Here’s what is coming up this Friday in Week 5
5A
Gaffney (3-2) at Fort Dorchester (2-1)
Gaffney fell to Northwestern 49-24, while the Patriots beat Berkeley 52-0.
Last week was the first time Gaffney didn’t play well. This will be another tough test for the Indians, who couldn’t slow down the explosive Trojans offense last Friday. Quarterback Riley Staton wasn’t as sharp as he had been early in the season, and he’ll need to regain his form as Gaffney will need to score plenty of points to knock off the Patriots. Fort Dorchester doesn’t have as much speed on the outside as Northwestern, but like the Trojans they will make you pay if you make mistakes.
I think Gaffney will be much better out of the gate this week, and if they can limit their penalties and turnovers I like them to be able to bounce back and get a close win. Look for running back Jaiden McDowell to have a big game for the Indians.
Spartanburg (3-2) at Mauldin (0-4)
Spartanburg looked great last week in a 49-6 win over Riverside. Mauldin fell to Westside 56-10.
The Vikings offense caught fire last Friday, and I think they have another great night against a Mauldin team that is surrendering over 50 points per game. Spartanburg should score early and often, and I expect them to take control early and cruise to a big win. Look for the Vikings to pull some starters early in the second half.
Clover (2-2) at Boiling Springs (3-2)
Clover beat Dorman 35-13, while the Bulldogs knocked off Greer 31-14.
Clover shocked a lot of people with their win over Dorman last week. They were very balanced on offense and hit enough big plays to overcome penalties and pull away from the Cavaliers last week for the win. Boiling Springs trailed early before coming alive in the second quarter and dominating the rest of the game. Bulldogs tailback Javen Chhim led the way on offense with 107 yards on the ground.
This is an interesting game. The Bulldogs can’t afford to get off to a slow start in this one. If they do, Clover can pound you with the run game and make it hard to come from behind. However I don’t think that will be the case. I think Lincoln Huskey and the Bulldogs offense comes out firing on all cylinders, and if they take an early lead Clover isn’t built to play from behind. I think Coach Reel’s team will have a tough game, but they should come away with win number 4 on the season, doubling last year’s total.
Dorman (1-3) at River Bluff (4-1)
Dorman lost to Clover, while River Bluff beat Lower Richland 44-6.
Dorman struggled once again in the run game last week, and they were unable to take advantage of Clover’s mistakes. Even worse, the Cavs lost several players to injury in the process. The lone bright spot for the Cavaliers was Soph. wide receiver K.D. Hainesworth, who finished the night with 9 catches for 178 yards and 2 scores. The defense was on the field too much and wore down as the night went on. They will have another tough time slowing down a Gators team that comes in averaging over 40 points per game.
Dorman’s struggles on offense have been well documented in their 1-3 start. They will need to be much better at sustaining drives if they want to come away with the win this Friday. River Bluff will try and wear you down with the run, and they hit you with a big pass over the top. Dorman will need to be great on third downs, but I’m not sure they will be able to do it. A 1-4 start for the Cavs is looking very likely.
West Florence (3-1) at Byrnes (4-1)
The Rebels defeated Wren 28-7, while West Florence was on a bye last Friday.
Byrnes started slow last week before finding their form and pulling away for the win. The Knights have won three straight since losing the season opener against Lexington. Last year this game came down to the final possession and I wouldn’t be shocked if this year’s match up finishes in similar fashion. I expect points to be scarce in this one as Byrnes defense has been dominant all year, while the Knights are allowing only 15 points per game so far. The Rebels offense has been efficient since the Chapman game, and they will need to continue that if they want to get another win this Friday.
This game should be one of the best in the state this week. The Rebels have enough athletes to beat anyone this year, they will just need to continue to take care of the football on offense. I think Byrnes leans heavy on the run, and if they can open some lanes for Tre Segarra he could be in for a big night. With both teams being so talented, I think it will come down to turnovers. If Byrnes only turns it over once, or zero times, I think Coach Shaw’s team will improve to 5-1.
4A
Westside (3-1) at Greer (1-4)
Westside beat Mauldin 56-10, and Greer fell to Boiling Springs last week.
Greer’s brutal non-region schedule continues as they host a 5A Rams team that comes in averaging over 40 points per game. Greer has struggled defensively against good competition, and I expect that to continue in Week 5. The Jackets will get some big plays on offense and should score some points this week, but I don’t think they’ll be able to slow down Westside enough to get the win. Greer should still compete for a region title, but they could very well be 1-5 heading into region play.
