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Thursday Night, August 18th
Dutch Fork at Hough (at Charlotte Memorial Stadium)
The Dutch Fork Silver Foxes are coming off of a loss in the 2021 State 5A Championship game to Gaffney. It was a hard pill to swallow for Head Coach Tom Knotts and he has stated they are on a “revenge tour” for 2022. They are taking on a very tough Hough Huskies team who are one of the premier programs in North Carolina. They went 14-1 last season, losing to Chambers in the state playoffs for the 2nd consecutive season. So the Huskies may be on a revenge tour themselves.
Players to Watch for Dutch Fork
QB Aliam Appler, RB Jarvis Green, WR Jacob Hamilton and Isaiah Jones
Players to Watch for Hough
QB Tad Hudson (UNC Commit), RB JT Smith (Multiple offers), RB Akil Williams (Boston College offer) WR Markell Quick (multiple offers)
My Thoughts – This Hough team has a dynamic offense and a defense very similar to the Foxes in that they have a strong linebacker group. I am comfortable with the Foxes defense, as they have a secondary that can cover the Husky wide receivers. I feel like the key to the game will be whether or not the Dutch Fork line can open holes for Jarvis Green agianst a very good defense. Appler’s play will be important, also, as I fell they have to get the ball in space to Hamilton and Jones.
My Pick – This is one of those “pick ’em” games but I’m going with our home town team, Dutch Fork in a game that could be as close as one score.
FRIDAY NIGHT, AUGUST 19TH
Blythewood at Ridge View –
QB Donald Tomlin
The last time these two teams met, Ridge View put it on the Bengals 43-7. This year, the Bengals are healthy going into this first week of the season and have a chip on their shoulder. They have a lot of returning starters and players who played significant minutes from last year and feel ready. Ridge View graduated some talent but they have a lot of skills players returning that are impressive, especially in the passing game.
Players to Watch for Blythewood – WR Josh Gary,WR Deon Tyler, TE/LB Anthony Thurman
Players to Watch for Ridge View – QB Donald Tomlin, WR’s Chris Lofton, Zion Agnew and Adonis McDaniel, who will also play DB
My Thoughts – I think this Ridge View Team is going to be good this season. They are young in spots but they are very dangerous on offense. QB Donald Tomlin can spin the football and if their line can give him a couple of seconds, he has the most dangerous receiving group in the Midlands.
My Pick – Ridge View
Chapin at Irmo –
The Chapin Eagles return a lot of talent to this team, especiallyon the defensive side of the football, where they return seven starters. But they lost their quarterback to the recruiting of IMG and are having to replace that element of their offense with just four returning starters, none of which are skills players. Irmo is back from a 7 win season and they have a new quarterback, who is going to be a difference maker in a lot of games and return a 700 yards rusher in the backfield with him.
Players to Watch for Chapin – TE/WR/DE Max Drag, LB’s Nolan Beerman, Will Van Volenhoven, Tanner Short, DB Adam Bass
Players to Watch for Irmo – QB AJ Brand, RB Eric Tucker, WR Terrin Bowman, LB Xavier Montgomery
My Thoughts – The verdict is out for the Chapin offense right now. Very young on offense so it remains to be seen how good they can be. Defensively, they are strong with seven players back from their 8 wui season. They are strong in the linebacker group and the secondary and that will matter against Irmo QB AJ Brand.
My Pick – It could possibly be considered a mild upset but I’m going with Irmo
Greenwood at AC Flora –
The Greenwood Eagles are coming off a 10 win season from a year ago and will enter this season with a lot of players from that team, minus their quarterback. They are strong defensively and have one of the more under rated running backs in the upstate. AC Flora is loaded at every position and seem to have answered their quarterback question in the off season.
Players to Watch for Greenwood – RB Ve Morton, QB Kaleb Burton
Players to Watch for AC Flora – QB Carew Bates, RB Markel Townsend
My Thoughts – Greenwood has a new quarterback this year but they have an absolute animal at Running back, in Ve Thompson. Unfortunately, they have no depth and both of the guys they are playing at QB also play defense. AC Flora is loaded and Carew Bates has demonstrated he can be the real deal distributing the ball around to some talented skills players. I fell like the Falcon defense can keep Greenwood at bay, but can Greenwood’s defense stop the Falcon offense with that big offensive line they have.
My Pick – AC Flora
Lexington at West Florence
The Lexington Wildcats won 9 games last season and have a wealth of the talent from that team returning. West Florence is back after having played in the lower state semi-final game. They return just three starters to that line up on offense and lost a 2,000 yards rusher to graduation. They have talent returning, just not proven. Lexington is solid in offensive skills positions and could be one of the best offenses in the Midlands. Defensively, they have some holes but are strong in the secondary.
Players to Watch for Lexington – QB Taiden Mines, WR Kamadi Maxwell, RB Jonah Norris, DB Kam Coulter, WR Brandon Cromer
Players to Watch for West Florence – RB Darren Lloyd, LBs Franklin Emerson, Nashon Frison
My thoughts – I believe that with two starting OLs and losing their all-everything back to graduation, West Florence will not be as storng offensively. They do have a capable RB who rushed for 300 yards last season as a back up. While their linebacker group is strong, I look for them to have their hands full with this Lexington offense. The one thing that will help them is if they can control the line of scrimmage on defense.
My Pick – Lexington
