High School football is finally back in South Carolina, and this week it counts. There are tons of home openers in and around Spartanburg County on Week 0, and there are a great variety of matchups to get us started. Local teams matching up with local teams, defending state champions, out-of-state powers, and brand new buildings feature a solid Week 0 slate.
Northwestern @ Spartanburg
The Spartanburg Vikings are coming off of a season that saw them make it all the way to the upper state championship game at Dutch Fork before falling to the eventual state champion at the 5A level. Friday, the Vikings will get their second straight game against a 5A state champion, welcoming the Northwestern Trojans who beat Irmo on a game-winning field goal as time expired.
Both teams have to replace a lot of production from their respective talented teams from 2024, but Spartanburg has the luxury of RB Trenton Lynch in its backfield for his junior season. Lynch carried the ball for over 1000 yards and scored 13 touchdowns as just a sophomore, and will be a massive factor in the Vikings offensive production again here in 2025. On the outsides, WR Torrean Davis is back in the fold but will have to support a new group of wideouts. QB Trey Burke also returns, fresh off of an off-season commitment to East Carolina. Senior K Will Love will continue to be a weapon as the top-rated kicker in the country according to 247 Sports.
Most of Northwestern’s weapons from last year’s title-winning team have departed, but Head Coach Page Wofford will look to make another run deep into November and December again this year. QB Finley Polk is off to Gardner-Webb after throwing for 427 yards and 4 TDs in the title game. Look for the Trojans to rely on S Tamrion Watkins, the #7 player in the state and committed to Texas A&M, QB Xavier Means, WR Kameron Vance, and RB Nigel Smith.
Boiling Springs @ Greer
A matchup that saw a Bulldogs blowout last season now makes the return trip to Dooley Field in Greer. Boiling Springs shutout Dorman last season in its first playoff game before running into Dutch Fork in the second round. The Yellow Jackets also nabbed a playoff win in the first round of the 4A playoffs before falling to South Pointe.
Boiling Springs lost a lot of its weapons from a high-powered offense last season. In 2025, a three-way quarterback battle is expected to result in senior Josh Kahl taking the first snap with a returning running back in Tamajae Williford who was lightly used in a pass-happy attack last season. The Bulldog defense will have sharp teeth, manned in the front by junior DL Dennis Glenn Jr and over the top by senior CB Jeremiah Favorite, who committed to Michigan State over the summer.
Greer will also be breaking in new names on offense. Junior RB Calvin McCoy featured in seven games last season scoring six touchdowns, and is expected to get a greater share of the touches in 2025. Sophomore Dawson Fowler is going to be the quarterback as the Yellow Jackets attack another difficult non-region schedule that starts with a 5A opponent in Boiling Springs.
Independence (NC) @ Gaffney
This matchup to open the season at the Reservation is loaded with talent. The Independence Patriots went 10-2 last season and return RB Jayden Jones and his 2214 yards and 22 touchdowns from 2024. A stout defense features Nick Reddish (Notre Dame commit) and Dallas Brannon (Virginia) in its linebacker room.
Gaffney made it to the upper state championship game last season and lost to Northwestern. The Indians split drives in their preseason scrimmage against Dutch Fork at the quarterback position between incumbent senior Jayvon Gilmore and transfer senior Banks Bouton. The offense was significantly better that night with Bouton taking snaps, but only the people in the program know how far along he is and if he can run the full playbook that was most likely concealed in the scrimmage.
RB Jaiden McDowell missed a big chunk of last season with an ankle injury, playing in just four games and running for 172 yards and four touchdowns. He’ll be spelled by the former Chapman Panther Justin Dawkins who paced that offense with 11 scores in 2024.
TL Hanna @ Byrnes
The story of the night will rightly be the opening of the newly renovated (and rotated) Nixon Field at Byrnes. But after fans settle in to watch their Rebels there will be a football game, with referees, pylons and a very difficult opponent with the TL Hanna Yellow Jackets.
If early August scrimmages are any indication, the Rebels look like they will start sophomore QB Walker Burdette over returning senior Caine Rogers. But if inexperience is an issue, the simple solution will be to hand the ball to junior RB Tre Segarra. Segarra ran for just 207 yards in an injury-plagued season, but still carries the hype from his freshman year. Look for senior Justice Hopkins to have a breakout year on the defensive side.
The Yellow Jackets dropped a game at the Reservation in the quarterfinal round of last year’s playoffs and beat Byrnes at home 19-16. TL Hanna will still run its option offense behind three returning offensive lineman and QB Gavin Magin stepping into a regular starting role.
Dorman @ Greenville
The Cavaliers are one of the few teams in our area to start the 2025 season on the road, going to take on the Greenville Red Raiders. Dorman went 6-3 last season and was blanked on its home field by Boiling Springs 32-0 in the first round of the playoffs.
The most talked about player on this year’s Dorman squad is Clemson-bound safety Kentavion Anderson. After a high quality junior season, Anderson will lead a defense that could get off to a strong start against a weaker Red Raider offensive attack.
Greenville struggled to a 2-8 campaign last year and now is coached by Scoot Watson who comes from JL Mann. The Red Raiders feel they are significantly improved in the front seven on defense, which will be a test for new QB Meek Slydell, a growing offensive line, and returning RB Nick Means to navigate.
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