Week 0 CRR Games To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Football is back in the Catawba River Region of South Carolina as we have lots of storylines heading into the 2023 season. You've got new quarterbacks trying to find their rhythm with a talent nucleus surrounding them and guys who will cause problems for opposing offenses.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Most games will happen right here locally, but you've got one big time game along the I-85 corridor in the Upstate and another one happening across the state line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Friday, August 18</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nation Ford at Indian Land</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaden Barnette </strong>appears to be the starter for the Nation Ford Falcons as they move on from Carson Black, who is at UNC-Charlotte. The Falcons are loaded with skill talent including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575429' first='Josh' last='Ameo'] </strong>and <strong>Lucas Barz. [player_tooltip player_id='1142874' first='Ben' last='Wakefield'] </strong>is a big, physical tight end who will cause some matchup problems. Keep an eye on <strong>Braydon Flores </strong>and <strong>Mason Colunga</strong>. Read our season preview of the Falcons <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/2023-preview-nation-ford-falcons/">here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Optimism is high at Indian Land as the Warriors run first offense is back. <strong>Jaxon Schiedt </strong>returns at quarterback along with the multi-talented <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139305' first='Jaden' last='Singletary']. </strong>Look for <strong>Camdin Portis </strong>to make plays on the outside when they go deep as he enters his sophomore year. Linebacker and Florida St. commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771063' first='Timir' last='Hickman-Collins'] </strong>is the leader on defense. Keep an eye on <strong>Devin McCurry </strong>and <strong>Chase Jones </strong>as well. Read our preview of the Warriors <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/2023-preview-indian-land-warriors/">here.<strong>&nbsp;</strong></a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Mill at Catawba Ridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets will be looking to find a rhythm with their flexbone offense with what appears to be <strong>Quinn Kelly </strong>at quarterback – he took the starting reps during the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/what-we-saw-bill-pate-white-rose-classic/?itm_source=parsely-api">Bill Pate White Rose Classic last Friday.</a> <strong>Jackson Smith </strong>has the speed on the outside if the Jackets decide to go deep. Keep an eye out for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394975' first='Joseph' last='Duey'] </strong>and <strong>Josh Welch </strong>defensively. Read our preview of the Jackets <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/what-we-saw-bill-pate-white-rose-classic/?itm_source=parsely-api">here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We still don't know who Catawba Ridge will run out there first at quarterback on Friday night but it's a battle of three guys: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574007' first='CJ' last='Couch'], [player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner'] </strong>and <strong>DJ Latimer</strong>. But they certainly have skill to help them out with <strong>Sheldon Crawford, [player_tooltip player_id='809747' first='Brady' last='Ambrose'] </strong>and <strong>Ira Mister. [player_tooltip player_id='595831' first='Rasean' last='Marajah'] </strong>will be a leader on defense along with <strong>Jackson Burger </strong>at linebacker.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Pointe at Spartanburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771038' first='Malachi' last='Marshall'] </strong>kicks off his senior campaign with a lot of skill power accompanying him, including wide receivers <strong>Jordan Curbeam </strong>(pictured above)<strong> </strong>and <strong>Mikey Mann</strong>. Curbeam has splashed throughout the spring and in the summer while Mann will be looked at as one of the leaders. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='212416' first='J'Zavien' last='Currence'] </strong>and <strong>Fred Reese </strong>will lead things in the secondary. Read our season preview of the Stallions <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/2023-preview-south-pointe-stallions/">here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spartanburg moves on Rahiem Jeter, who is now at East Carolina, so it will be interesting to see who takes the starting snap on Friday night. <strong>T.J. Johnson </strong>is one guy to watch as he is a dual threat. The duo of linebackers in <strong>Cam'rich Smith </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448978' first='Bennie' last='Littlejohn'] </strong>should create an interesting matchup against the Stallions. Read our season preview of the Vikings <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/2023-preview-spartanburg-vikings/">here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OFF:</strong> Clover, Rock Hill and York</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Game of Note:</strong> Chester at Lancaster <strong>&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Saturday, August 19, 7PM, Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Providence Day vs. Northwestern </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The battle of the two Carolinas takes place in Uptown Charlotte on Saturday night. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='241044' first='Finley' last='Polk'] </strong>returns for the Trojans in his junior season after throwing for 3301 yards and 31 TDs in 2022. Yes, the Trojans will need to figure out what to do as Elijah Caldwell has graduated but <strong>Jaylen </strong>and <strong>Jayden Burris </strong>along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589050' first='Greer' last='Hopkins'] </strong>look to be the leaders at the receiver spot. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605531' first='Will' last='Massey'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360156' first='Andre' last='Pickett'] </strong>will be leaders on what should be a solid defensive line. Read our preview of the Trojans <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/2023-preview-northwestern-trojans/">here</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Day is led by star quarterback <strong>Jadyn Davis </strong>who is committed to the University of Michigan. <strong>Channing Goodwin </strong>is one of Davis's favorite targets along with <strong>JD Elsworth, </strong><a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/08/what-we-saw-bill-pate-white-rose-classic/">as we saw last Friday night at the Bill Pate White Rose Classic.</a> <strong>Brody Barnhart </strong>took snaps at running back last week as well. Could that continue on Saturday? Read our preview of the Chargers <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/07/team-preview-providence-day-chargers/?itm_source=parsely-api">here.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->