Updated high school football schedule, Week 6’s top games and this week’s predictions
With inclement weather in the forecast for Thursday night and Friday morning, the football schedule has switched for many Midlands teams this week.
Here is a look at this week’s top high school football games in the Midlands, picks for the sixth week of the 2024 regular season and this week’s area power rankings.
Fort Dorchester (3-1) at White Knoll (3-1)
Players to watch — FD: OL Marquis Wilson, RB Ryan Campbell, WK: QB Landon Sharpe, DB WR/DB Devin Geronomi
Notes: Game moved to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Rematch of last year’s second-round playoff game won by White Knoll, 50-7. Junior Ryan Campbell leads FD with 505 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Connor Burgess leads White Knoll with 48 tackles. WK quarterback Landon Sharpe has thrown for 543 yards, rushed for 249 with 10 total touchdowns. Devin Geronomi leads WK with three interceptions.
Prediction: White Knoll
Gray Collegiate (2-2, 1-0) at North Augusta (4-1, 2-0)
Players to watch — NA: OL Malcom Gaston, RB Michael Doe; GC: RB BJ Montgomery, LB Michael Boulware
Notes: First meeting between the two teams. NA’s lone loss was 20-19 to Lexington on Aug. 30. Gray running back BJ Montgomery had a season-high 154 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Midland Valley. NA quarterback Cory Tillman had 239 yards of offense and two scores last week against Gilbert.
Prediction: North Augusta
Hammond (5-0) at Northwood (6-0)
Players to watch — H: QB Andrew Turner, LB Jackson Ross; NA: QB Austyn Grady, WR Ayden Hogan
Notes: First meeting between the two programs. Matchup of the last two unbeatens in SCISA 4A. Northwood is in its first season in SCISA 4A and was a 2A school back in 2021. Hammond is averaging 46.8 points a game while Northwood is giving up just 9.8 points a game. Hammond QB Andrew Turner is completing 73 percent of his passes for 1,232 yards and 18 touchdowns. Brewer Lamotte leads Hammond with four interceptions.
Prediction: Hammond
Saluda (4-0) at Newberry (2-3)
Players to watch — S: QB Brayden Williams, DT JT Lott; N: LB Jared Acosta, WR Calab Levy
Notes: Newberry leads all-time series, 24-15. Saluda took over the No. 1 spot in Class 2A statewide media poll this week. Saluda QB Brayden Williams has 661 yards of total offense and nine total touchdowns. Saluda’s defense has 19 sacks in four games this season. Newberry has lost three straight after a 2-0 start.
Prediction: Saluda
Swansea (4-1) at Columbia (4-1)
Players to watch — S: RB Tysean Charley, LB DJ Green; C: RB/DB Malachi Butler, LB Rondrecus Peterson
Notes: Game moved to 11 a.m. on Saturday. First meeting since 2005. Swansea leads the all-time series, 7-3. Two of the biggest surprises in the area this season. Swansea is off to its best start since 2012. Columbia has won four games for the first time since 2018 and off to its best start since 2008. DJ Green leads Swansea with 54 tackles.
Prediction: Swansea
Westwood (3-2, 1-0) at Ridge View (1-3, 0-0)
Players to watch — W: RB Angelo Rios, LB Jayce Rios; RV: WR Khristian Jackson, DL Cleve Tellery
Notes: Game moved to noon Saturday. Ridge View leads all-time series, 9-3, and has won eight in a row against the Redhawks. Region opener for Ridge View, which has lost three straight since season-opening win over Fairfield Central. Westwood’s defense has two shutouts this season, first time that has happened since 2014. Redhawks defeated Blythewood last week for their first region-opening win since 2017.
Prediction: Ridge View
Other games schedule, predictions
(Winner picks in bold face caps)
——Wednesday——
BROOKLAND-CAYCE at Midland Valley
KEENAN at Chester
LEXINGTON at Laurens
Lower Richland at CRESTWOOD
Lugoff-Elgin at SUMTER
Mid-Carolina at BATESBURG-LEESVILLE
Spring Valley at BLYTHEWOOD
——Friday——
CARDINAL NEWMAN at Augusta Christian
GILBERT at Aiken
Heathwood Hall at PORTER-GAUD
Laurence Manning at BEN LIPPEN
Newberry Academy at LAURENS ACADEMY
PROVIDENCE ATHLETIC CLUB at Cambridge Academy
Trinity Collegiate at NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN
WARDLAW at WW King
——Saturday——
CAMDEN at Dreher
FAIRFIELD CENTRAL at Andrew Jackson
Pelion at EAU CLAIRE
Lancaster at RICHLAND NORTHEAST
York at AC FLORA
NORTH CENTRAL at Buford
Airport at SOUTH AIKEN
——Monday——
Oakbrook Prep at RICHARD WINN
Last Week: 29-5
This Season: 125-25
Midlands Power Rankings
Here are the area’s power rankings by The State’s staff. A look at the top 10 teams in the area and those just on the outside.
1. Dutch Fork (4-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 1
- Last Week: Oceanside Collegiate, 51-0
- This Week: Off
2. Irmo (5-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 2
- Last Week: Defeated Myrtle Beach, 38-12
- This Week: Off
3. White Knoll (3-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 3
- Last Week: Defeated Cane Bay, 49-13
- This Week: vs. Fort Dorchester (Wednesday)
4. Richland Northeast (5-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 8
- Last Week: Defeated Camden, 26-15
- This Week: vs. Lancaster (Saturday)
5. Hammond (5-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 5
- Last Week: Defeated Hilton Head Christian, 55-21
- This Week: at Northwood
6. River Bluff (5-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 9
- Last Week: Defeated Cheraw, 44-0
- This Week: Off
7. Saluda (4-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: NR
- Last Week: Defeated Southside Christian, 19-14
- This Week: at Newberry
8. Chapin (4-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 6
- Last Week: Lost to Summerville, 53-32
- This Week: Off
9. Lexington (3-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 10
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at Laurens (Wednesday)
10. Batesburg Leesville (4-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: NR
- Last Week: Defeated Calhoun County, 60-0
- This Week: vs. Mid-Carolina (Wednesday)
Dropped out: Camden, Blythewood
Others considered: Camden, Fairfield Central, Gray Collegiate
This story was originally published September 25, 2024 at 8:00 AM.
