4A/5A Week 8 Preview
Last week we saw some fantastic games in 5A. Hopefully more of the same in Week 8.
Region II-5A
Dorman 3-4 (1-0) at Byrnes 7-1 (2-0)
Dorman defeated Mauldin 26-12, while Byrnes came away with a thrilling 38-31 2OT win over Boiling Springs.
Byrnes defense got a fourth down stop in the second overtime to secure the win last week and hold off a tough Bulldogs team. Rebels quarterback Andrew Stevens had another big night, finishing with 273 passing yards and 4 total touchdowns in the win. The Rebels needed to be great in the passing game, as running back Tre Segarra was limited to just 58 yards on the ground. Byrnes offense has proven time and again that they can get big plays via the air or ground, and this is what makes them so dangerous.
The Rebels’ defense is one of the best in the state, and they should feel they have a clear advantage on that side of the ball this Friday, as they face a Cavaliers offense that is still trying to find an identity.
Dorman got the win last week, but it wasn’t pretty. They were tied at halftime with the winless Mavericks before a couple big special teams plays in the third quarter opened up a lead. While the Dorman offense has been inconsistent all year, the defense has never wavered. They have been especially good at forcing turnovers the last few games, and they’ll need to do that once again if they expect to keep it close with the Rebels.
I think Dorman will struggle to move the ball consistently, but could hit on a few big plays to score some 91struggled on third/fourth and short opportunities this year, and I think this game will come down to a few big third downs in the second half. Byrnes has been the better team to this point in the season, and don’t think that changes this Friday. As long as the Rebels hang on to the football, they should move to 3-0 in the Region.
Boiling Springs 3-5 (0-2) at Gaffney 5-2 (1-0)
The Bulldogs lost a heartbreaker, while Gaffney held off Spartanburg 19-14.
Boiling Springs nearly pulled off a dramatic come from behind win last week, before coming up short in double overtime. The Bulldogs are now 0-2 in the region and desperately seeking a win.
Gaffney got a late score after a turnover to knock off a feisty Vikings team. Indians’ tailback Jaiden McDowell was as good as advertised, finishing the game with 91 rushing yards and 176 receiving yards to go along with a touchdown. While Gaffney was caught in a defensive battle last week, I think this game will see more points. I expect Riley Staton and the offense to be able to move the ball with much more ease than a week ago. Gaffney is one of the most complete teams and I think you’ll see that on display this week. On paper, Gaffney is the favorite in this game. However, I’ve seen what Bulldogs quarterback Lincoln Huskey can do, and they will not go down without a fight.
Gaffney will have an advantage on both sides of the line of scrimmage, and that will end up being the difference. Boiling Springs will keep it close for a while, but I think the Indians pull away to move to 2-0 in the region.
