High school football Week 1 picks, previews and top games

A look at this week’s top games in the Midlands and picking the winners:

A.C. Flora (0-1) at Lexington (1-0)

Players to Watch: ACF: QB Josh Heatly, WR Raborn Dismuke; L: RB Jordan Hiller, LB David Cromer

Notes: Lexington won, 20-17, last year on last second field goal. … The Falcons had 465 yards of offense last week in a 53-45 loss to Woodruff. … Both Lexington and A.C. Flora rushed for more than 300 yards in their opener.

Pick: Lexington

Airport (0-0) at Brookland-Cayce (1-0)

Players to Watch: A: P/K Paxton Brooks, OL Collyn Richardson; B-C: QB Reed Charpia, RB Rasheed Taylor

Notes: Series dates to 1966. … Brookland-Cayce has won four of past seven, including 47-43 last season. … The Bearcats held Lake Marion to 142 yards of offense last week. Game is season opener for Airport. … Airport’s Paxton Brooks is a Tennessee commit.

Pick: Brookland-Cayce

Batesburg-Leesville (1-0) at Gilbert (1-0)

Players to Watch: BL: QB Bishop Cannon, RB Tay Wilson; G: QB Josh Strickland, RB DeAndre Cook

Notes: Gilbert defeated Batesburg-Leesville last season, 32-24, for just the fourth win in 31 games against the Panthers. … B-L defense came up with five turnovers last week against Ridge Spring-Monetta.

Pick: Gilbert

Mid-Carolina (0-0) at Chapin (1-0)

Players to Watch: MC: Cade Ruff; C: QB Roger Perdoni, OL Hank Manos

Notes: Battle for the Bell game. Winner gets a bell, which used to be used at a train stop that used to connect the towns of Chapin and Prosperity. … Chapin has won five of past six, including last year’s thriller, 35-32. … Seven members of this year’s Chapin Hall of Fame class will be honored at halftime.

Pick: Chapin

Ridge View (0-1) at Blythewood (1-0)

Players to Watch: RV: DL Damion Daley, LB Terry Carson; B: QB Quinton Patten

Notes: Ridge View snapped a 12-game losing streak to Blythewood with a 23-21 win last year on Nick Lawyer’s field goal as time expired. ... Ridge View has never won two consecutive games against Blythewood. … Blythewood was 4-of-4 on fourth down conversions last week against Rock Hill. … Blythewood QB Quinton Patten had five TDs last week.

Pick: Ridge View

South Aiken (1-0) at White Knoll (1-0)

Players to Watch: SA: RB Chris Roberts, QB Cody Boynton; WK: RB Albert Hope, Timothy Jamison

Notes: White Knoll has won four of past seven in series but lost last year, 28-14. … White Knoll held Aiken to minus-8 yards rushing last week. … SA’s Chris Roberts rushed for 161 yards and three TDs against Silver Bluff last week.

Pick: South Aiken

This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 9:18 PM with the headline "High school football Week 1 picks, previews and top games."