Eastside @ Spartanburg
The Spartanburg Vikings are 2-1 in non-region play following a bye week. With wins over South Pointe and Broome, as well as a loss to Dutch Fork, the Vikings continue to get healthy in key positions and ride its defense. This week Spartanburg hosts an upstate Eastside Eagles squad that was a perfect 3-0 to open the year.
Eastside doesn’t have close to the strength of schedule that Spartanburg has, but 3-0 is 3-0, and the Eagles have wins over Southside, Carolina Academy, and Blue Ridge by a combined score of 91-13. Those three teams also have a combined record of 2-8. Eastside’s standout is senior edge rusher Jaquavious Dodd, who committed to South Carolina over the summer and is a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports and also received a recent offer from Southern Cal. He’s next to another tough defender in Lucas Tankesley who had 18 tackles in the win over
Blue Ridge.
Spartanburg will hope to come out of the bye week well-rested and with more players available on offense. Two weeks ago they had no problem at Broome in a 47-6 win, with RB Trenton Lynch carrying the ball 12 times for 149 yards for 2 touchdowns. With Gaffney looming, the Vikings can’t afford to be looking ahead against a talented Eagles squad.
Gaffney @ Boiling Springs
Gaffney and Boiling Springs meet in each team’s region-opener, a game that could very well determine the region champion. Two 3-0 teams that have had limited pushback in the non-region, with Gaffney’s overtime win at JL Mann the lone exception. Following the win over the Patriots, the Indians followed with a 40 point win over Greenville and a 31 point shutout win against Freedom (NC).
Gaffney has been paced by its sharp senior QB Jayvon Gilmore (66% completions, 806 yards, 10 touchdowns) and its multiple WR weapons led by Jamarcus Smith (23 catches, 405 yards, 3 touchdowns). All of the scoring has been done mainly without the presence of RB Jaden McDowell, who was a top rusher in the state last season. McDowell has missed back to back games with an ankle sprain, and his status is up in the air for this week at Boiling Springs.
The Bulldogs also have rolled to a 3-0 start behind a high-powered offense led by QB Lincoln Husky. Boiling Springs have scored 42 points per game in three wins over Greer, Mauldin, and Chapman. WR Kyle Patterson has turned into a deep threat for Husky, scoring six of the nine passing touchdowns the Bulldogs have as a team. Defensively the Bulldogs have been strong, but haven’t faced a team like Gaffney yet (and the same could be said for Gaffney).
Byrnes @ Wade Hampton
The Byrnes Rebels are 0-3 after last week’s loss to the Greer Yellow Jackets by a final score of 18-10. The loss to Greer was Byrnes’ first since 2000, and came as the biggest shock result of Week 3 in our area. Byrnes has been hurt by the absence of sophomore RB Tre Segarra and it really showed up against Greer as the Rebels only ran for eight yards in the game.
After two tight losses to strong teams in TL Hanna and Irmo, it was thought that with a relative step down in competition that Byrnes would be able to get on the right track. After last week, there are now more questions than answers for how the Rebels will end up for 2024. This week’s opponent is the Wade Hampton Generals, and is by far the weakest team Byrnes will play all season. The Generals are 0-3 this season as well, and have one score losses to Travelers Rest and Blue Ridge, as well as a blowout loss at home against Byrnes.
The Rebels will look to get back in the end zone this week behind their passing attack led by QB Cane Rogers, who has 484 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. Byrnes should have no problem getting its first win of the season on Friday.
Dorman @ Riverside
Dorman starts region play on the road against Riverside in a game that maybe didn’t have the juice in the preseason that it currently has. The Cavaliers are 2-1 coming off of a bye week, and before that a 20-14 win on the road against Greenwood. The Riverside Warriors represent Dorman’s third straight game away from home, and are 3-0 with wins over Mauldin, Greenville, and Christ Church.
Dorman won on the backs of its defense last game against Greenwood, containing a mobile quarterback and getting big stops to hold the lead. Riverside has a lot of speed on offense, and features another mobile quarterback in Gideon Merhib who has thrown for 761 yards and 12 touchdowns and also ran for 110 yards and a touchdown as well. WR Mikkel Skinner was a long-time commit to Cincinnati, but recently backed out, is a four-star prospect by most recruiting services and has WR Speedy Taylor as well, the team leader in receiving with nearly 500 yards and 7 touchdowns.
The Cavaliers will start QB Makorean Anderson again this week, but should have QB Brice O’Neal available if needed. They’ll need another strong defensive performance to slow down Riverside and move to 3-1.
Greer @ Berea
The Greer Yellow Jackets got the win of the night last week, beating Byrnes 18-10 at Dooley Field. RB Nick Holmes was named Broad River Electrifying Player of the Week after leading with 21 carries for 149 yards and a touchdown in the win. The defense for the Yellow Jackets held Byrnes to just 8 rushing yards and under 150 total yards in the game, and were led by Samuel White with 7 tackles on the defensive side.
Look for QB Kaden Rowland to get in a grove this week, as he has found his top wide receiver in the form of Mikey Williams. The two connected for a 72 yard touchdown last week, and against a weak Berea squad it gives Greer the chance to work out kinks on offense ahead of the stretch run.
This week the Yellow Jackets start region play against the Berea Bulldogs. After going 2-8 in 2023, Berea is off to a 2-1 start with a 46-6 loss to Landrum and wins over Carolina Academy 14-0 and Southside 26-20.
