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We are a week away from the moment of truth, region play for 5A so this is the final “tune up” week for these schools before they play the games that count. There are some things that need to be addressed with these teams if they want to be the region champion as they finish up non-conference play.
- Dutch Fork Silver Foxes: These guys are 5-0 and have
Dutch Fork’s defense will be tested this week done it with bandages on wounds. This week, they take on a football factory, St Frances (Baltimore, Maryland) who has lost just two games since 2017. They are a true footall school who plays all road games. The Foxes defense will help them in this game but I really believe they will need more than just the ground game this Friday.
- The Lexington Wildcats put on a dominating performance Friday against a good Gilbert team and, once again, proved they are the most explosive offense in the Midlands. This week, the Wildcats get a bye whle they prepare for region play next week, on the road at Chapin.
- The Gamecocks of Sumter continue to roll with a strong ground game and a quarterback in Pate
Sumter QB Pate Merchent Merchent who gets better each week. They beat Summerville in a shutout on the road this past Friday and will be tested this week by a very good Oceanside Collegiate team.
- River Bluff had to come from behind on Lower Richland and that is a concern for me. What’s more of a concern is that they ran 58 plays and only ten
Let this kid throw the football of those plays were passes. This team is too one dimensional to contend for a region crown. They play a Dorman team this week and they really need to let Parker Murray throw the footbal to win this game. I love their ground game, don’t get me wrong, and they have one of the best running backs in the Midlands in Cooper Johns, but if that’s all you do, a good football team will shut it down.
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WR Austin Cunningham White Knoll has been one of the most impressive teams in Midlands 5A this year. Their improvement is astounding and they are getting better in every phase of the game. I have to admit I felt like they would fight to stay out of last in their region but I’m believing they could challenge for the No. 2 spot.They do have a challenge this week with a very physical defense in Lancaster.
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QB Harrison Collins Blythewood is beginning to look like they’ve gel’d and their quarterbacks are playing great, along with both of their feature running backs. Defensively, they have one of the best fronts in the Midlands and this week, they will take on a Fort Mill team that I believe will be a win for the Bengals.
- Chapin travelled to Brookland-Cayce this past week
Chapin’s Tanner Short and showed vulnerabilities that I was thinking they had. Their offensive line is not great but worse than that, they struggled to stop the Brookland-Cayce running game at all. This week, they are home, hosting AC Flora and it could get ugly.
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Zion Fuller Spring Valley actually showed some offense this past week, getting 170 yards rushing from Zion Fuller. IF they can get a repeat of that, this team could turn it around. They have this week off as they prepare for regin play, beginning with Rock Hill next week.
