Week 9 picks and previews of top games

Looking at this week’s top high school football games in the Midlands and picking winners:

Chapin (5-3) at Orangeburg-Wilkinson (3-5)

Internet: www.spreaker.com/user/9145869

Players to watch: C: OL Hank Manos, WR Xzavion Gordon; O-W: RB Theo Johnson, Nicholas Lawson

Notes: Chapin is tied with Dreher for first place in Region 5-4A, but O-W and Lower Richland are just a half-game behind … Chapin beat O-W last season. … Final region game of season for Chapin, which closes regular season next week against Airport. … Chapin has given up 35 or more points in two of its three losses.

Pick: Chapin

Fairfield Central (5-3) at Chester (8-1)

Players to watch: FC: LB Dorian Glenn, LB/S Theron Byrd; C: QB John Erby, WR/DB Quay Hardin

Notes: Winner of game wins Region 4-3A championship. … Fairfield won last year’s matchup, 28-21. … FC defense has 23 sacks this season. … Chester QB John Erby has 31 total touchdowns this season.

Pick: Fairfield Central

Spring Valley (8-0) at Dutch Fork (6-1)

Players to watch: SV: LB Channing Tindall, QB Quincy Hill; DF: RB/DB Bryce Thompson, LB Alex Smith

Notes: Winner of game wins Region 5-5A championship and home-field advantage in lower state playoffs. … Spring Valley hasn’t defeated Dutch Fork since 2006. … Both teams are averaging more than 40 points a game and more than 400 yards of offense.

Pick: Dutch Fork

Swansea (3-5) at Brookland-Cayce (5-3)

Players to watch: S: QB Kendall Coats, WR Mikey Jones; B-C: RB Rasheed Taylor, WR/DB Dominick Perry

Notes: If Swansea wins game, it clinches second place in Region 5-3A. B-C needs a win against Swansea and win next week against Strom Thurmond or a win against Swansea and ST loss to Pelion on Friday to clinch second. … B-C’s Rasheed Taylor needs 71 yards rushing for 1,000 on the season. … A win gives Swansea its most wins since winning seven in 2014.

Pick: Brookland-Cayce

Westwood (4-4) at Ridge View (5-3)

(At Spirit Communications Park)

Players to watch: W: LB Brice Harkness, WR Montre Miller; RV: DL Damion Daley, WR Bernard Porter

Notes: Westwood leads series 3-2, but Ridge View won last season, 27-14. … Westwood, Ridge View and Lancaster are in a three-way tie for third place in Region 3-4A with two games left. Westwood plays Richland Northeast next week and RV faces Lancaster. … Second consecutive year RV has played a game at Spirit Communications Park.

Pick: Ridge View

This story was originally published October 19, 2017 at 12:04 PM.