Dutch Fork vs. Mallard Creek and the early-season must-see high school football games

Ten must-see matchups involving Midlands teams for the first month of the 2018 season of high school football:

Aug. 17 games

Blythewood at Ridge View

Rivalry matchup in opening game. Ridge View has won two in a row against Blythewood after managing just one win against the Bengals before that. Will be debut of Blythewood coach Jason Seidel.

Charlotte Country Day (NC) at Hammond

Nice opening test for defending SCISA 3A state champion Hammond.

Aug. 18

Dutch Fork vs. Mallard Creek (NC)

Teams have combined for six state championships since 2013, so making a drive up Interstate 77 to Charlotte Memorial Stadium for this matchup is definitely worth it.

Aug. 24

Camden at Lugoff-Elgin

Always a fun matchup between Kershaw County foes.

Spring Valley at Dutch Fork

Teams aren’t in same region anymore but will continue series in matchup of two teams ranked in Class 5A preseason poll.

Ridge View at Providence Day (NC)

Tough nonregion matchup for Blazers. Providence Day has two top 50 national recruits for Class of 2020 — Porter Rooks and Jacolbe Cowan.

Westwood at Blythewood

A week after making his college choice, Westwood’s Cam Smith gets to go up against Blythewood quarterback Quinton Patten in another rivalry game.

Aug. 31

Brookland-Cayce at Spring Valley

B-C quarterback Reed Charpia will have tough test against talented Spring Valley secondary.

Gilbert at Lexington

First varsity football meeting between Lexington County schools. Expect a huge crowd for this one.

Westwood at Lower Richland

Good nonregion matchup between teams with high hopes for season. Will be first home game for LR in refurbished stadium.

Opening week schedule

All games 7:30 p.m. unless noted

Thursday, Aug. 16

Ben Lippen at Trinity-Byrnes

Eau Claire at Lewisville

Heathwood Hall at Robert E. Lee

Friday, Aug. 17

AC Flora at Beaufort, 8 p.m.

Blythewood at Ridge View

CA Johnson at Great Falls

Cardinal Newman at John Paul II

Charlotte Country Day (NC) at Hammond

Columbia vs. Keenan at Benedict College

Dreher at Airport

Fairfield Central at Johns Creek (GA)

Fort Mill at River Bluff

Gray Collegiate at Gilbert

Northside Christian at Hilton Head Prep, 5 p.m.

Ridge Spring-Monetta at Batesburg-Leesville

Lexington at Irmo

Lower Richland at Swansea

Lugoff-Elgin at Westwood

Mid-Carolina at Whitmire

North Central at Camden

Strom Thurmond at Saluda

Wagener-Salley at Pelion

White Knoll at Brookland-Cayce

Saturday, Aug. 18

Dutch Fork vs. Mallard Creek at Charlotte Memorial Stadium, 8 p.m.

This story was originally published August 15, 2018 at 8:10 AM.