Calhoun Falls Charter (0-1) at Augusta Christian (1-1) The Flashes were off last week after an opening-week loss to Greenwood Christian. They seem to be in a bit better place than last season when, no kidding, they ended up with about 11 players. Glenn Moon had a rushing TD and nearly 80 yards receiving in the opener, so he’s a guy to look for. Augusta Christian is, um, a Christian school in Augusta. That’s the kind of hard-hitting analysis you won’t get anywhere else! Dixie (1-1) at Carolina Christian (0-2) The Hornets suffered a tough setback last week, falling to what I think is going to be a good AA Landrum team 25-3. That came on the heels of a 19-0 blanking of Christ Church in which Dixie dominated the line of scrimmage and time of possession with their physical, experienced line and power running game. I still think this team is equipped to made a nice run and could easily see them going 7-1 the rest of the way (with a loss to Ninety-Six). Carolina Christian lost Marlboro County last week 36-0, but their MaxPreps page says they defeated “Varsity Opponent” to open the season 38-0. That’s really saying something. They’ve got ol’ LB 1 and Generic Running Back Name. You beat Varsity Opponent down like they did, you’ve done a day’s work, son. McCormick (0-2) at Laney (0-1) My first impulse when looking at McCormick’s first two weeks was to suspect that Mataeo Durant really was their everything last year and they were set to struggle without him. The Chiefs have lost by a combined 86-8 but I think that has as much to do with who they are playing as anything. McCormick is a very small Class A school and they’ve played AAA Crescent and a traditionally strong Lincoln County to open the year. I’ve watched some film…that’s a lie, I watched digital images on my computer. I don’t have a projector and a big white screen like Aunt Pern, but you get my point. McCormick looks to have decent size up front and I really like Silas Cannady. They play him at RB, line him up in the slot and working him at QB some. He’s also a very sure tackler as safety. I think when they get to region play, they’ll be fine. Michael Jordan went to Laney. They are called the Wildcats…how are they not The Jordans, or The Swooshes or The GOATs or The Fightin’ Longleys? Ware Shoals (0-2) at Traveler’s Rest (2-0) The Purple Hornets lost 40-0 to the Greenwood Raptors (or the Dining Room Dinosaurs as I think I called them last week) last week and badly to a non-SCHSL team with a roster of 14 players the week before that. Now they are on the road at a 2-0, AAAA Devildogs team. So, you know, this probably isn’t going to go well for them. Ridge Spring-Monetta (0-2) at Whitmire (1-1) This, to me, is where we really get to see what the Trojans are made of for the first time. They had an old-fashioned, physical, “let’s headbutt one another until someone passes out” 15-8 slobberknocker with Batesburg-Leesville in week one. They got knocked around pretty good last week by Saluda, but that’s 0-2 to a pair of good AA teams. They are experienced and really good up front, which I think will still have them playing football well into November. This week they face their first Class A competition in the Wolverines. Whitmire overcame some early turnovers in a 19-6 win over an improving Great Falls team last week. The Wolverines are scrappy as all get out and play hard from the opening kick to the final horn. They also run a hard-to-defend offense (a kind of modified scrum that incorporates a nice outside game and an occasional, but effective passing threat) so it’s a good test for RS-M against someone of like size. Great Falls (1-1) at Lewisville (0-2) Mighty early for these two rivals to be playing, it feels like. For the first time in basically ever, these two county rivals, separated by only nine or so miles of rural State Highway 99, aren’t in the same region or same classification with Lewisville’s jump up to AA. It’ll still be an intense battle, though without the playoff implications that often come with it. The Red Devils are an improved team. After two straight winless seasons, they opened with an 8-6 win over C.A. Johnson, then lost a close one with Whitmire last week. On defense, they’re solid. They’ve forced six or seven turnovers so far, have a ball-hawking secondary and pretty good size on the front line. Last week, the problem was that the offense didn’t get much going and suffered some turnovers. They are still adapting to a new offense and blocking scheme and are using three QBs. They do have some big-play capability, primarily in the form of throwing the ball somewhere in the zip code of 6-foot-6 Kelton Talford. Lewisville has been riddled with injuries and has used four guys at QB as a result. There is some real talent on the team with guys like Jadon Scott, Ja”shawn Jason et al, but it’s a young group overall and, as mentioned, people are hurt and junk. Turnovers were the big problem last week in a 32-22 loss to C.A. Johnson. They gave it up six times, including twice in the end zone going in, so that obviously made a big difference. This match-up has been non-competitive the past few years, so I’m really glad that it stands to be a good game. It’s too good of a rivalry not to be. I’ll be at this one and you can follow along at @CNR_Sports on Twitter is you so desire. Lamar (2-0) at Darlington (0-2) The Silver Foxes, Class A’s top-ranked team, get an interesting challenge tonight. They damaged the bodies and psychies of Hemingway in week one, then beat Pageland 23-0 last week. My understanding is there was no threat whatsoever of that game not being something to 0. Pageland managed only 99 yards. Lamar’s defense has yet to give up a score this year. Offensively, per my super secret Lamar informant, they didn’t have a great outing last week (one score came on a kick return, I think) but Pageland might have something to do with that. Also, Jacquez Lucas only had 11 carries for some reason. Darlington is not especially good on defense, given that they’ve yielded 96 points in two games. They’ve scored a lot, though, (over 30 a game) and this is a big AAAA school. This might be interesting, or Lamar might lay a savage rootin’ on Darlington like they did last year. Who knows? McBee (0-2) at North Central (1-1) The