Vikings Host Region Opener

The Spartanburg Vikings wrapped up non-region play with a 39-34 victory over Charlotte-Latin last week on the road. Sr RB Trenton Lynch put in another fantastic day and moved past Mike Wannamaker and Stephen Davis into 2nd all-time in rushing yards. Now Lynch sits just 172 yards behind Carnie Norris as he and the rest of the 2-3 Vikings open up region play vs 4-1 Rock Hill at home this Friday.

Spartanburg offense vs Rock Hill defense

The Spartanburg offense woke up last week behind a 263 yard performance from Lynch. QBs Aryan Desai and Chris Colin both threw for over 100 yards as they combined to go 18-24 for 255 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was over 500 total yards and 39 points, which were both season highs, on the day for the Vikings. Now they face another brutally tough defensive front.

Rock Hill has allowed just 11.8 points per game and is led by Sr LB Kaleb Wright with 79 tackles and 11 TFL. They typically rush four with three down linemen and one standup edge who is Jr Jay’Sean Culp. Culp leads the Bearcats with 25 tackles for loss and 7 sacks just halfway through the season. As a team Rock Hill boasts 18 sacks on the year. The Bearcats also have a strong secondary with Sr DB Kaiden Watkins being selected to the Shrine Bowl this week.

This is a ferocious front for Spartanburg to handle as the Viking OL held up well last week, but, this is quite a jump in talent. The good news for Spartanburg is a lot like some previous defenses they have faced, if Trenton Lynch can get by the first wave of defenders there is a lot of room to run. Rock Hill only utilizes two linebackers in the box and even runs some 3-2 boxes. Spartanburg is going to need to put a hat on a hat in this situations and let Lynch get a head of steam to go one-on-one with a defensive back.

This is the best on best matchup for this game and where ultimately I think it will be decided. You can make an argument that, outside of Dutch Fork, this is the most talented defense SHS has played this year. Spartanburg will need to continue their improvements week to week both up front on the OL and through the air. Whether it is Chris Collin or Aryan Desai back there this week.

Spartanburg defense vs Rock Hill offense

This is where this matchup tilts in Spartanburg’s favor I think. Rock Hill has a messy situation at QB and an offense that has had some struggles as of late. Last week, against Ridge View, the Bearcats could only muster 10 points and 234 total yards. They’ve played three different QBs, with one of them being injured and the other two being the aforementioned Watkins and Sr Jalen Culp, the brother of Jay’Sean.

Spartanburg last week went up big and then the defense was on the field a lot due to turnovers and onside kicks. Charlotte-Latin was able to move the ball with Douglas and Logan, but the game was really never in doubt. Sr DB Logan Lawson really stepped up for the Vikings as he posted a career high 12 tackles. The big boys up front ate too, with Sr DL Tryon Duncan getting his first career interception off of a batted pass.

Now Rock Hill certainly isn’t a pushover, they have one of the best WRs SHS will face all year in Myles Brooks, a James Madison commit. Brooks has 343 receiving yards and 3 scores on the year. Watkins is their leading rusher with 185 yards but their primary ball carrier is Sr Zymeir Gordon-Miles who has 169 yards on 24 carries.

It’ll be up to Isiah Lipscomb who had another double-digit tackle performance, to bring his season total to a team high 58, a week ago to keep Rock Hill’s talented but disjointed offense in check. I think that this is a chance for Spartanburg to really control a game on the defensive end. Rock Hill goes with a lot of 3 and 4 WR sets which, should create some advantages for the SHS defensive front.

Overall

It’s a beautiful week to break a record isn’t it? Under the lights at home in a region game vs a tough opponent and I don’t think the Vikings would have it any other way. I feel really good about Spartanburg’s matchup defensively, and it’s just going to be about how much the Vikings can take advantage of opportunities vs a strong defense. There won’t be many of them but, with a team that has guys playing both ways there’s bound to be some. Discipline will also once again key, as both these teams are very penalty happy.

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