Before I commence with the regular breakdown of games and silliness that accompanies it, I want to offer a word of thanks. I started this BLAWG in 2014 for a couple of reasons. The first and most important is that I love 1A football. No offense to 5A schools who have luxury boxes, field turf, Jumbotrons, flat screens on the sidelines and a well-dressed gentleman in the bathroom who’ll give you a squirt Polo and a breath mint for a small tip, but there’s a lot more character to be found in Wagener-Salley where the kudzu grows so thick on one fence it actually blocks the stadium lights. Give me the uphill slope in Whitmire’s end zone, the analogue clock (that means it has hands) in Ware Shoals and the lack of field house at Lewisville (the team stands in the end zone at halftime) over fancy pants instant replays on the scoreboard anytime. In a lot of small towns, Friday night football games serve as a source of entertainment, a community meeting place and a primary source of civic pride. In terms of the actual game, there’s more variety in terms of offensive attack (which is a polite way of saying everyone doesn’t run the spread) and you are far more apt to see players who don’t come off the field…ever. There aren’t many classifications where a guy doubles as a running back and a defensive end and is a crap-kicker at both (looking at you, Lamar).
So when I first started, inspired by the quirks and eccentricities of things like kudzu-induced darkness, signs advertising chitlins and being told once to move from where I was standing because “we’re fixin’ to shoot the cannon” I had no clue if anyone else shared my zest for 1A or if anyone would actually read what I was writing. I also write about meat on occasion, so if you’re a vegan Wando supporter, you have no use for me or this blog whatsoever. Also, I’m serious when it’s called for but for the most part I talk about squads doling out goo-oood rootins and make juvenile poo jokes and compare teams to a weird horror villain hiding in a closet with a powerdrill. That may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Basically, this is a long-winded way of pointing out that since football practice started on July 31, this BLAWG has gotten well over 10,000 views and I’ve been surprised to find out that many coaches are among that number. So hey, ‘preciate it Biggun. Now, on with the show… Calhoun Falls Charter (0-3) at Southside Christian (4-0) That the Flashes are showing up every week and giving a good effort is impressive considering they have 13 players. That’s not hyperbole or one of my WACKY DO TOOT TOOT flights of fancy. 13. Southside Christian, led by quarterback J.W. Hertzberg (whose name seriously sounds like you should call him if you’ve been injured on the job…JUST DIAL ALL 6’s!) has been averaging 50 points a game this year in its unbeaten start. So, you know, this may not go well for Calhoun Falls Charter. Dixie (2-2) at Spartanburg Christian Academy (2-2) The Hornets were basically instructed to go pick their own switch by Southside Christian last week, losing 49-0. To be fair, they won two games and gave Crescent a competitive contest, then lost two starters in the secondary and had to go play a good passing team. It was a predictable bad outcome…sort of like when you go outside on a chilly day without a jacket. You’re going to catch a cold…actually chilly air and getting sick have almost nothing to do with one another. What your grandma should have warned you against was licking doorknobs at free clinics and public bathrooms, which actually, probably will make you sick (one day my examples and analogies will get better, just gotta keep working on them). SCA won’t be anywhere near the challenge Southside Christian was, but they aren’t a pushover either. They run a wing-bone hybrid that has produced a 500-yard rushing game, but also has a pretty athletic, adept passer in Jonathan Gaminde. This is part of a three-week schedule stretch (including another small, private non-SCHSL team and Calhoun Falls Charter) where Dixie need to make some hay. Greenwood Christian (2-1) at Ware Shoals (1-3) The Purple Hornets managed to get in the win column last week, beating Great Falls 20-6. Still scoring two touchdowns in four games is not what we consider robust. I literally know nothing about Greenwood Christian other than it’s probably in Greenwood. Hope that helps! Branchville (3-0) at Whitmire (1-3) Whitmire was on the wrong end of a 62-6 game last week at Lewisville. The Lions just kind of overwhelmed the young Wolverines with talent and big plays…though as always, Whitmire played hard right up until the final whistle. As for Branchville, boy that 3-0 record sure does look nice and shiny, but so does a toilet right after you clean it (see, see…that was better). Not belittling their start, because for a team that has struggled for so long, that is outstanding. But the three teams they’ve beaten have combined record of 0-9. I bet this ends up being entertaining and I wouldn’t be shocked at all to see Whitmire come out of this with a win. Lamar (4-0) at East Clarendon (0-4) I bet East Clarendon’s band sounds great and, um, their campus is probably really clean. Trying to find some positives here… Eau Claire (0-4) at Lewisville (3-1) The Lions bounced back from the loss to Buford with a huge win last week over Whitmire. They are getting healthy (one of the two offensive lineman they’ve been without makes his return tonight) and the passing game really took some major strides last week. They have full arsenal of weapons, including Quentin Sanders, who has gone from being an athletic, versatile player to an unstoppable, football-playing robot ninja. He went for 238 and five touchdowns last week. He’s gotten a lot stronger and it shows in his ability to break tackles. Eau Claire, which hasn’t had a winning record since 1986, has apparently taken some itsy bitsy baby steps forward. They’ve been more competitive and their numbers are up, from what I’ve heard. This game was surprisingly close last year, for what it’s worth. Hannah-Pamplico (1-2) at Timmonsville (2-2) I have no clue what to expect here. Hannah-Pamplico opened the season by giving top-ranked Lamar a real run for their money, then gave Marion a good nanner kickin’ (I have no idea what that means) then turned around and lost to Johnsonville last week, giving up the game-winning TD pass as time expired. That had to smart because H-P, last year, beat