Great Falls (2-2) at Dixie (0-4)
This figures to be a pretty good matchup. Great Falls is coming of 34-0 thumping at the hands of Andrew Jackson, but that was a14-0 game early in the third quarter against unbeaten, unscored upon AA team. Coach Tom Butler has done a good job in his first year with the Red Devils. They’ve won twice in overtime and rallied from a 22-point deficit against Whitmire to be throwing in the end zone to tie the contest on the last play of the game. The kids play hard and never think they are out of it. They aren’t just a scrappy little bunch that gets by on effort, though. They aren’t deep, but they’ve got good size up front and lots of offensive weapons (Talford, Moore, Fox, Adams etc. and so on). It’s hard to get a read on Dixie at this point. We knew there would be some bumps in the road as they replace 18 graduated starters from last year, but the early schedule has included three AA opponents and one AAA. This week, playing a like-sized opponent for the first time, will give us the most accurate reading on what kind of team they have. It should also be pointed out you can’t actually get from Great Falls to Dixie without walking through thick forest and being guided through a frightening series of hills by a Sherpa. Eau Claire (0-4) at McCormick (0-4) The Chiefs sort of fall into the Dixie boat of being winless but having played a big-boy schedule chock full of AA, AAA and quality out-of-state competition. McCormick nearly beat Fox Creek last week, pushing them to overtime before falling 20-14. Quarterback Suderian Harrison ran for a score and threw one and A’Chean Durant ran for 100 yards in the loss. The level of competition lightens up a bit this week…and by “a bit” I actually mean “a whole, whole lot.” Eau Claire is winless and lost 50-6 to Lewisville, 35-0 to HKT, 74 to NOT NAM against Wagener-Salley and 42-12 to Dreher. This is a good chance for the Chiefs to take some momentum into the bye week ahead of the start of region play. Camden Military (2-2) at Ware Shoals (1-3) Things got off to a really good start for Ware Shoals this year, as they opened with a curb-stomping of Oakbrook Prep. Since then, though, they lost to Calhoun Falls Charter, were blown out by AAA Travelers Rest and fell 20-13 last week to Greenwood Christian. Other than the TR loss, the defense has done a pretty good job and they do have a big-time offensive weapon in Jermarious Goodman. When you’ve been mired in a tough couple of years like the Purple Hornets have and have a new coach, it may just take a while. Generally, Camden Military represents a “W” on the schedule of SCHSL teams, but it should be noted they come in with a pair of victories (over Hickory Grove Christian and Asheville School, so this is certainly not a layup. Branchville (3-1) at Whitmire (2-2) This actually figures to be one of the better matchups of the week. Branchville laid a painful, Grade 1 ROOTIN’ on The Charleston Charter School for This, That and The Other last week 67-12. If they can get this one, they have an excellent shot to be 6-1 rolling in Cross for a big region matchup on Oct. 11. As I’ve mentioned before, It’s hard to find a lot of info on Branchville, located as they are, I guess, in a corner of the state that still communicates with smoke signals and hollering. Whitmire evened its record at 2-2 last week with a 40-14 win over North. They spread the sugar around big-time on offense in that one, with Chandler Crumely rushing for 66 yards and three scores, Jaquan Tindell-White going for 66 yards (he also ran a kickoff back for a touchdown) and two other racking up at least 50 yards on the ground. Fun Fact…these are the state’s only two Pre-K through 12 schools. Cheraw (4-0) at Lamar (3-1) As always, Lamar plays a big-time, grown man schedule and continues that this week with unbeaten, AAA Cheraw. When you look at the stats from their 14-12 win over Pageland last week, it’s kinda hard to figure exactly how they are undefeated since they were outgained in that one 313 to 29 in terms of total yards. However, they got a 70-yard interception return late in the game from Lawton Harris to provide the winning score. There is something to be said for finding a way to win even in a game in which you were statistically dominated. Lamar’s offense actually could have taken the night off last Friday, since the defense outscored a good AA North Central team by itself (returning three interceptions for touchdowns) . They didn’t take the night off, though, hence the 64-12 dragging. This has the makings of one of the state’s best games this week and can go either way…though I will certainly say I don’t think 29 yards of offense is getting it done for Cheraw this week. Denmark-Olar (2-1) at Blackville-Hilda (2-1) Alright, it’s tater-cutting time in Region III. Actual, real, count-towards-the-playoffs games commence there this week. B-H was off last week, having beaten Allendale-Fairfax their last time out 27-0. With as many returners as they have up front, a really good dual-threat QB in Adonis Davis, a bevy of talented RBs and a QB-crushing football cyborg in Kumon Odom. Still, they struggled to put away a Mr. T Haircuts team in the opener that has gotten knocked around pretty badly since then, got flogged by Barnwell (most everyone will get flogged by Barnwell) and didn’t put away A-F the way I thought they would. So, maybe the week off will prove helpful. Denmark is one of the early surprises in 1A. They lost last week, but that was to a good AA Silveer Bluff team. They won a shootout over Branchville and rolled the Mr. T Haircuts that ran for nearly 300 yards on Blackville-Hilda. The loser of this game isn’t necessarily behind the eight-ball, but they’ll be 0-1 in the region with games against Wagener-Salley, HKT and RS-M still to come. Williston-Elko (0-3) at Estill (1-2) It feels weird to sit here and write about Williston-Elko, but they are now 0-3 and are just 6-9 since the start of last season. This is traditionally one of the preeminent powers in Class A football. Their first two losses this year, you almost wrote off since they played up against a couple of powerhouses. I thought they’d regain their footing last week, but instead they lost to Allendale-Fairfax 27-16. Credit to A-F for scoring a defensive