Gray impresses, Dutch Fork rolls, RNE ends losing streak in Week 0 game highlights
KZ Adams ran for three touchdowns as Gray Collegiate dominated Camden 26-6 in a Friday night matchup between two of the top teams in their respective classes.
Camden was coming off a Class 3A championship appearance last year and was No. 2 in this year’s preseason media poll. Gray, which made its first trip to state semifinals last year, was ranked No. 2 in Class 2A.
But the War Eagles dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and got another strong game from Adams, who continues to make a case as the state’s top running back.
Adams, the Georgia State commit, ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns. His third score put the War Eagles up 26-6 with 8:56 left in the third.
“KZ Adams is the best running back in the state. What he does on the field is just phenomenal,” Gray coach Adam Holmes said. “He is just outstanding. And then you want to talk about what our defense did. We held them to no touchdowns. Camden always been physical football team that would hit you in the mouth and we came out and did that. We won every facet of the game.”
Devin Johnson also had an interception for Gray Collegiate defense, which held the Bulldogs to a pair of field goals. Camden averaged 42.2 points a game last season.
Chapin-Airport canceled at last minute
The Chapin football game at Airport was canceled about an hour from scheduled kickoff.
According to Airport coach Kirk Burnett, one of the Eagles players missed practice Thursday with a stomach ailment and went to the doctor Friday afternoon in an effort to be cleared to play. But the player tested positive for COVID-19 and called Burnett to tell him as both teams were stretching on the field about an hour before 7:30 p.m. kickoff.
Burnett said he informed Chapin of the news and that the Eagles and their administration decided against playing the game.
The matchup was put together Thursday after Airport and Chapin each had two opponents cancel on them during the week because of COVID.
“I just hate it for everyone. I know a lot of those guys at Chapin and coached some of the coaches on the staff. I hate it happened right before the game,” Burnett said.
Dutch Fork 70, Wren 8
Jarvis Green and Braxton Lodge each rushed for more than 100 yards as Dutch Fork extended its unbeaten streak to 51 games.
Green finished with 188 yards and three scores, and Lodge added 115 and a TD. Quarterbacks Davin Patterson and Aliam Appler each had two TD runs. As a team, the Silver Foxes rushed for 456 yards.
Landon Danley also returned an interception for a touchdown for Dutch Fork.
The Silver Foxes travel to Gaffney next week in one of the most anticipated matchups of the season.
West Florence 42, Lexington 33
Terry McKeithen ran for four touchdowns as West Florence won on the road at Lexington.
Lexington trailed 35-20 at the half but got as close as 35-33 on a Taiden Mines touchdown run and a Parker Rowe fumble return for a touchdown.
But McKeithen added a TD run late in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
West quarterback Deuce Hudson, son of former MLB All-Star Orlando Hudson, rushed for 143 yards and a score and also threw for 102.
Jonah Norris led Lexington with 107 yards and two touchdowns.
Richland Northeast 29, Darlington 7
Walt Wilson won his debut as RNE coach as the Cavs got their first victory since the 2018 season.
The Cavs open up their new stadium next week against Lakewood.
Spring Valley 23, White Knoll 0
Quarterback DQ Smith threw for two touchdowns and also had a 52-yard run for a score in the Vikings’ season-opening win.
Smith was 18-of-27 through the air for 223 yards and also rushed for 80 yards. Da’shawn Mingo led the Vikings with four catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.
River Bluff 28, Lugoff Elgin 7
Hunter Sheppard threw a pair of touchdown passes to Apollos Cook as the Gators won their opener.
Cook also scored on a fumble recovery on special teams. Toriaun Leaphart rushed for 100 yards to lead the Gators.
Ridge Spring-Monetta 19, Batesburg-Leesville 14
Ridge Spring-Monetta beat Batesburg-Leesville for the first time in school history. RSM was 0-22 all-time against the Panthers before Friday.
RSM quarterback Rem Leaphart was 12-of-18 passing for 158 yards and a TD and also rushed for 51 yards.
Lower Richland 40, Aiken 7
Jeremy Barney and Lamarion Pearson each ran for two touchdowns as Lower Richland won a rain-delayed road game.
The game was delayed by more than two hours because of the weather and didn’t finish until after midnight.
Pearson led the Diamond Hornets with 200 yards rushing. Robert Adams added a 65-yard TD pass to Nate Branch and Branch also returned a punt for a touchdown.
Saluda 52, Strom Thurmond 20
Quarterback Jonah McCary threw for three touchdowns and ran for one in the Tigers’ victory.
McCrary was 15 of 19 for 198 yards in the air. Zion Wright, Tyleke Mathis and Javarious Stevens all had TD catches for the Tigers.
Heathwood Hall 63, Spartanburg Christian 6
On Thursday, Heathwood Hall opened the season with a lopsided road victory.
The Highlanders scored the first 30 points of the game.
Newberry 25, Mid-Carolina 0
On Saturday, KJ Robinson ran for two touchdowns, including a 57-yarder in the first quarter, as the Bulldogs defeated Mid-Carolina.
The win was No. 335 for Newberry coach Phil Strickland, who announced in July this would be his last season as head coach.
Zy Epps also had a TD for Newberry.
Fox Creek 40, Ben Lippen 14
Quarterback Mike Adams had TD runs of 59 and 80 yards in Fox Creek’s win over Ben Lippen.
The game was the debut of BL coach Stephen Cagle. Bryce Craft had two touchdowns or Ben Lippen.
Blythewood 22, Fairfield Central 6
On Monday night, David Herndon threw three first-half touchdown passes as the Bengals won their season opener.
Herndon, who is filling in for injured starter Harrison Collins, hit Jake Parker to begin the scoring in the first quarter. Josh Gary and Jonathan Harper also had TD catches for the Bengals.
This story was originally published August 20, 2021 at 11:17 PM.
