The high school football season is flying right by as we are already at the start of the regional play! Let’s take a look at the matchups from the 2A/3A games in our local listening area.
Union @ Clinton
Union County is coming into region play with a 1-5 record and coming off a loss to Chapman where they lost 54-17. So Union may have had a rough time during their non-region games but these are the games that truly matter and it will be another tough test for the Yellow Jackets as they go on the road to play a very solid Clinton team.
Clinton is coming into the first region game of the year with a 4-2 record and has lost two straight games as their latest loss came to South Aiken 40-31. Despite the recent losing streak this team is very solid and will be a tough challenge for anybody to face.
For Union to win they will have to take care of the football force some turnovers themselves and convert on those turnovers to get ahead. Clinton is averaging 42 points per game on offense this season Union is averaging 47 ppg, because of that I just don’t see how Union will be able to consistently stop Clinton.
Landrum @ Chesnee
The Landrum Cardinals are coming into this game with a lot of momentum winning 3 straight games as their latest win came against Blue Ridge as they won 74-34. Colton Link was unbelievable last Friday night as he rushed for over 400 yards and six touchdowns. The Cardinals would love to have that kind of production against Chesnee.
The Chesnee Eagles are coming into their first region game with a 3-2 record and are coming off a bye last week. Chesnee has shown a lot of improvement this season and has shown the ability to close out games, which was a big problem for them last year.
I anticipate this being a close game and If Chesnee can slow down the rushing attack of Landrum that could be enough to win this game. However, I just love how the Cardinal’s offense has been clicking the last few weeks and I see them continuing to make some big plays. I am leaning towards the Cardinals here to win a close one on the road.
Travelers Rest @ Broome
Broome is coming into this game with a lot of momentum as they have won 3 straight and are 5-1 in non-region games. Last Friday they defeated Woodruff 55-14. Travelers Rest is coming into region play with a 2-4 record but is coming off a win against Berea last Friday night by a final score of 42-3.
I fully expect Broome to cruise to a victory here and open their region play 1-0, they are simply all around better than TR and their rushing attack will be too much for TR to handle. I look for Broome’s offense to make several big plays and even make some plays on the defensive side of the ball and they win this game comfortably.
Chapman @ Carolina
Chapman is coming into this game with a 5-1 record last week as mentioned earlier they defeated Union 54-17, The Panthers will look to carry their stellar play into region play and perhaps win another region title.
Carolina enters this game on a two-game winning streak as they defeated Whitmire last Friday night by a final score of 41-22. Carolina shut them out in the second half so they will also be looking to continue their winning streak into region play.
Chapman is the far superior team in this game, I do know a few of the players at Carolina that are really good players but overall Chapman will just be too much for them to handle and I see the Panthers winning this game big.
Chester @ Woodruff
Woodruff is entering the game with a 2-4 record and in their last game as mentioned earlier they were on the wrong side of a blowout against Broome last week where they fell 55-14.
Chester is coming into the game with a 5-1 record and is on a 2-game win streak as their latest win came against Batesburg-Leesburg by a final score of 38-18.
So far I just have not seen the consistency from Woodruff in their play, up until this point I have not really seen them find their rhythm and this is a tough opening region game when you haven’t found your stride. I look at it as Chester is playing consistenly good football and Woodruff has been up and down so I see that trend staying the same this week and Chester getting the win.