Panthers have had a rough start, falling to Andrew Jackson 45-3 and Chesterfield 47-6 to open the year. It’s a very young team with a new coach and 180 degree turn in offensive philosophy, going from the wishbone to the spread. I have previously pinpointed that McBee’s problem was that the large, very talented Wright contingent had graduated. Well, I was wrong. Thankfully for the Panthers (from what I’ve read) J the procreation cycle has not yet ended. Jaheim Wright ran for 150 yards last week in the loss. They also have absolute burner Tyrece Wright (who I would have sworn graduated last year), though he’s currently out with an injury. Get those two up and running healthy and you might have something. Might not help this week. North Central lost to a good AAA Camden team to open the season, then laid it to AA Columbia last week. Timmonsville (2-0) at Lee Central (0-2) I’ll admit that I slept on the Whirlwinds early, partly because I didn’t realize that supremely athletic QB/DB Jamaric Morris was going to transfer back after initially transferring to Wilson. He’s a difference-maker, especially with the supporting cast he has around him. For exhibit A, see the pick-six he had last week against AAA Edisto that proved to be a game-winner. Lee Central was a feel-good story last year that won a lot of close games but are off to an 0-2 start, though that’s come against two good teams. Blackville-Hilda (1-1) at Allendale-Fairfax (1-1) It’s the battle for the old oaken hyphen trophy. The Hawks opened with a shutout win over the Mr. T Haircuts, then lost to an outstanding AA Barnwell club last week. No shame in that. I still think they are an improved bunch. Allendale, who would be in Class A if the world made any sense, opened with a win, then lost a fairly lopsided game to a good Wade Hampton team…the one in Hampton that’s good in football, not the other’n. Hard to believe, but the next time B-H takes the field after tonight, it will be in a region game. Denmark-Olar (1-1) at Branchville (1-0) The Vikings notched a hard-fought win over the Mr. T Haircuts last week 24-18. Branchville is ranked this week after a 49-name cranksmacking of North. Now, just beating North doesn’t get you ranked, obviously, but I think the Yellow Jackets are definitely a team to keep an eye on. They started 4-1 last year before limping to an 0-5 finish, but it’s a very senior-laden squad with a doable schedule. They get past tonight, they could be in for a good year. Bethune-Bowman (0-2) at North (0-1) The Mr. T Haircuts have played OK on defense so far, but the adaption to a new I offense and the loss of burly man-beast RB Makiah Simmons has had the offense sputtering a little. They still have a superior talent under center in QB Braxton Wedgeworth II esq., which I think will probably be plenty tonight. Wagener-Salley (1-1) at Eau Claire (2-0) BREAK UP THE DADGUM SHAMROCKS! It’s great to see a team that has been so bad for so long enjoying a little bit of success. It has come to teams with a combined record of 0-4, but that has usually not equated to wins for them in the past. They are keeping it simple on offense for the most part, little read option here and there, but they pound you with a good-sized line and an athletic backfield. The boys from Chiltinville lost 19-12 to Fox Creek last week. This is the kind of game they generally excel in. They run the ball, they stop the run and they generally wear you out up front. I may be wrong but Eau Claire isn’t necessarily the kind of team that gives the Stump Whooped Gladiators trouble. It’s athletic teams that stretch the field a bit more. Baptist Hill (0-2) at Burke (1-1) The fellows from Peter’s Point and Hollywood haven’t been laying down the dazzling offensive numbers of the past two years. Obviously the missing ingredient is quarterback Corey Fields, a dynamic playmaker in every sense. There is still talent on hand, though, including 14 starters. Burke opened with a surprise blanking of Cross, but in retrospect that win has lost some luster. Burke lost 41-0 to First Baptist last week. So if the Bobcats don’t get well on offense this week, it might be a while. St. John’s (1-1) at Garrett Academy Technical Tech for Technology (1-1) The Islanders lost in a shootout to AA Andrew Jackson last week, a squad that might be better than I suspected. They put up big offensive numbers and to me are one of the most dangerous Class A squads in terms of special teams. Got a kick return last week and have a kicker who has legit range to 50 yards. Garrett did hold Baptist Hill in check last week, so this isn’t a gimme, but I like the Islanders. C.E. Murray (2-0) at The OC (1-1) I like the fact that the War Eagles have shown a steady hand and won some close games through the first two weeks of the season. Antonio McNight has stepped right in at quarterback and proved to be a nice dual threat. I don’t know a ton about The OC, other than they, you know, they tend to attract good athletes. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (1-0) at Scott’s Branch (1-1) The Eagles are still finding their way on offense a bit, but there’s nothing wrong with their defense. They returned three picks for scores last week, including two my Amonte Brown. They play a challenging schedule, including tonight against B-E, a perennial power that is off to a 1-0 start after a win over O-W in the opener. When this offense gets things going, there is the size and talent on hand here to make the a player in the lowerstate. Hemingway (0-2) at Johnsonville (1-1) Hemingway’s offense has not scored in two games. I’m chalking that up to 16 starters lost, a new coach and a “LAW MERCY” schedule so far. If they don’t show improvement tonight against the Sausages, a team that lost 43-0 to Lake View last week, then the problems may be a bit deeper. Aynor (1-0) at Green Sea-Floyds (1-1) The Trojans lost last week to a very good AA school in Hannah-Pamplico. I still think with their size up front, their stable of talented backs and their senior-laden roster, they are going to be in the hunt. Aynor has a funny name. The end.
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TravisI am Travis, the king 0f SC 1A Football Archives
November 2021
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