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Let me preface this by stating I’m not under the delussion that Hammond is not the best team in the Midlands SCISA just because they lost this past week. Prince Avenue is a very good football school in Georgia and won 13 games last season with a lot of returning players from that squad. Hammond is still the top dog in the Midlands SCISA ranks untile someone beats them. Their were bright spots in the loss and I still maintain that sophomore WR Mike Tyler may be the biggest prospect in SCISA.
Ben Lippen is 1-0 after a 49-9 dismantling of Asheville Christian Academy. Granted, ACA was 4-6 a year ago, but the Falcons played a stellar game. They play a good Heathwood Hall team this week and they lost to the Highlanders a year ago, 34-17. I think this year’s game will be a lot more competitive and the edge belongs to the Falcons.
Heathwood Hall is young but they got great play from their freshman quarterback this past week as Patrick Belk threw for 164 yards and 2 touchdowns in their win over Great Falls. Their defense stepped up big, led by JB Belk. Offensively, they put up 364 yards of offense and will need more of that this week against the Falcons of Ben Lippen.
Cardinal Newman didn’t play last week and open up with
Pee Dee Academy. This will be a good measuring stick for the Cardinals as the Eagles were 9-2 last season losing in the 2nd round of the SCISA 2A playoffs to Hilton Head Christian. The Eagles generated over 4000 yards of offense in 2021, with 52 touchdowns. The Cards are loaded in skills and and have a solid offensive front. I’m excited to see them out there for the first time under Head Coach Cory Helms.
Thomas Sumter got a solid win over Clarendon Hall, 42-22 last week behind the play of Gatlin Kimbro, who passed for 202 yards and 2 TDs and rushed for 45 and another score. Junior RB Ryan Gregory rushed for 97 yards and two more scores. This team is strong on offense and will try to duplicate last week’s performance against Lee Academy this week.
THE IMPACT PLAYERS
QB Dylan Richardson, Hammond
WR Mike Tyler, Hammond
DE Conner Stephens, Hammond
QB Dobson Ricks, Ben Lippen
LB JB Belk, Heathwood Hall
QB Patrick Belk, Heathwood Hall
RB AJ Reyes, Cardinal Newman
QB Duncan Skeehan, Cardinal Newman
QB Gatlin Kimbro, Thomas Sumter
RB Ryan Gregory, Thomas Sumter
