Even less weather nonsense in Week 2 but not zero. Despite the nonsense there were still some big games and big results, and as we continue to learn more and more about our area teams the season rolls on for our Week 3 preview. Let’s dive in.
Catawba Ridge @ Boiling Springs
The Boiling Springs Bulldogs finally got a full four quarters of football in last week at home against Riverside, rolling to a 34-13 win and moving to 2-0 on the season. This week the Bulldogs host Catawba Ridge for a 7:30 PM kickoff.
Boiling Springs took it to Riverside in all facets. Through the air, QB Imri Logan went 3-6 for 105 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, RB RJ Byrd paced with 5 carries for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns with two other ball carriers rushing for over 20 yards in the game. WR Jaydn Jones caught two passes, with one coming on a 70 yard touchdown. DE Will Gibeck led the defense with 14 tackles and 3 tackles for a loss, DT Dennis Glenn led with two sacks, and S Jamarcus Means had an interception on the defensive side of the ball. Even kick returner Kjay Leak housed one from 90 yards.
Catawba Ridge is 1-1 on the season, with a 24-6 win at home against Blythewood in Week 1 followed by a 32-17 loss at Fort Mill (a future Bulldog opponent). Junior QB Will Gambrill has completed 50% of his passes in two games for 350 yards and 4 touchdowns, but has thrown 5 interceptions. The Copperheads have also shown a struggle to establish the run with just 75 rushing yards in two games. Boiling Springs will have to be aware of where Tyler Gindoff is when the Catawba Ridge defense is on the field, as he already has 29 tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery this year.
Dutch Fork @ Spartanburg
The Spartanburg Vikings pulled off a late comeback win on the road against Greenwood last week to get its first win of the season. Led by QB Aryan Desai in his first start, he connected with WR Tre’Gan Mickler for a go-ahead touchdown with the clock under one minute to go, and the Spartanburg defense iced the game with a sack from DE Tryon Duncan, wrapping a 21-14 win after a long lightning delay. This week Spartanburg plays its annual regular season game with Dutch Fork at home after the Silver Foxes won its fourth consecutive state title in 2025.
RB Trenton Lynch was limited with injury throughout the game who carried it 10 times for 31 yards and a touchdown. Freshman RB Mason Whiteside led in rushing with 39 yards on 9 carries, also scoring once. Through the air Desai completed 9 of 18 passes for 152 yards and a touchdown and no interceptions. Mickler had another strong game, with his one touchdown behind the winning score in a night with four grabs for 60 yards total.
Dutch Fork is 1-0 this season after a Week 1 bye, the Silver Foxes had its last game called near halftime due to weather but were given the win holding a 35-13 lead over Ridge View. QB Jaxon Knotts was 10-13 for 151 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception when the game was called, and also was leading Dutch Fork in rushing at the time with 8 carries for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Blue Ridge @ Greer
The Greer Yellow Jackets rolled to a 52-0 nothing win in the revival of the Jacket Bowl last Thursday against Union County. This week Greer returns home to take on local rival Blue Ridge at 7:30 PM.
QB Xavier Sammet continues to impress as he scored two more rushing touchdowns and gained 124 yards on the ground to go with a 9-17 passing game for 107 more yards. Area-leading rusher Calvin McCoy is already up to 353 yards on the season in two games with 6 touchdowns, and the Greer defense took away 5 interceptions from the Union County offense.
Blue Ridge presents a different test this week, as the Tigers are 1-1 with a 35-21 loss at home to St. Joseph’s and a 28-6 win at home against Travelers Rest. Blue Ridge is not shy to put the ball in the air, as QB Holden Powell has completed 24 of 49 passes this season for 297 yards, 5 touchdowns, and one interception. The Tigers also bring two 100 yard rushers in 2 games, Brylon McCoy and Cooper Smith. On defense Blue Ridge has intercepted four passes this season and are led in tackling by Tajah Landrum with 22.
Lancaster @ Gaffney
The Gaffney Indians are 2-0 after easily handling JL Mann by a final score of 43-10 last Friday night. Gaffney scored 35 unanswered points between the 2nd and 3rd quarters to jump out to a huge lead.
Indian QB Corey Taylor was 13-17 for 154 yards and two touchdowns, playing all four quarters in the blowout. His favorite target was Dylan McKey, finding him four times, but connected on both touchdowns to Hank Davidson. Javion Hill picked off JL Mann for the only interception of the game, and the defense didn’t allow a touchdown until the fourth quarter.
The Lancaster Bruins are 2-0 as well with wins against Chester (49-21) on the road and York (30-23) at home, and last played Gaffney in 2011. The Indians have never lost to the Bruins in four games since 2004. Last season Lancaster was 2-9 and had a 2-4 region record with wins against Richland Northeast in overtime and Dreher, and a first round playoff loss at Seneca
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