Midlands high school football Week 0 picks, previews, top games

A look at this week’s top six matchups in the Midlands and picks for each game.

Chapin at River Bluff

Internet: chapinfootballnet.ipage.com

Players to Watch: C: OL Hank Manos, WR Xzavion Gordon; RB: LB Noah Johnson, RB, Antonio Gantt

Notes: Second meeting. River Bluff won an emotional 24-17 victory in the first game after lineman Lewis Simpkins’ death. … Game is debut for River Bluff coach Blair Hardin, who coached at North Myrtle Beach last year. … Chapin WR Xzavion Gordon had 62 catches for 1,147 yards and 14 TDs last year.

Pick: Chapin

Dutch Fork at Independence (NC)

Players to Watch: DF: WR/DB Bryce Thompson, RB Ron Hoff; I: LB Tylon Lawson, RB Elijah Beamer

Notes: Dutch Fork won last year, 45-0, on its way to a 15-0 season and Class 5A state championship. The Silver Foxes are ranked No. 1 in SC Prep Football Media Poll for 5A. … Game is a homecoming for Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts and assistant coach Jason Barnes. Knotts led Independence to six state titles, while Barnes was a receiver at Independence before playing at South Carolina. … Game is debut for Independence coach Mike Natoli.

Pick: Dutch Fork

Lugoff-Elgin at Camden

Radio: 102.7 FM

Players to Watch: OL Wyatt Campbell, DE Ahmad Bryant; C: RB Jericho Murphy, CB Ryland Ayers

Notes: Camden has won five straight against its rival, including last year, 49-27. … Camden leads all-time series, 30-7. … Eleventh time that two rivals have opened season against each other. … Game is debut for new Camden coach Brian Rimpf. … Lugoff-Elgin defensive end Ahmad Bryant had 122 tackles last year.

Pick: Lugoff-Elgin

Sumter at Ridge View

TV: WACH Fox 57.2/1250 (Time Warner Cable)

Players to Watch: S: QB Zykiem Jackson, LB Cooper Mota. RV: WR Bernard Porter, DL Damion Daley

Notes: Sumter leads series 4-2, but Ridge View won last season, 22-15. … Ridge View head coach Perry Parks is a Sumter grad and two-year letter winner for the Gamecocks. Parks had 47 catches for 525 yards and six TDs during his senior year at Sumter. … Ridge View linebacker Terry Carson had 117 tackles last season.

Pick: Sumter

University Christian (Fla.) at Ben Lippen

Players to Watch: UC QB Clay Boyd, OL Oake Stripe; BL: QB Trad Beatty, RB/LB Kyle Wright

Notes: First meeting. … University Christian has won two straight Florida Class 2A championships and nine in its school history. … Ben Lippen won its first SCISA 3A title last year. … University assistant coach Heath Nivens is a Dutch Fork grad who played at South Carolina under coach Lou Holtz. He also was head coach at Ben Lippen from 2003-07.

Pick: Ben Lippen

Nation Ford at Irmo

Players to Watch: I: DE Trajan Jeffcoat, WR Kendrell Flowers; NF: WR/DB Ben Tuipulotu, DB Malik Barber

Notes: Second meeting. Nation Ford won last season, 28-27. … Irmo coming off three straight losing seasons. The Yellow Jackets were 6-6 in 2013 and 7-6 in 2012. … Nation Ford’s Ben Tuipulotu is a BYU commit.

Pick: Nation Ford

This story was originally published August 17, 2017 at 2:19 PM.