Midlands high school football: Best Week 1 games, schedule, predictions
The first full week of the 2025 regular season is here for South Carolina school football. Below is a look at this week’s top games in the Midlands and predictions for winners in Week 1:
Camden at White Knoll (Thursday)
Players to Watch – C: WR Tylin Drakeford, DE, Dontrell Wilson; WK: RB Tiyon Fanning, WR Caleb Geronomi
Notes: Second meeting between the two teams. White Knoll won last season, 21-14. Camden is ranked No. 8 in the Class 4A SC Media Poll. Camden’s Tylin Drakeford was voted as The State Newspaper’s Offensive Player of the Year. Drakeford had 1,380 all-purpose yards and accounted for 15 touchdowns on offense. On defense, he had 54 tackles, four passes defended and an interception. White Knoll has won 28 games over the last three seasons, most in a three-year stretch in school history. Jhais McKiever will make his debut as White Knoll quarterback, replacing all-state QB Landon Sharpe. WK has its own two-way standout in Caleb Geronomi, who had 63 catches for 975 yards and four touchdowns last season. On defense, he had 32 tackles and one interception.
Prediction: White Knoll
Lexington at Gilbert (Thursday)
Players to Watch – L: DL Isaiah Saxon, RB Shannon Lytes; G: S Wynn Meetze, LB Demarion Brown
Notes: Game is debut for Lexington coach Stewart Young, who comes over to the Wildcats after being the head coach at Saluda for the last 11 years. Lexington leads the series, 5-2, including a 24-0 win last season. The Wildcats are coming off a 5-6 season, its first losing season since 2020. Gilbert safety Wynn Meetze, The State’s Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, had 126 tackles, two forced fumbles and a sack last season. Meetze is part of an experienced Gilbert defense but the Indians’ inexperienced in several areas.
Prediction: Lexington
Westwood at AC Flora (Thursday)
Players to Watch – W: WR/DB Jayden Boyd, DT Darryl Jones; ACF: QB Roper Wentzky, WR Kendall Byrd
Notes: Game will be at Memorial Stadium and moved to Thursday night because of a scheduling conflict. AC Flora leads the series, 6-1, including a 42-6 win last season. It is the debut for Westwood coach Stephen Burris, who takes over after two nine-win seasons at Lamar. Westwood is coming off a 6-6 season and made it to the second round of the playoffs. With a majority of its roster back, expectations are high for AC Flora, which is ranked No. 7 in the Class 4A SC High School Football Media Poll. The Falcons return 17 starters and have a couple big additions in Richland Northeast WR transfer Blake Betette and Lower Richland all-state offensive lineman Brennan Williams. Betette had more than 1,000 yards receiving last season and teams up with Kendall Byrd, who also had 1,000 yards for AC Flora as two big targets for QB Roper Wentzky. Flora also gets WR Joshua Davis back after missing most of the season with a knee injury.
Prediction: AC Flora
Irmo at Oceanside Collegiate
Players to Watch – I: WR Maleek Miller, DE Jaiden Bryant; OC: QB Aiden Manavian, ATH Terrence Johnson
Notes: Game will be played at The Citadel. Matchup of two teams who played for state championships last season. Irmo lost to Northwestern, 34-31, on the final play in the Class 5A Division II championship. Oceanside defeated Belton-Honea Path, 35-17, to win the Class 3A championship. Irmo is ranked No. 5 in Class 5A SC Prep Media poll, while OC is No. 1 in 3A. Second meeting between the two teams with Irmo winning 35-7 last season. Irmo has back-to-back 10-plus win seasons for the first time since 2010-11. Maleek Miller had 1,758 all-purpose yards with 13 touchdowns last season. First game for new OC head coach Brent LaPrad, who was the team’s defensive coordinator last season. Landsharks QB Aiden Manavian threw for 3,469 yards and 19 TDs last year.
Prediction: Irmo
James Island at Gray Collegiate
Players to Watch – JI: QB Connor Dantzler, DB Jaysavion Brown; GC: RB Trevon Williamson, LB Michael Boulware
Notes: Second meeting between the two schools. Gray won, 17-14, last year but had to forfeit the game and rest of its wins after the use of an ineligible player. After a rough end to last season, the War Eagles should be a contender in Class 4A. Gray Collegiate is ranked No. 10 in Class 4A SC Prep Media preseason poll. Gray LB Michael Boulware had 133 tackles last season. James Island has won 10 or more games in three straight seasons.
Prediction: Gray Collegiate
Game schedule, predictions
(Winner picks in bold face, all caps. Games start at 7:30 p.m. unless noted)
Thursday
Camden at WHITE KNOLL, 7 p.m.
HANNAH-PAMPLICO at Heathwood Hall, 7 p.m.
LEXINGTON at Gilbert, 7 p.m.
MAY RIVER at Airport
Mid-Carolina at SWANSEA, 7 p.m.
Westwood at AC FLORA
Williston-Elko at PELION, 7 p.m.
Friday
AMERICAN LEADERSHIP at Thornwell Charter
Blythewood at NATION FORD
CALHOUN ACADEMY at Northside Christian
Cardinal Newman at ST. JOSEPH’S
Cary Christian (NC) at RICHARD WINN
CATAWBA RIDGE at Chapin
Clear Dot Charter at BAPTIST HILL
COLUMBIA at CA Johnson
Fairfield Central at RIDGE VIEW
HAMMOND at Christ Church
IRMO at Oceanside Collegiate
James Island at GRAY COLLEGIATE
Keenan at DREHER
LOWER RICHLAND at Lugoff-Elgin
NEWBERRY at Union County
NORTH CENTRAL at Great Falls
RICHLAND NORTHEAST at Spring Valley
RIDGELAND at Eau Claire
RIVER BLUFF at Rock Hill
Crescent at SALUDA
WARDLAW at WW King
This story was originally published August 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM.