Johnsonville and were the kings of the late, close comeback, winning six games by a total of 22 points. Timmonsville got dusted in the opener by Wilson, then destroyed East Clarendon, then got drug by Lee Central, then whipped North Central. So, no outcome tonight will surprise me. Denmark-Olar (0-3) at Blackville-Hilda (1-2) Denmark, unfortunately, aspires to have a two-touchdown scoring Ware Shoals-style offensive robustness, having scored six points in three games. B-H is coming off a close loss to McCormick. The trend since the Hawks began their resurgence last year is running a blunt-force trauma offense with a big line and a quarterback who is basically an anvil with legs and a helmet. It’s a modified single-wing, as it has been described to me, and when they can physically overwhelm you, they win. That being the case, they probably get back on track tonight. Worth noting that Region III is already into region play and HOLY CRAP HOW ARE WE THERE ALREADY! Williston-Elko (1-2) at Estill (0-3) Not going to lie, I was a little surprised to see W-E fall last week to Woodland. After losing to a very good Barnwell team to start the year (in a competitive game) I honestly didn’t expect to see them lose again during the regular season. Estill losses have come while playing “up” the first few weeks, so their record is a tad deceiving, but I still figure W-E start region play with a win. They’ll be tested more the next few weeks with Ridge Spring-Monetta and Wagener-Salley. Wagener-Salley (3-0) at Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (0-3) OK, this is one where the records don’t really indicate the quality of match-up you might end up seeing. HKT plays a beastly, manned-up schedule that has included Fairfield Central, Edisto and Calhoun County. They dang near beat the Saints last week, but fell 42-36 and had a potential game-winning touchdown dropped on the contest’s final play. Devante Scott threw for 240 yards and ran for a touchdown. Wagener-Salley notched an impressive 22-0 win over previously unbeaten Bethune-Bowman. That was a day’s work for the Chitlinville defense, since the Mr. T Haircuts came in averaging more than 42 points a game. Like HKT, Bethune-Bowman featured and athletic, playmaking quarterback so the Stump Whooped All-Stars should be ready for what they’re going to see in what I think will be a surprisingly competitive game, at least for a while. Ridge Spring-Monetta (1-2) at North (0-3) RS-M, after playing up the first two weeks, played Whitmire two weeks ago and came up with an impressive shutout victory. This is a defense that only yielded 22 points to Saluda a few weeks back, so it’s mighty hard to see how North, which has one touchdown in three games and the state’s longest losing streak, will find much success offensively. Cross (1-1) at Baptist Hill (2-0) This, to me, is the most intriguing match-up of the night. Ever since Baptist Hill started setting scoreboard on fire last year, I’ve kept harping on the fact that they weren’t really beating anybody. It’s like playing dodgeball and always aiming for the big, slow kid who has to wear special shoes because of a weird toe disorder. Low-hanging fruit. Ridiculous an image as that is, it’s accurate. They played three really good teams last year and those are the three games they lost…badly. That included Cross 51-18. Now, they are 2-0 (haven’t played in a few weeks because of the hurricane, unfortunately) are averaging over 50 a game and Corey Fields has 802 yards of total offense…against Burke and Garrett. They get another chance tonight to prove they can do more than roll up giant stats against bad teams. Cross has also been for a few weeks, but they also roasted Burke then lost a very hard-fought, close game to AAA Timberland. Total contrast in styles. Baptist Hill is going throw it early and often, while Cross is going to go all NATE SMASH!!!! And just hand it to Nate Walker and the rest of their backs and play very good defense. This is an opportunity game…can’t wait to see how it comes out. Charleston Charter Academy for Leadership and Long-Haul Trucking (0-3) at Lake View (3-1) Sometimes bad things happen to nice people. Military Magnet (0-3) at Green Sea-Floyds (1-2) Unlike most of 1A’s winless teams, the Eagles (Military Magnet should totally be the Blackhawks or, you know, maybe the Tanks or, ooh, ooh, the Stealth Bombers. How awesome would that be? You can’t beat us if you can’t see us!) have been scoring points, they’ve just been giving up a lot. That’s come against a fairly MEH schedule so far, though. Green Sea, somehow, has lost two games while giving up only 20 points all year (in “up” games against Loris and Aynor). I figure they get to .500 tonight with more of that defense and a heavy dose of an up-your-bucket power running game. Bethune-Bowman (3-1) at C.A. Johnson (1-2) I wasn’t shocked that the Mr. T Haircuts lost to The Chitlin Slingers last week, but I was really surprised that they got shut out given the skill talent they have and the numbers they’ve been putting up. I’m thinking a trip to play C.A. Johnson might be just the salve B-B needs to sooth their shutout rash. The Hornets beat North last week, but it wasn’t a runaway by any means, so a peeved and ready to prove a point Braxton Wedgeworth might have a field day. Creek Bridge (0-4) at C.E. Murray (3-1) It’s come against a rugged schedule, but Creek Bridge is in the “we’ve scored one touchdown” club, which is the crappiest club ever, unless there is some “let’s drink rancid milk and throw darts at each other’s faces” club I’m not familiar with. C.E. Murray actually got in a 19-0 hole early last week, then just smacked Oceanside Atlantic A&M (or whatever their name is), outscoring them 36 to not nam the rest of the way. Darius Rush had four touchdowns. I’d expect something along those lines again tonight. Scott’s Branch (2-1) at Edisto (2-1) Scott’s Branch pulled the shocker of the week last Friday in knocking off Bamberg-Ehrhardt last week, who had risen to number two in the AA polls. They get a shot for another nice “up” win at Edisto, which feels very doable. Bout all I got for you on this’n, Bogator. Hemingway (3-0) at Waccamaw (0-3) Losing builds character, I’ve heard, so hey, there’s a positive for ya Waccamaw!
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TravisI am Travis, the king 0f SC 1A Football Archives
November 2021
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