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Week three of the 2022 football season has some pretty good match ups to still be early. This is where teams start really trying to prepare themselves for region play. Here are this week’s match ups.
Chester Cyclones at Fairfield Central Griffins
This is a rival game so know that it will be intense and hard hitting. The Griffins are coming off a win over a good Andrew Jackson team where they saw their defense grow up and take control of a game. This Chester team gives a bunch of different looks on offense but they run the same base plays out of each. This will be a test for the Griffins defense and a bigger test for the Cyclones’ defense.
Players to Watch for Fairfield-Central – QB Cam McMillon, WR Tai Greer, LB Myles Robertson, DB/WR Donovan Watkins
Players to Watch for Chester – QB Trooper Floyd, LB DJ Stephenson, RB Malik McCollough
My Thoughts – Fairfield Central is hungry. This team made mistakes against a good team last week and showed character recovering from those mistakes and coming back to win. This week, their secondary will be tested by a strong armed sophomore quarterback.
My Pick – Fairfield Central
Irmo Yellow Jackets at River Bluff Gators
This is a game I’ve had circuled for a few weeks. Both teams are 2-0 but neither has really been tested. Irmo has a dangerous quarterback that can hurt you by air or ground and he’s also sneaky dangerous in special teams play. River Bluff has the more dynamic athletes on offense. QB Parker Murray really has not been allowed to cut loose yet and he has weapons outside to do damage.
Payers to Watch for Irmo l- QB AJ Brand, RB Erick Tucker, DB Malichi Smith, LB Jalil Favor
Players to Watch for River Bluff – QB Parker Murray, RB Cooper Johns, WR/DB Stephen Collier, DL AJ Colter
My thoughts – I believe that River Bluff has a lot of offense that will be tough for Irmo to handle. Irmo has not demonstrated they have the ability to stretch the field and that will give River Bluff an advantageon defense.
My Pick – River Bluff
Ridge View Blazers at Lower Richland Diamond Hornets
This is the moment of truth. Both of these teams had a lot of hype in the off-season on the bird app and so far, neither has lived up to that hype. Both teams are struggling on offense but Ridge View is playing great defense so far. Both offenses have the potential to be explosive but neither has had a fuse lit yet.
Players to Watch for Ridge View – LB Miles Brown, LB David Matthews, DL Cleve Tellery, DB Javon Gillespie, LB Josh Saddler
Players to Watch for Lower Richland – WR Nate Branch, WR Mekhi Campfield, RB Lamarion Pearson
My thoughts – Lower Richland has moved the ball well on the ground. Pearson has 261 yards rushing and 5 scores. But Ridge View has played the better defense of the two teams. I believe this will be a match up of the LR offense against the Blazers’ defense.
My Pick – Ridge View
South Aiken Thoroughbreds at Gilbert Indian
This is a great match up. The T’breds bring in a very dangerous quarterback in Terrance Smith who is a runner. A pass is a trick play in their playbook. Gilbert had a good showing aginst Batesburg-Leesville but that really isn’t a challenge. South Aiken has been war tested against Lexington.
Players to Watch for South Aiken – QB Terrance Smith
Players to Watch for Gilbert – RB Jaden Allen-Hendrix, QB/WR Chance Jennings, RB Alias Graham-Woodberry
My thoughts – Soth Aiken’s quarterback is a lethal playmaker. He has the ability to cut through a defense with speed that keeps guys from laying a hand on him. Gilbert is going to have to close the lanes. If they can contain this guy and make them throw the football, they win. If they don’t, they will get to see a true Thoroughbred running up and down their field.
My Pick – South Aiken
