, a team that is also undefeated in Region 8-AAAAA. Summerville has proved to be balanced with [player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1734478' first='Cooper' last='Kafina'] both seeing time at quarterback. Whoever is at QB has two of the top wide receivers in the area in [player_tooltip player_id='1061146' first='Teru' last='Davis'] and [player_tooltip player_id='378969' first='Jaiden' last='Kelly-Murray'] to throw to. [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] is going to have to be at his best, but he has one of the better weapons in the area in Campbell, who is well over 1,200 yards of total offense on the season. The key for Ashley Ridge is going to be defensive and if they can slow Summerville. Respass, Mitchell and Pimentel will be pivotal but so will Stephen Jefferson and Julian Whitfield in the secondary.   Beaufort (3-4, 1-1) at Bishop England (5-2, 0-2)   Last year: Bishop England 31-14   Players to Watch: B – [player_tooltip player_id='1395058' first='Chaz' last='Brown'] (DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1816583' first='Rylan' last='Keown'] (DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1823683' first='James' last='Thomas'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1657436' first='Colton' last='Freeman'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='816738' first='Jayden' last='Simmons'] (DT); BE – [player_tooltip player_id='1592573' first='Hunter' last='Alex'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1172361' first='Matthew' last='Ponkow'] (DE/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1819646' first='Jake' last='Olsen'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1592310' first='Quinn' last='Mahoney'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1213859' first='Shepard' last='Hulen'] (OL)   Notable: Both teams need a win here if they want to finish in the upper half of the region. The Eagles have won three of four entering this contest, but Bishop England will present more problems than most of the teams they beat in that stretch. The defense has played well in the three games they've won with Brown and Thomas leading the way. The Bishops ripped their non-region schedule but have scored just 17 points in losing the first two Region 6-AAAA games. Mahoney, [player_tooltip player_id='1575461' first='Zach' last='Balog'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1592547' first='Brody' last='Tonon'] will have to find a way to turn that around quickly. The talent is there but it just hasn't been clicking the last two weeks.     Hilton Head (6-1, 2-0) at May River (6-1, 2-0)   Last year: Hilton Head 23-10   Players to Watch: HH – [player_tooltip player_id='1271255' first='Hayden' last='Crockett'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1822839' first='Josh' last='Bigger'] (LB/DE) [player_tooltip player_id='1822838' first='Will' last='Jimenez'] (LB/RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher'] (RB/LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] (RB); MR – [player_tooltip player_id='1763191' first='Tony' last='Cooper'] (FB) [player_tooltip player_id='1763246' first='Justin' last='Head'] (RB/CB) [player_tooltip player_id='1824799' first='Andrew' last='Johnson'] (ATH), [player_tooltip player_id='1763272' first='Michael' last='Poole'] (LB/WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1764536' first='Ethan' last='Hames'] (OL)   Notable: We can go ahead and say whoever wins the line of scrimmage battle in this one will likely win the game. Hilton Head is a little more balanced with [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] throwing for just a tick over 1,000 yards this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1820333' first='Jeremiah' last='Walters'] averages over 24 yards a reception with 18 catches for 436 yards and six touchdowns. The Seahawks have rushed for 1,561 yards. May River has attempted eight passes all season, with [player_tooltip player_id='1763286' first='Luc' last='Tran'] completing four of them for three touchdowns. The Sharks have run for 2,237 yards with [player_tooltip player_id='1592230' first='Sean' last='Mitchell'] accounting for 1,013 yards and 14 rushing TDs. Mitchell also has two catches for two touchdowns. Mitchell also has two interceptions and 14 tackles. Poole has 82 tackles, nine tackles for loss and five sacks. Defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='1422598' first='Zavier' last='Polite'] checks in with 62 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and five sacks.     Andrews (3-4, 2-0) at Timberland (6-1, 2-0)   Last year: Timberland 21-14   Players to Watch: A – [player_tooltip player_id='1844890' first='Madison' last='Smith'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1822812' first='Riley' last='Jordan'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1820304' first='Damian' last='Estrada'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1395098' first='AJ' last='Lee'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1827392' first='Brycen' last='Cannon'] (ATH); T – [player_tooltip player_id='473011' first='Desmond' last='Green'] (OL) [player_tooltip player_id='1823614' first='Jordan' last='Gorham'] (WR/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1823610' first='Malyk' last='Goodman'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1823612' first='Josh' last='Brown'] (WR/DB) [player_tooltip player_id='1824954' first='Caylen' last='Jones'] (OL)   Notable: The Yellow Jackets snapped a four-game losing streak with wins over Academic Magnet and Woodland to open Region 6-AA play. Now they get a showdown against the Wolves to stay in the race for the top of the region. [player_tooltip player_id='1827399' first='Avery' last='Durham'] will have to play one of his best games while Lee does his thing on the ground behind an experienced offensive line. Timberland lost to Hanahan right before region play began but averaged 60.5 points a game in winning the first two region contests. Gorham is just a sophomore, but he's become a leader on both sides of the ball. This one will likely come down to who makes the least number of mistakes.     Wando (4-3, 1-0) at Berkeley (5-2, 1-1)   Last year: Berkeley 45-12   Players to Watch: W – [player_tooltip player_id='1592323' first='Harris' last='Stone'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1824931' first='Gabriel' last='Holmes'] (WR) [player_tooltip player_id='1602363' first='Ben' last='Eikenberry'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1241751' first='Matthew' last='Payes'] (LB) Cannon Demoura (WR); B – [player_tooltip player_id='1824161' first='Jahmir' last='Heyward'] (RB) [player_tooltip player_id='1639678' first='Gehad' last='Sneed'] (LB) [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] (QB) [player_tooltip player_id='1426798' first='Cameron' last='McCue'] (DB)   Notable: Five of the seven Wando games have been decided by a touchdown or less. That's where Stone, Demoura and [player_tooltip player_id='1823199' first='Ellis' last='Ingrassia'] come into play. The Warriors haven't scored more than 24 points in a game yet this season and are facing a spirited Berkeley defense. The good news is the defense led by Eikenberry and Payes have allowed just over 16 points per game. [player_tooltip player_id='1646866' first='Isaiah' last='Brock'] is a sophomore linebacker to keep an eye on. The Stags have been able to run the ball as they're averaging 6.2 yards per carry and 254 rushing yards per game behind an offensive line led by [player_tooltip player_id='1267220' first='Zion' last='Britt']. But the passing game is off pace as to where it was a season ago under Rivers. Berkeley has three games to figure out how to get receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1016577' first='Elijah' last='Mitchell'], [player_tooltip player_id='1766151' first='Jonathan' last='Mitchell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1766224' first='John' last='Cleveland'] more involved in the offense. The defense has been solid for the last four weeks outside of the final two quarters against Stratford.

It seems like just a few weeks ago, we kicked off the 2025 season with a lot of unknowns. Now we have three weeks remaining and we've learned some things but there's still a lot to be worked out.