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West Columbia (SC) Week two of the 2022 football season brings us the back yard brawls in the Midlands. These are the “rival” games between schools who share a community and have, at some point in their history, had very heated rivalry games. Some, because one team or another have become less competitive, are not quite as heated on the field, but the fans in the stands and alumni still consider it a brawl. The Sumter vs Ridge View and Swansea vs River Bluff games do not fit this category but it is an interesting match up so I’m including it in my Midlands Games of the Week.
AC Flora Falcons at Dreher Blue Devils
This past week, the Dreher Blue Devils got a good win for their program over Keenan, 28-14. And not to let the air out of their balloon, but it was a battle between two very average football teams. Make no mistake, this Blue Devil team is improved. But they are facing an AC Flora team that is very close to being the best team in the Midlands. They are solid at every position and this, frankly, is not a good match up for Dreher.
Players To Watch for Dreher
QB Colby Fuller, WR Caleb Timmons, WR Kaleb Berry, RB/LB Willie Smith
Players to Wactch for AC Flora
QB Carew Bates, RBs Markel Townsend and Noah Kelson, WR Chris Lofton
My Thoughts – AC Flora is coming off of a big win over Greenwood and has all the confidence in the world. Ordinarily, I would call this a “trap” game but it is a rivalry and Dreher is just not on the same level right now. This could be a big night for the Flora running backs as there is a major mismatch in the trenches. This will not be a close game.
My Pick: AC Flora
Airport Eagles at Brookland-Cayce Bearcats
Both the Eagles and the Bearcats are licking wounds this week after losses to Swansea and Byrnes, respectively. Airport looked frustrated at their inability to move the football against Swansea last week and they will face a Bearcats team who may be even stronger on defense. These two schools have been feuding since Airport split from Brookland-Cayce in 1958.
Players to Watch for Brookland-Cayce – QB Tanner Staton; RB/WR Nahzeikiel Mays, DL Trequan Singleton
Players to Watch for Airport – WR Apollos Cook; RB Marcus Dwyer, DB Jorden Mimms.
My Thoughts – I think Airport has the ingredients for a good football team; they lack development in this new system they are in and that will come by the time region play starts. Brookland-Cayce is the stronger team and I believe they will control the line of scrimmage. I think the key match up is going to be Airport’s Offensive front against a smaller Brookland-Cayce defensive front.
My Pick – Brookland-Cayce
Camden Bulldogs at Lugoff-Elgin Demons
The Camden Bulldogs looked like they were in peak form against Myrtle Beach last week, completely dismantling a very good Seahawk team. QB Grayson White had an incredible performance that captured him the All-Midlands Offensive Player of the Week from SCVarsity. Lugoff-Elgin lost to a rebuilding River Bluff team and were really just outmatched in all phases of the game.
Players to Watch for Lugoff-Elgin – QB Jake Morris, WR KJ Golden, LB KD Outten
Players to Watch for Camden – QB Grayson White, RB Averee Hickman, LB Wilson Nash
Sumter Gamecocks at Ridge View Blazers
The Gamecocks got a win over local rival Lakewood last week, getting solid play from their defense, despite playing without Monteque Rhames, who transferred to Manning. Their other defensive guys stepped up big, including Jamal Taylor. Ridge View got a win over community rival Blythewood, though it was closer than most anticipated.
Players to Watch for Sumter – QB Pate Merchent, RB/LB John Peeples, LB Jamal Taylor
Players to Watch for Ridge View – QB Donald Tomlin, WR Chris Lawson, WR Zion Agnew
My Thoughts – This Sumter team is not as strong right now as where they finished last season; that said, they are pretty solid. Their ground game was good this past week behing a huge offensive line, one of the biggest in the Midlands. Ridge View has the makings of one what could be one of the most dangerous offenses in the Midlands. I think this is a match up of Ridge View’s offense against the Sumter defense, which has a strong secondary.
My Pick – Sumter
Swansea Tigers at River Bluff Gators
The Tigers of Swansea got a win over Airport last week and River Bluff got a win over Lugoff-Elgin. Neither of these teams’ opponents are going to strike fear into opposing teams this season, but good wins for each of these programs coming off of tough seasons. The Tigers have 13 starters back and a strong, veteran defense. River Bluff has a defense that stepped up big against LE and an offense that is going to continue to get better this season with some budding stars.
Players to Watch for River Bluff – QB Parker Murray, RB Cooper Johns, WR Stephen Collier, LB Conner Clamp, DB Lane Heldreth
Players to Watch for Swansea – QB Jacob Harper, LB Ricky Tyler, DB Donte Amaker
My Thoughts – I think that River Bluff has too much offense for the Tigers defense. That said, the Tigers have enough talent on that side of the ball to draw blood. Ricky Tyler may be one of the hardest hitting linebackers in the region. River Bluff wins the trenches battle and has the stronger ground game. This could be a big night for sophomore quarterback Parker Murray if Swansea creeps up to try to stop the run.
My Pick – River Bluff
