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2A Notebook
The Fairfield Central Griffins got a good win over a very good 2A team in Andrew Jackson. They overcamne three offensive turnovers and a 15 point deficit to win the football game and did it with some outstanding play by the offense and some key plays by defenders like junior LB Miles Robertson, who picked off an AJ pass to stifle a comeback for the Vols. This week, the Griffins take on rival Chester, who is 1-1 after a loss to Lancaster and a win over Fort Mill. The Cyclones will present various looks on formations against the Griffins but regardless of how they line up, they like to throw the football. The Griffins’ defense will be tested this week.
Saluda is off to a 2-0 start and have done it with a very good offense, knocking of Ridge Spring Monetta this past week. RB Brayden Williams led the way with 91 yards and 2 scores. Williams has 198 yards and 4 TDs on the year. WR Zion Wright is a deep threat for the passing game. This week, they face off with a 1-1 Ninety Six team. They are athletic and led by a solid dual threat QB in Braden Mitchell. Saluda’s ground game may be too much for the Wildcats.
Andrew Jackson played a good game against a very good Fairfield Central team and had them on the ropes. RB Trey Thompson is a stud for this team and they are solid on defense. An interception on a drive that could have put them back in the lead hurt them and gave the Griffins momentum they needed to finish. This week, they face a 1-1 Crestwood team that is dangerous at times. But the Knights are vulnerable to a ground game and if AJ can limit mistakes and play solid defense, they can win this game. They cannot afford to give Crestwood QB Javion Martin opportunities.
Gray Collegiate is 0-2 after losses to Oceanside and Crestwood and this week, the challenge looks to be harder as they travel to Georgia to take on AA power South Atlanta. I’ve watched South Atlanta’s film and those boys look big and fast. Gray can ill afford to make mistakes in this game. QB Riley Staton had a big game passing this past week in the loss to Crestwood and needs to have another big game for the War Eagles to have a chance. The more important thing is for the Gray defense to realize the game is actually 48 minutes long and not 24 minutes. If the wheels come off early in this one, it could be ugly.
Newberry opened the season with a loss to Union County when two second half turnovers hurt them badly. Quarterback Bryce Satterwhite passed for 178 yards and used Shaquil Good for most of the damage. Uncharacteristic of Bulldog teams of the past, they only ran the ball for 117 yards on 31 carries. This week, they get a 2-0 Clinton team that is rolling on offense, scoring over 100 points combined over Batesburg-Leesville and Laurens. This is going to be a very good matchup but the Bulldogs cannot afford mistakes on either side of the ball ot have a chance in this game.
Pelion is 2-0 with wins over Bethune Bowman and a narrow margin over Columbia. They take on an Eau Claire team this week that is an improved team, though they are sitting at 0-1 after losing their opener to HKT. Pelion quarterback Luke New is one of the Midlands’ leaders on offense and the Panthers should be able to move the ball against the Shamrocks
Batesburg-Leesville is 0-2 after a loss to Gilbert this past week, but this team is better than their record would indicate. They are able to move the football. They rushed for 155 yards against Gilbert and they have weapons they can use like TE Patrick Swygert, who is a force on both sides of the footall. This week, they take on a Ridge Spring-Monetta team who is beatable. The Trojans are still trying to find their groove on offense and this is an opportunity for the Panthers to play well and get in the win column.
Mid Carolina is 0-2 after two tough games to open the season with Saluda and 5A Chapin. This week, they take on a 2-0 Whitemire team who has really not been tested by a good team. This is the week the Rebels can get in the win column if they can stop Whitmire RB Kashaun Shumpert, who has close to 200 yards on the season.
Keenan is 0-2 after losses to Dreher and Orangeburg-Wilkinson. Their offense is not producing as expected in the preseason. This week, they take on an improved Richland Northeast team and I don’t see them overcoming the offense that the Cavalies will throw at them. QB Hernandez Oneal needs a big game this week for them to compete against the Cavs.
Columbia is 0-2, though I do believe they are better than their record would indicate. They have a good ground game that has not been able to produce enough points. They face an Edisto team who is 1-1 right now and running a balanced offense. They have a good running back and will choose that method for moving the football. This is one of those games that the Caps need to capitolize on if they want any numbers in the W column this season.
Eau Claire lost their opener last week to HKT and I was honestly surprised. This week, it won’t be so much a surprise as the Shamrocks take on a 2-0 Pelion team who has a dangerous quarterback running and throwing the football. I think Eau Claire struggles again this week.
North Central is off to an 0-2 start with losses to Johnsonville and Hannah-Pamplico. The Knights have some talent on their team and I like their quarterback but this team does not look like an engine with some serious misfires. They take on an improved CA Johnson team this week and while they should be able to compete, I believe Johnson may cause them problems.
THE IMPACT PLAYERS
QB Cam McMillon, Fairfield-Central
WR Ty Greer, Fairfield Central
RB Brayden Williams, Saluda
QB Jonah McClary, Saluda
RB Trey Thompson, Andrew Jackson
S Ely Sowell, Andrew Jackson
QB Riley Staton, Gray Collegiate
WR Savion Smith, Gray Collegiate
QB Bryce Satterwhite, Newberry
DB/WR Shaquil Good, Newberry
QB Luke New, Pelion
TE/DE Patrick Swygert, Bateburg-Leesville
QB Hernandez ONeal, Keenan
QB Jamel McDaniel, Columbia
DB Christian Anderson, Eau Claire
QB Landan Anderson, North Central
