Midlands HS football: Best Week 8 games, schedule, predictions, new power rankings
After two weeks of having games postponed or canceled because of Hurricane Helene, there will be a full schedule of matchups around the state and the Midlands.
Here is a look at some of the top games, area schedule and this week’s power rankings.
Lexington (4-2, 0-1) at Chapin (4-2, 0-1)
Players to watch — L: RB/LB Matt McAulay, QB Brennan Carter; C: QB Brady Albro, WR Khalen Bostick
Notes: Lexington holds all-time series lead, 8-4, and has won five of the last six in the series. Both teams lost their Region 4-5A openers last week. Chapin QB Brady Albro has thrown for 1,608 yards and 17 touchdowns. Khalen Bostick leads the team with 35 catches for 619 yards and nine touchdowns. Chapin has given up 50 points or more during its two-game losing streak. Gavin Stam leads Chapin with 61 tackles, 10 for loss.
Prediction: Chapin
Richland Northeast (6-1, 2-1) at AC Flora (5-2, 2-1)
Players to watch — RNE: WR Blake Betette, WR Dillon Hughey; ACF: QB Roper Wentzky, WR Kendall Byrd
Notes: Teams are tied for second place in the Region 3-4A. RNE is a win away from its second-straight seven-win season, which hasn’t happened since 2010-11. RNE snapped a five-game losing streak to AC Flora last year with a 73-58 victory. RNE QB Will Wilson, who was selected to Shrine Bowl on Sunday, is out for the game with a knee injury and could be back in two weeks. AC Flora QB Roper Wentzky has thrown for 1,281 yards and 14 TDs. AC Flora tailback BJ Mack has three 100-yard rushing games including last week’s 143-yard and two touchdown performance against York. Hugh Manning leads AC Flora with 15 tackles for loss.
Prediction: AC Flora
River Bluff (6-0, 1-0) at Irmo (6-0, 1-0)
Players to watch — RB: OL Pac Pitts; RB Hayden Myers; I: QB AJ Brand, WR Donovan Murph
Notes: Matchup of two of the seven remaining unbeaten teams in the area. Both teams won their region opener last week with River Bluff defeating White Knoll in OT. Irmo leads the all-time series, 4-3, including last year’s 42-0 victory. Irmo QB and Virginia Tech commit AJ Brand was selected to the NC-SC Shrine Bowl. Brand went over 9,000 total yards in his career last week and has 9,134 and accounted for 117 TDs. Jamar Grissett had two interceptions last week against Lexington. Donovan Murph leads Irmo with 50 catches for 675 yards and four TDs. Caleb Pinkney leads RB with four interceptions. River Bluff is averaging 394 yards per game on offense. Hayden Myers leads the Gators with 697 yards rushing and five TDs.
Prediction: Irmo
West Florence (4-2, 1-1) at Blythewood (6-1, 2-1)
Players to watch — WF: LB Lavern Evans RB/WR Terry Lowery, B: DL Sterling Sanders, WR Carter Coleman
Notes: First meeting between the two schools. Blythewood leads WF by a half-game in Region 5-5A standings. Blythewood QB Johnny Collins has thrown for 1,700 yards and 21 touchdowns. Carter Coleman leads the team with 35 catches for 656 yards and 11 total touchdowns. LB/DE Kemuel Little leads the Bengals with 11 sacks. West Florence’s Terry Lowery has 869 all-purpose yards and nine touchdowns. Kicker Sarah Cashin is the first female player in West Florence history and is 17-of-19 on extra points this season. Romello Patterson leads the Knights with eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
Prediction: Blythewood
White Knoll (4-2, 0-1) at Dutch Fork (5-0, 1-0)
Players to watch — WK: QB Landon Sharpe, WR/DB Devin Geronomi; DF: LB Josh Smith, DB Elgin Sessions
Notes: Rematch of last year’s Class 5A state championship game won by Dutch Fork. 21-6. White Knoll defeated the Silver Foxes in the regular season, 17-14. That was just WK’s third win in 23 games against the Silver Foxes. Dutch Fork’s defense has 18 sacks and has allowed just 17 points this season. Game features three Shrine Bowl selections - WK’s Devin Geronomi (WK) and Dutch Fork’s Josh Smith and Elgin Sessions. WK QB Landon Sharpe has 1,369 total yards and 15 TDs.
Prediction: Dutch Fork
Game schedule, predictions
(Winner picks in bold face caps)
Thursday
BEN LIPPEN 10, Heathwood Hall 6
SALUDA 53, Pelion 0
Friday
Airport at GRAY COLLEGIATE
Augusta Christian at HAMMOND
CARDINAL NEWMAN at Laurence Manning
Chester at FAIRFIELD CENTRAL
Dreher at LANCASTER
Fox Creek at NEWBERRY
Harvest Christian at PROVIDENCE ATHLETIC CLUB (Bray Park)
Lugoff-Elgin at RIDGE VIEW
McBee at CA JOHNSON
MID-CAROLINA at Eau Claire
Midland Valley at GILBERT
Ninety-Six at BATESBURG-LEESVILLE
NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN at Orangeburg Prep
Silver Bluff at KEENAN
Spring Valley at WESTWOOD
STROM THURMOND at American Leadership
WARDLAW ACADEMY at Newberry Academy
Wilson at LOWER RICHLAND
WW King at RICHARD WINN
Monday
Aiken at BROOKLAND-CAYCE
Last Week: 12-4
This Season: 150-33
Midlands Power Rankings
Here are the area’s power rankings by The State staff. A look at the top 10 teams in the area and those just on the outside.
1. Dutch Fork (5-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 1
- Last Week: Defeated Chapin, 63-10
- This Week: vs. White Knoll
2. Irmo (6-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 2
- Last Week: Defeated Lexington, 34-8
- This Week: vs. River Bluff
3. River Bluff (6-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 6
- Last Week: Defeated White Knoll, 24-21 (OT)
- This Week: at Irmo
4. Hammond (6-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 5
- Last Week: Defeated Laurence Manning, 65-14
- This Week: vs. Augusta Christian
5. Saluda (4-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 7
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at Pelion
6. Batesburg Leesville (5-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 10
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: vs. Ninety-Six
7. White Knoll (4-2)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 3
- Last Week: Lost to River Bluff, 24-21 (OT)
- This Week: at Dutch Fork
8. Richland Northeast (6-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 4
- Last Week: Lost to Dreher, 35-34 (OT)
- This Week: at AC Flora
9. Swansea (6-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: NR
- Last Week: Defeated Keenan, 44-38
- This Week: Off
10. Blythewood (6-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: NR
- Last Week: Defeated Lugoff-Elgin, 37-24
- This Week: vs. West Florence
Dropped out: Chapin, Lexington
Others considered: Chapin, Lexington, Fairfield Central, Gray Collegiate AC Flora
This story was originally published October 10, 2024 at 7:00 AM.
