These players, teams shined brightest in Week 1 of Midlands high school football
Some of the key things that stood out during Week 1 from games involving Midlands high school football teams:
Spring Valley’s bounceback
Spring Valley had a disappointing start to its 2020 season and never got on track in missing out on the playoffs.
But after an impressive 33-10 win over River Bluff on Friday, the Vikings seem back on track. Spring Valley is 2-0 after going 3-4 last season, including a 1-4 start.
Quarterback DQ Smith has accounted for five touchdowns over the first two weeks, and the Vikings got a big night Friday from Evan Javis and Kenneth Jefferson.
But the Vikings’ defense also has shined in the first two weeks. Spring Valley shut out White Knoll in the season opener and held River Bluff’s strong running attack to just 180 total yards and 3.2 yards a play.
More 2-0 starts
Spring Valley isn’t the only team with 2-0 starts. Blythewood, Richland Northeast and Lower Richland also are unbeaten through their first two games.
Blythewood had just 48 hours to prepare for Goose Creek and defeated the Gators 22-7. RNE opened its new on-campus stadium with a 25-9 win over Andrew Jackson — the Cavs haven’t started the season 2-0 since 2012.
Lower Richland went 2-6 in Marlin Taylor’s first season but has already equaled that win total with victories over Aiken and White Knoll.
Former Gilbert trainer honored
Former Gilbert athletic trainer T.J. Marsh received one of the state’s highest honors Friday when he was awarded the Order of the Palmetto during halftime of Gilbert’s game against Aiken.
The Order of the Palmetto is the state of South Carolina’s highest civilian honor, given in recognition of a lifetime of extraordinary achievement, service and contributions on a national or statewide scale.
Marsh, who is now at River Bluff High School, helped save the life of Byrnes High School baseball player Grayson Selepes in March of 2020 during Gilbert’s Sandlapper Classic.
Selepes collided with teammate Easton Cullison when the two were going for a ball in the outfield. Selepes was unresponsive.
After trying CPR, Marsh used an automated external defibrillator to shock Selepes’ heart back into rhythm before paramedics arrived and took him to the hospital.
Midlands Week 1 Game Balls
A look at some of the area high school student-athletes who shined in Friday night’s games:
▪ AC Flora defense: Held Sumter to 125 yards in 13-0 win.
▪ Cauthen Best, QB, Camden: In a 50-0 win over Lugoff-Elgin, he was 15 of 20 for 327 yards passing, rushed for 47 yards with four total touchdowns.
▪ Desmond Boatwright, RB, Blythewood: Had second straight 100-yard game and rushed for 137 yards, 2 TDs against Goose Creek.
▪ Devin Johnson, WR/DB, Gray Collegiate: Scored two touchdowns, including a 90-yard kickoff return that changed the momentum in Gray’s 33-22 win over Oceanside Collegiate.
▪ Hammond’s first quarter: The Skyhawks scored 44 points in the opening 12 minutes on their way to a 58-7 win over Ben Lippen.
▪ Evan Javis, RB/DB, Spring Valley: Rushed for 134 yards and had a key interception on defense in win over River Bluff.
▪ Robert Adams, QB, Lower Richland: Played hours after attending father’s funeral and threw for 119 yards and TD and ran for 29 yards.
The State’s Midlands Top 10 Power Rankings
A look at The State’s team rankings after Week 1:
1. Dutch Fork (1-0)
Previous Ranking: 1
This Week: Off
Next Game: at Byrnes
3. Ridge View (2-0)
Previous Ranking: 2
This Week: Defeated North Augusta 29-14
Next Game: vs. Sumter
3. A.C. Flora (1-0)
Previous Ranking: 3
This Week: Defeated Sumter 13-0
Next Game: vs Lower Richland (Sept. 10)
4. Irmo (0-0)
Previous Ranking: 4
This Week: vs. Dutch Fork (canceled)
Next Game: vs. South Florence
5. Chapin (1-0)
Previous Ranking: 6
This Week: Defeated Mid-Carolina 45-26
Next Game: at Newberry
6. Gray Collegiate (2-0)
Previous Ranking: 7
This Week: Defeated Oceanside Collegiate 33-22
Next Game: at Legion Collegiate (Thursday)
7. Spring Valley (2-0)
Previous Ranking: 9
This Week: Defeated River Bluff 33-10
Next Game: Carver Columbus (Georgia) at Atlanta, 5 p.m. (Saturday)
8. Brookland-Cayce (0-0)
Previous Ranking: 8
This Week: vs. Airport (canceled)
Next Game: at Blythewood
9. Saluda (2-0)
Previous Ranking: 10
This Week: Defeated Ridge Spring Monetta 43-6
Next Game: vs. Ninety Six
10. Gilbert (1-0)
Previous Ranking: NR
This Week: Defeated Aiken 55-29
Next Game: vs. Lexington (Saturday)
Dropped out: River Bluff
Keep an eye on: Hammond, Richland Northeast, Lower Richland, Blythewood, River Bluff, Camden
Next week’s 5 games to watch
▪ Brookland-Cayce at Blythewood: Blythewood goes for 3-0 start against the Bearcats, who will be making their season debut.
▪ Dutch Fork at Byrnes: Silver Foxes travel to the Upstate in the first game since Jack Alkhatib’s death.
▪ Lexington at Gilbert: Early Saturday morning kickoff for Lexington County rivals.
▪ Spring Valley vs. Carver Columbus: Spring Valley travels to Cam Newton Classic in Georgia to face a talented Carver squad.
▪ Sumter at Ridge View: Blazers playing third straight home game and going for a 3-0 start.
This story was originally published August 28, 2021 at 10:32 AM.