touchdown, coming up with a couple of big goal-line stands and scoring on some explosive plays. Tres Rimes had almost 300 total yards offense, but miscues and turnovers hurt the Devils. I’d normally chalk this up as a comfortable “W” for them, but this Estill team, while it has lost badly to Ridgeland-Hardeeville and Wade Hampton, started the year with a win over the A-F team Williston just lost to. Could be a more competitive game than folks are expecting. Wagener-Salley (3-0) at HKT (2-1) This has suddenly turned into a pretty important game. The boys from Chitlinville were off last week, but when last we saw them they we CRANKSMACKING Eau Claire 74-0. They are throwing the ball a hair more than in past years, but they have five hogs up front and a stable of backs that can trample you, your competitive spirit and your very soul (that was a tad dark, I’m sorry). They’ve also looked good on defense, including against Fox Creek, a team with some nice passing capabilities, a thing that has given W-S trouble in the past. HKT’s close loss to Edisto never looked bad, but it really doesn’t now, what with Edisto being an unbeaten AAA team. Their beatdown of the Mr. T Haircuts last week, particularly the way they played defense in that game, was impressive. The Stump whooped all-stars will be the favorites every time they walk on the field in the regular season, but they might get a bit of a test. Ridge Spring-Monetta (1-2) at North (0-3) North has the state’s longest losing streak, they lost 40-14 last week to Whitmire while giving up more than 300 yards rushing. RS-M beat Whitmire two weeks ago 68-28. So, you know, this one may not go well for North. Baptist Hill (1-2) at Cross (2-1) The Bobcats got off to a rough start his year, with two lopsided losses, but those came against The OC Semi-pros and Bishop England. Last week they gave the Academic Magnet a thorough, thorough rogering by a 67-0 score. You had to figure when they got on a level playing field competition wise, they’d score seventy bojillion points as always. Cross is putting together a nice bounce back from last year’s winless campaign. They knocked off Kingstree last week 16-13. Zyrell Eadie caught four balls in that one including a 65-yard touchdown from DeAndre Brown. So, Cross is going a little more to the air than normal. They’ve played some really tough defense, but they still haven’t score more than 16 points since the 2017 season and to have a chance in this one, I believe they’ll need a lot more than 16 points. Charleston Charter School of Stuff and Things and Sundries (0-2) at Burke (0-3) Burke lost close to Cross in the opener, but have gotten drilled by First Baptist and Barnwell the last two times out (though honestly, there’s no shame in any of those three losses). The Riptide has lost close to Academic Magnet and very, very badly to Branchville. Bout all I got for you on this’n, Hoss. Scott’s Branch (0-4) at Military Magnet (0-2) The Eagles, to be honest, are struggling right now in every respect. In four games they’ve allowed 176 points and scored 22. Turnovers have been a big problem as have penalties. Now, it is worth mentioning those losses, lopsided as they were, came exclusively against AA and AAA schools, including some pretty dang good ones (Bamberg, Edisto etc.). Military Magnet, likewise, has three losses, but all are to teams of higher classification. This game, the first in which each gets a like-sized opponent, it will be a better barometer than any other game either has played thus far. The OC Semi-pros (3-0) at St. John’s (1-2) I’m gonna hand it to Coach Josh Harpe, the Islanders will pretty much play anybody, anywhere. They’ve already been to Andrew Jackson and have some other stiff tests to come out-of region, all of which should have them primed for the region slate. Now, this is a tough matchup, going against a AA school with one of the most potent offenses in the state. Trust me, though, St. John’s has a good defense and a young offense that is still finding its way. Give them time and good things will happen. Lake Marion (1-3) at C.E. Murray (1-2) Not your typical AAA vs. 1A battle. Lake Marion has not played a close game, having railed Military Magnet, but lost by very wide margins to Woodland, O-W and Bamberg-Ehrhardt (by a combined 168-14). The War Eagles are close, man. Coach Brian Smith has them playing great defense, but they lost to a really good AA Lee Central team 14-13 and solid AA Mullins team 15-12. They just need to find a little more offense. The way they’ve played so far portends well for down the road when they get into region…and maybe this week against a defensively challenged Lake Marion squad. Lakewood (1-3) at Hemingway (0-3) Hemingway did finally reach the end zone last week for the first time, but still fell 26-6 to Carvers 26-6. You have to figure the offense will come around to some extent eventually, particularly when they aren’t playing the likes of Lamar, Andrew et al. That said, this is probably not a good matchup. Lakewood may not be walking right after last week’s savage 61-0 diddling by Sumter, but it’s a big AAAA school against a Class A opponent still trying to find itself offensively. Green Sea Floyds (3-0) at Aynor (2-0) The Trojans came from behind to beat hated rival Loris last week 28-27. Jaquan Dixon did some Jaquan Dixon stuff in that game. He answered a Loris score with a 60-yard touchdown run in the final seconds of the first half. He scored on another long run in the fourth to build on is team’s lead, then he picked off what would have been a game-winning two-point try by Loris late in the game. This is another in their tough earl-season gauntlet. Aynor has only played two games, but they’ve notched quality victories over Waccamaw and East Clarendon. Expect a great game here. Lake View (3-1) at Marion (4-0) The Wild Gators suffered their first loss last week, but it came to AAA powerhouse Dillon and came on the heels of three nice wins to begin the year. So, nothing to worry about there. Nothing to worry about if the young, up-and-coming Lake View team loses this week either. Marion appears to be a pretty good contender in AAA in the lowerstate.
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November 2021
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