Predictions, schedule and can’t-miss Week 1 Midlands high school football games
Here are the top games to watch and predictions for Week 1 of high school football in the Midlands:
AC Flora at Westwood
Flora coach Dustin Curtis opens the season against his former team in the WACH Fox Sonic Friday Night Rivals Game of Week.
AC Flora has a talented roster with 17 starters back and is ranked No. 5 in Class 4A Prep Media Poll. Westwood looks to rely a lot on the running game with Julian Milligan and Nicolas Gilliam getting a bulk of the carries.
Batesburg-Leesville at Gray Collegiate
Gray and B-L both are in Region 3-2A, which could be one of the best regions in Class 2A.
Gray quarterback Tre Robinson played last season at Batesburg-Leesville and threw for almost 1,700 yards and 14 TDs. War Eagles also return running back KZ Adams, who had 35 touchdowns last season.
Running back Marvin Gantt is back for B-L and had 1,000 yards last season.
Blythewood at North Augusta
This is the third consecutive year the two teams have played each other with Blythewood winning both previous meetings by three points.
The Bengals feature Florida State commit Joshua Burrell, one of the state’s top prospects, on offense. Burrell had 57 catches for 950 yards and 11 TDs last year. The Bengals will be breaking in a new quarterback this season.
The game will be the debut of North Augusta coach Jim Bob Bryant, who comes to SC after successful stints in North Carolina. Bryant was former Gamecock Pharoh Cooper’s coach at Havlock High School (NC).
Northwestern at Ridge View
Ridge View plays its first game in Class 5A with a matchup against Northwestern.
The Blazers return QB Andre Washington, RB David Mitchell and Jordan Smith on offense but key will be how well its new players perform in the secondary.
It will be year two for Page Wofford at Northwestern. The Trojans went 2-8 last year and missed the postseason for first time in more than a decade.
Spring Valley at Rock Hill
It has been an emotional week for Spring Valley after death of assistant coach Charles Peterson.
The Vikings are talented on offense with DQ Smith back at quarterback and plenty of talent around him. Spring Valley faces a Rock Hill team, which has nine new starters on defense.
One of Rock Hill’s top weapons on offense will be tight end and Alabama commit Robbie Ouzts.
Week 1 Midlands game schedule, predictions
All games at 7:30 pm unless noted
Thursday
CA Johnson at Lewisville (Bezjak-Lewisville; Dearing-Lewisville)
Columbia at Newberry, 7 p.m. (Bezjak-Newberry; Dearing-Newberry)
Mid-Carolina at Chester, 7 p.m. (Bezjak-Chester; Dearing-Chester)
North Central at Chesterfield (Bezjak-Chesterfield; Dearing-Chesterfield)
Ridge-Spring Monetta at Pelion, 7 p.m. (Bezjak-RSM; Dearing:-RSM)
Friday
A.C. Flora at Westwood (Bezjak-A.C. Flora; Dearing-A.C. Flora)
Airport at Midland Valley (Bezjak-Airport; Dearing-Airport)
Batesburg-Leesville at Gray Collegiate at Midlands Sports Complex (Bezjak-Gray Collegiate; Dearing-Gray Collegiate)
Blythewood at North Augusta (Bezjak-Blythewood; Dearing-Blythewood)
Brookland-Cayce at Fox Creek (Bezjak-Brookland-Cayce; Dearing-Brookland-Cayce)
Gilbert at Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Bezjak-Gilbert; Dearing-Gilbert)
Hammond at Laurence Manning (Bezjak-Hammond; Dearing-Hammond)
Irmo at Richland Northeast at Harry Parone Stadium (Bezjak-Irmo; Dearing-Irmo)
Keenan at Fairfield Central (Bezjak-Fairfield Central; Dearing-Fairfield Central)
Laurens Academy at Northside Christian (Bezjak-Laurens Academy; Dearing-Laurens Academy)
Lower Richland at Chapin (Bezjak-Chapin; Dearing-Chapin)
Lugoff-Elgin at Dreher at Memorial Stadium (Bezjak-Lugoff-Elgin; Dearing-Lugoff-Elgin)
Northwestern at Ridge View at District 2 Stadium (Bezjak-Ridge View; Dearing-Ridge View)
Palmetto Christian at Richard Winn (Bezjak-Richard Winn; Dearing-Richard Winn)
Porter-Gaud at Heathwood Hall (Bezjak-Heathwood Hall; Dearing-Heathwood Hall)
Saluda at Eau Claire at Keenan Stadium (Bezjak-Saluda; Dearing-Saluda)
Spring Valley at Rock Hill (Bezjak-Spring Valley; Dearing-Spring Valley)
Trinity-Byrnes at Ben Lippen (Bezjak-Trinity-Byrnes; Dearing-Trinity-Byrnes)
White Knoll at Dutch Fork (Bezjak-Dutch Fork; Dearing-Dutch Fork)
Wilson Hall at Cardinal Newman (Bezjak-Wilson Hall; Dearing-Wilson Hall)
WW King at Cathedral (Bezjak-WW King; Dearing-W.W. King)
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 6:00 AM.
