Week 5 Recap

Dorman 33 Byrnes 21

In the first rivalry game to be played in the new Nixon Field, the Rebels hosted the Cavaliers, hoping to be able to shut down the Cavaliers’ offense that has been led by running back Nick Means. In order to pull that off, they would need a big game from their own offensive backfield between Tre Segarra and Jacobi Fuller. Unfortunately, they were unable to get either back going.

It was fairly obvious that the Dorman game plan was not to let Segarra beat them. The Cavaliers held him to around 50 yards and a touchdown on 16 rushing attempts, effectively putting the game in the hands of Caine Rogers, who completed 14 of 31 passes for 153 yards and 2 touchdowns – both of which were to Chanin “Choo” Harris (team-high 3 receptions for 78 yards). The Cavaliers forced 4 turnovers on the night – Ja’Bez Thomas had a pair of interceptions, an Easton Catto forced fumble/recovery, a turnover on downs that came on a sack from James Porter. Those led to 9 points that were a key difference in the game.

Defensive production aside, Dorman also got a big game from Means, who led the ground game with 170 yards and  touchdown on 20 carries. Quarterback Meek Slydell went 7-11 passing with 109 yards and a score – caught by leading receiver Dai’Shion Watkins-Hynes (5 catches, 64 yards). Thomas also added a touchdown on a 2 yard run – his lone carry of the night.

With the huge win under the belt, Dorman is now in the driver’s seat for a possible date with Gaffney for the region championship later this season. But to get there, they will have to get through Boiling Springs (who they play next week at home), Spartanburg, and Wade Hampton.

Byrnes will look to regroup on the road next week as they make a short trip to Greer for a battle with the Riverside Warriors.

Gaffney 28 Spartanburg 21

Another rivalry game was played in region 2-5A on Friday night at Viking Stadium. Yes, while Dorman is considered to be the most bitter enemy for the Vikings as their cross-town neighbor, the bad blood goes back a lot further when it comes to the history with the Indians. No team in the state of South Carolina has beaten Gaffney more than Spartanburg has – with 52 wins in 109 meetings. On the flipside, nobody has beaten Spartanburg more than the Indians.

The last few matchups between these 2 schools have been close, but have all had a common result – Gaffney pulling away for a late win. Friday night was no exception. Entering the final 12 minutes, this game was knotted at 14 before the Indians rattled off 14 unanswered points behind an outburst from running back Josiah Hill. He and quarterback Banks Bouton were both keys to the rushing attack – further adding to what was learned about the Vikes last week in a win over Eastside– that they struggle to stop the run.

Hill toted the rock 21 times for 121 yards with 2 touchdowns while Bouton added 88 on 17 rushing attempts to complement his 60 passing yards in a 5 for 16 night. Kendaris Bailey accounted for the lone other offensive touchdown on a 5 yard run. He had 4 touches for 34 yards in total. Gaffney forced 2 turnovers – both interceptions. One of them was a 16 yard pick 6 from Ty McGill that was ultimately the difference in the game.

Spartanburg was led by running back Trenton Lynch with 189 yards and a touchdown on 27 attempts. Quarterback Trey Burke ended the night 17 for 30 passing with 138 yards, 2 scores, and the 2 picks. Keyvion “Rock” Ferguson was the leading pass catcher with 46 yards on 5 snags and 2 touchdowns. Zeke Bell-Boyd was next closest with 40 yards on 2 receptions.

Gaffney will look to remain unbeaten in region play next week as they head over to Taylors to take on the Eastside Eagles. Spartanburg will also head out that way for a date with the Wade Hampton Generals.

Boiling Springs 42 Eastside 17

On homecoming night at Bulldog Stadium, BSHS picked up a much-needed first region win, and did so in dominant fashion. Junior transfer QB Imri Logan, who saw a good bit of playing time last week when Gaffney drubbed the Bulldogs, was a big part of the story in this contest in which Boiling Springs amassed 456 yards of total offense. Logan accounted for 314 of those yards in a 16-22, 4 touchdown effort. Another transfer – Tre’Sean Suber, the former Broome wideout, led the aerial attack for the Bulldogs with well over 193 yards and 2 touchdowns on 7 receptions.

