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Cover photo by Stephen Skrocki @skrockisports
THE TEAMS
The Class 4A is going to be a runaway, I believe, for AC Flora as they slice through their schedule. They will be challenged, but it will be few and far between. The big test will be against Camden on 9-16. The Falcon passing game is very good, their ground game has two very good backs leading the way in Markel Townsend and Noah Kelson and they are moving the ball behind the best offensive line in the Midlands. Their regino schedule has two teams I think can give them fits if they play well – Irmo and Ridge View. This week’s game against Dreher won’t be close.
Irmo got a win this past week, but I would not call it a quality win. This team has a quarterback that can be a playmaker but he has to get some help out wide. Right now, they do not possess a dynamic athlete at wide receiver that can stretch the field and that is a concern for me. They have a great ground game with running back Erick Tucker and quarterback AJ Brand, but they will need two dimensions to this offense to compete with AC Flora and Ridge View.
Ridge View has the makings of an explosive play team, with three starting wide receivers who can all make secondaries pay. Their quarterback has a strong arm and so far has been accurate and the weapons he has…goodness. WRs Chris Lawson and
THE TEAMS
The Class 4A is going to be a runaway, I believe, for AC Flora as they slice through their schedule. They will be challenged, but it will be few and far between. Their passing game is very good, their ground game has two very good backs leading the way in Markel Townsend and Noah Kelson and they are moving the ball behind the best offensive line in the Midlands. Their regino schedule has two teams I think can give them fits if they play well – Irmo and Ridge View. This week’s game against Dreher won’t be close.
Irmo got a win this past week, but I would not call it a quality win. This team has a quarterback that can be a playmaker but he has to get some help out wide. Right now, they do not possess a dynamic athlete at wide receiver that can stretch the field and that is a concern for me. They have a great ground game with running back Erick Tucker and quarterback AJ Brand, but they will need two dimensions to this offense to compete with AC Flora and Ridge View. Defensively, they play well at times. Their linebackers are the strength of the defense, led by Jalil Favor and in the secondary, sophomore Malachi Smith is impressive.
Ridge View has the makings of an explosive play team, with three starting wide receivers who can all make secondaries pay. Their quarterback has a strong arm and so far has been accurate. WRs Chris Lawson and Zion Agnew are two of the best in the state. Defensively, they have athletes who can make plays, as well. I’m not sure they have the strongest run defense and that could haunt them, as Flora and Irmo both move the ball on the ground well.
Richland Northeat has one of the top quarterbacks in the MIdlands in Will Wilson but he has to get some weapons around him for the Cavs to be successful. Their offense did a very good job of keeping Crestwood’s defense on the field last week, but the competition in the region will be tougher. Their line is strong and defensively, they need to tighten up and figure out how to get pressure on the quarterbacks. They allowed way too much time for Crestwood’s Javion Martin last week.
Westwood looked bad against a Spring Valley team that was not on their game this past week. They generated only 174 yards of offense against the Vikings and that will not win them games in this region. Exept maybe against Lugoff-Elgin, who gave up 400 yards to River Bluff this past week, including 254 on the ground. I look for these two teams to battle for the last spot in Region 5.
Aiport plays in Region IV with the CSRA teams and their saving grace is there is not a dominant team in that region this year. Airport struggled to move the ball at all against Swansea and Coach Andre Cook will be trying to correct that this week. They have to find a way to get Apollos Cook the ball as frequently as they can, even if it means snapping it to him. This is a team that needs to grow up fast on both sides of the football.
THE IMPACT PLAYERS
QB Carew Bates, AC Flora
RB Markel Townsend, AC Flora
WR Chris Lawson, Ridge View
WR Zion Agnew, Ridge View
QB Will Wilson, Richland Northeast
DB Myles Pratt, Richland Northeast
QB Dylan Oneal, Westwood
LB/DB CJ Putmon, Westwood
