Dutch Fork @ Spartanburg
The Spartanburg Vikings grabbed a late win on a field goal with 10 seconds left off the foot of Will Love to beat the South Pointe Stallions by a final score of 26-25. They now return home for the first time in 2024 to take on the defending 5A state champion Dutch Fork Silver Foxes.
The Vikings fought through injuries last week and got massive performances from their defense and special teams. Behind multiple Love field goals and a second half kickoff return for a touchdown, Spartanburg hit enough explosive plays to wipe away a 13-9 halftime deficit. This week establishing a running game will be a must against a stout Silver Fox defense, something that the Vikings struggled to do against the Stallions. QB Trey Burke (9-19, 150 YDS, 1 TD) averaged over 15 yards per completion last week, but will have to be more consistent.
Dutch Fork returns for its annual matchup with Spartanburg coming off the program’s 8th state championship and 7th in the last 8 seasons. The Silver Foxes overcame a 2-5 start last year (including a home loss to Spartanburg) to win it all, finishing the season with eight straight wins including playoff victories over Boiling Springs, Gaffney, JL Mann, and White Knoll. Dutch Fork was idle last week so it will play its first game of the season against the Vikings on Friday.
Mauldin @ Boiling Springs
Boiling Springs made a big statement in Week 0 with a 43-0 win over Greer at home last Friday night. Jumping out to a large lead in the first half, the Bulldogs were able to coast in the second half with a running clock and second-teamers in the game. QB Lincoln Husky (12-17, 264 YDS, 4 TDs) and WR Kyle Patterson (5 REC, 145 YDS, 4 TD) connected on all four of the Bulldogs passing touchdowns, with Husky also adding a rushing and receiving touchdown to his night.
The Boiling Springs defense also showed its teeth, only allowing 92 yards on 41 Greer plays for a touch over two yards per play. John Michael Simmons had two sacks as part of a defensive front that was living in the backfield.
The veteran Bulldogs team will stay at home this week against the Mauldin Mavericks, who dropped their opener at home against Riverside 39-20. Mauldin went 0-10 in 2023, and haven’t won a game since October 2022.
Byrnes @ Irmo
Byrnes tested itself in Week 0 with a road game at TL Hanna, and fought back from an early deficit to have a chance to win late. An end-zone shot in the fourth quarter fell incomplete as the Rebels dropped to 0-1 after a 19-16 loss.
The Rebels found a steady running game in the opener, even without their anticipated starter from the preseason. Tre Segarra only had four attempts in the game after suffering a preseason injury, and were led by QB Zy Landrum (12 RUSH, 112 YDS) and RB Ty’lik Dawkins (14 RUSH, 88 YDS, 1 TD) on the ground. Byrnes even outgained TL Hanna in the game 287-245, but when trailing couldn’t be consistent enough in the air like previous Byrnes teams have been.
The opponent in Week 1 is Irmo, who took down last year’s 2A state champion and 3A contender Oceanside Collegiate 35-7 on the road. Irmo itself is a contender in 5A Division 2 this season. Irmo lost in the 4A Lower State final to South Florence a season ago, but might have the best QB/WR combo in the state in the form of A.J. Brand and Donovan Murph. Brand is on his way to Virginia Tech after graduation and was all-state last season, and four-star WR Murph is currently the third-ranked player in the state for the class of 2026.
Dorman @ Grayson (GA)
The Dorman Cavaliers won a wild home opener against Greenville last Friday. Halfway through the third quarter Dorman held a 34-7 lead and looked like it was in cruise control to a dominating win, until the Red Raiders charged from behind scoring 21 points in a five minute stretch to make it a 34-28 game going into the fourth quarter and eventually took a one point lead with six minutes to go.
Dorman manufactured a perfectly-timed 14 play and 80 yard touchdown drive over 5:13 of game time to score the go-ahead points, leaving Greenville with a seven-point deficit and under a minute on the clock. The Cavaliers sealed the win with an interception to take a 42-35 win.
This week, Dorman surely can’t count on a four touchdown lead in the second half against the Grayson Rams (GA). The three-time Georgia state champions are littered with future Power 4 players, including LB Tyler Atkinson (5-star, Class of ‘26, #10 overall, #1 LB), OT Nick Brooks (Texas, 4-star), LB Anthony Davis (4-star, Class of ‘26), DL Joseph Mbatchou (Florida, 3-star), DE Andre Fuller (Georgia Tech, 3-star), CB Jaylen Bell (Indiana, 3-star). Grayson is 1-1 this season, with an opening week one-point loss to Collins Hill (GA) and a one-point overtime win over Thompson (AL).
Gaffney @ JL Mann
Gaffney had its opening week opponent, Crest (NC), back out of its scheduled opening week game so sat idle in Week 0 to prepare for a monster clash against JL Mann on the road. The Indians and Patriots were two of the final four teams in the Upper State playoffs last season, with Gaffney losing in the Upper State semifinals to eventual state champion Dutch Fork, and JL Mann falling to them one round later in the Upper State final by one point.
Gaffney features RB Jaiden McDowell as the feature back along with new QB Jayvon Gilmore, along with several returners on the offensive and defensive lines. Head Coach Dan Jones announced his pending retirement at the end of the season, so the Indians will look to start his last dance with a marquee win over the JL Mann Patriots.
JL Mann got off to a raucous start with a 56-0 win against a Midland Valley team that went as far as the 4A Upper State semifinals last season, on the road. Former Greer RB Ladannian Martin now is in the Patriots backfield, along with several others that return from last year’s 11-3 season.
BHP @ Greer
The Greer Yellow Jackets got knocked down hard in a 43-0 loss at Boiling Springs last Friday night, and the road gets no easier for the home opener against the BHP Bears.
Greer struggled to get momentum on offense, punting three times, two interceptions, and multiple turnovers on downs. New starting RB Nick Holmes ran for 54 yards on 18 carries, and QB Kaden Rowland was 8-17 for 71 yards. BHP took down Broome last Friday by a final score of 45-14, and are one of the most exciting teams at 3A this season.
BHP running back Marquise Henderson is a four-star ranked as the third-best senior in South Carolina by 247 Sports, and is committed to Clemson. Henderson scored four touchdowns in Week 0 against Broome, with two rushing touchdowns, one receiving touchdown, and one kickoff return.
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