Each Week following Spartanburg Viking Football games, I’m going to take a couple of days and think about the 3 most important things I saw on the field. Some good, some great, some not so good. I’ll try to break through what mattered, and what not to overreact to. So here’s 3 things from Week 1’s 17-6 win over Dutch Fork.
1- This is a good lesson in sports to do. STOP predicting seasons after one game…or the next game. In High School Football, don’t predict the Region after 1 week…good or bad. Every week is a different game. Every week is a different team. Spartanburg showed that this week through its Offensive Line. Many wrote them off after Week 0 thinking they wouldn’t be able to block a good DL. How many of you would like to have that thought back. I’m not saying all is well going forward..but each week is different and through 2 games, the OL has shown what it can do and what struggles they could have. It’s a long season…let this group grow but how nice was it to see them quiet the haters this week against an incredibly fast Dutch Fork DL.
2- The Spartanburg Viking Defense is so so so so so so good. What a job by these guys once again against a fast Offense in Dutch Fork. Spartanburg for the first time against the Silver Foxes had multiple bodies in the right spots prepared for DF running backs to hit the outside holes and the open field tackling was tremendous. Demario Bookhart had a monster pick (his 2nd of the game) which prevented DF from going up 13-3 late in the 3rd Q. Peyton Jones added 8 tackles along with Cam Smith’s 9 and DE Damein Coats was a problem for the DF OL all night. He forced the first pick and scored on the strip sack at the end. This Defense is balanced and has many ways to attack you. Through 2 games against South Pointe and Dutch Fork, Spartanburg has allowed 1 TD which that drive started on the Viking 11 yard line.
3- If y’all don’t know Justin Rice, you may wanna recognize one the best WRs in the State. I’m not kidding..he’s that good. Through 2 games he has 10 catches for 134 yards and 2 TDs…which is solid but not eye popping. He’s nowhere near the leaders in any category…However…when you look at the routes on tape, the catches he has made on tape, and his speed on tape, it’ll blow you away. It’s even better in person. Once this offense clicks, expect those numbers to rise tremendously. The catch he had for a TD against Dutch Fork was one of the best catches I’ve ever seen. This kid has star written all over him if he keeps up his work ethic.