On the ground, Boiling Springs racked up 126 yards, led  by Kyron Tobler with 10 touches for 72 yards. Izael Johnson added 54 more yards with 2 touchdowns on 13 rushing attempts.

The Bulldogs’ defense was stout in containing Eastside’s potent run game, holding the Eagles to just 3 for 11 combined on 3rd and 4th downs in the game as well as just 52 yards of total offense in the 2nd half.

With the win, the Bulldogs will look to take the newfound confidence in their run game to Dorman next week, trying to make it 2 in a row over the Cavaliers.

Greer 30 Travelers Rest 7

Off the schneid. In the win column. However you choose to say it, the Yellow Jackets broke into the win column last week with a win over Berea in their first region 2-4A game of the season and had a favorable matchup this week with the TR Devildogs to try and make it 2 in a row.. Or in the words of Lou Brown from “Major League”, a winning streak. They did just that in convincing fashion – even without their starting quarterback Dawson Fowler.

Xavier Sammet started this one for the Jackets and threw the ball with efficiency, going 13 for 24 with 179 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball 13 times for 63 yards and a pair of scores. Calvin McCoy complemented Sammet well in the rushing attack, amassing 151 yards and a TD on 17 carries. Tucker Hudson was Greer’s leading receiver with 7 snags for 151 yards and a touchdown.

The Yellow Jackets return home to Dooley Field next week as they take on the Pickens Blue Flame looking for their third straight win after an 0-4 start.

Belton Honea Path 45 Chapman 0

The Panthers hosted the #1 ranked team in 3A this week to make matters worse for a season that is off to the worst start since 2008 – the first year in which Chapman joined the 3A classification. The tone was set for this game very early when the Bears got aggressive and kicked an onside kick to start the game  that they recovered and turned into a touchdown 3 plays later when quarterback Noah Thomas kept it on 3rd and 4 and got the sideline to go untouched 40 yards to paydirt.

In essence, it took a total of 5 offensive snaps for BHP to establish a 28-0 lead and put the game away. Chapman was only able to cross the 50 twice, coming up empty both times in a game that would end up being shortened by lightning after 2 and a half quarters.

The Panthers’ quest for their first win of the season continues next week as they will take a crack at Mountain View Prep (who was off this week) on the road at North Greenville University.

Broome 40 Blacksburg 7

The Centurions, with the confidence of their nice win on the road at Powdersville next week, made it back to back offensive explosions in a victory over the Wildcats. Broome put up 344 yards of total offense in a fairly balanced attack. Quarterback Jameson Dearybury went 11 for 14 passing with 182 yards, 3 touchdowns, and an interception. Brayden Simpson was the leading receiver with 3 catches for 108 yards and a TD. Reece Waugerman added 4 catches for 32 yards and a score while Asher Littlejohn had 2 catches for 21 yards and a touchdown. In the ground game, Ty’Qwon Booker tallied 140 yards on 25 rushing attempts with 3 TDs.

Broome returns home next week to take on the Woodruff Wolverines.

Wren 35 Woodruff 7

Woodruff has been having a lot of success this season using their experience in the backfield with Aidan Gibson to open up the offense for their junior quarterback Connor Davis. Gibson was still able to do his thing with 14 carries for 115 yards. But for what feels like the first time in his career, he did not have at least a touchdown. Woodruff’s lone score in the game came through the air to a name that has not been called much – Skylar Barker, who hauled in 2 passes for 28 yards to be the team’s 2nd leading receiver. Curtis Bell was the top pass catcher, with 4 snags for just 38 yards. All of that was part of what was a tough night for Davis, who finished 1 for 25 with 87 yards. Wren’s defense held the Wolverines to just 228 yards of total offense and an average of only 4 yards per play. Woodruff was 3 for 13 on third down with just 10 first downs.

Basically, tip the cap to the Hurricanes for shutting Woodruff down. Now the Wolverines will look to rebound on the road next week as they take on Broome.

Elsewhere, in a 2A-3A battle, Clinton defeated Union in a 60-0 shutout.

In 2A, Chesnee was off this week while Landrum fell to 4A foe Blue Ridge 63-28 after being tied 28 all at the half. Chesnee starts their region slate next week on the road at Blacksburg while Landrum will be on a bye.