Former Gamecock QB commit in SC for big game, plus top Midlands matchups, predictions
Saluda High School was in search of a replacement game this weekend and ended up with one of the marquee matchups in South Carolina.
Saluda, the 2019 Class 2A champions, will host Rabun County High on Friday. Rabun replaced Ninety Six on Saluda’s schedule. Rabun is a Class 2A school from Georgia and is coached by Jaybo Shaw, brother of South Carolina great Connor Shaw.
Rabun has one of the top quarterbacks in the country with senior and University of Georgia commitment Gunner Stockton.
“Hopefully, we will have really big time as far as an environment,” Saluda coach Stewart Young said. “It is a special deal when you have a five-star quarterback and team that has won 10 games six years in a row and everyone knows who they are. They played on ESPN two weeks ago. It adds a little spark and excitement, that not too many kids in Saluda have ever got to do. We have a huge challenge in front of us.”
Young said the teams will split the gate and Saluda will feed the Rabun County players after the game. He is expecting a close to capacity crowd at Bettis-Herlong Stadium, which he says seats about 2,500 fans.
Young and Saluda’s biggest task will be stopping Stockton, who 247Sports Composite ranks as the fifth-best quarterback in the country. He was committed to South Carolina at one point before backing off his pledge after USC fired Will Muschamp.
Stockton committed to Georgia in January.
In three games this season, Stockton is 38-of-64 passing for 873 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had 404 yards passing and 108 yards rushing with seven total touchdowns in a nationally-televised game against Pace Academy on Aug. 28.
Stockton went over 10,000 yards passing for his career earlier this season. He received his All-American Bowl jersey on Wednesday night. That game will take place Jan. 8 in San Antonio.
“He will run it, run over you, will ad lib on plays and be perfect on throws,” Young said of Stockton. “He got a lot of confidence, is experienced and got the whole package. The old adage is you can’t stop him, you hope to contain him and maybe force him into some situations that he feels uncomfortable.”
Saluda comes into Friday’s game at 3-0 and ranked No. 3 in South Carolina’s Class 2A. Quarterback Jonah McCary has completed 78% of his passes for 534 yards and seven touchdowns. Montrevious Baker leads Saluda with 249 yards rushing and seven touchdowns.
▪ Bezjak’s prediction: Rabun County
Other top Midlands matchups
▪ AC Flora at Camden: Matchup of two state championship participants from 2020. A.C. Flora won the Class 4A championship while Camden lost to Daniel in the 3A championship game. Flora is 2-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 4A. Camden has won three straight games after a season-opening loss to Gray Collegiate. Camden running back Devonte McCray leads Camden with 264 yards rushing and four touchdowns. Camden is averaging more than 100 yards in penalties per game.. Camden coach Brian Rimpf will be on the sidelines this week after having to coach on top of the press box last Friday. Rimpf was on paid leave from Kershaw County School District and was not expected to coach last week in any capacity. Bezjak’s prediction: AC Flora
▪ Brookland-Cayce at Chapin: First meeting between two schools since 2017 when Chapin won 38-20. Chapin is No. 6 in Class 5A polls, while B-C is No. 4 in Class 3A. Second game in five days for Chapin, which defeated Newberry 35-24 on Monday. Chapin receiver Zavier Short (9) and running back Bennett Galloway (8) have combined for 17 touchdowns this season. Chapin quarterback Jayden Bradford is 28-of-42 passing for 448 yards and eight touchdowns. B-C quarterback Tanner Staton has 511 yards passing in two games this season. B-C leading receiver Jordan Wise will miss the rest of season after suffering a leg injury last week against Chapman. Bezjak’s prediction: Chapin
▪
▪ Dutch Fork at Greenwood: Fourth meeting between powerhouse programs. Greenwood leads the all-time series 2-1, and won the last matchup 24-10 in 2015 at the Battle on the Bluff at River Bluff High School. Greenwood is 4-0 and ranked No. 5 in Class 4A. Dutch Fork (2-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class 5A, No. 25 in MaxPreps’ national rankings and has a 52-game unbeaten streak. Dutch Fork running back Jarvis Green has 301 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns this season. Chandler Perry leads DF with 25 tackles. Ve Morton leads Greenwood with 418 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Greenwood quarterback Daylan Rappley has thrown for 323 yards and rushed for 290 yards with five total touchdowns. Bezjak’s prediction: Dutch Fork
This week’s schedule, picks
All games are 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Thursday
Chester at Lower Richland, 7 p.m.
Bezjak’s prediction: Lower Richland
Fairfield Central at Keenan
Bezjak’s prediction: Fairfield Central
Friday
Airport at Swansea
Bezjak’s prediction: Airport
Augusta Christian at Heathwood Hall
Bezjak’s prediction: Augusta Christian
Clarendon Hall at Newberry Academy
Bezjak’s prediction: Clarendon Hall
Columbia at Timmonsville
Bezjak’s prediction: Columbia
East Clarendon at North Central
Bezjak’s prediction: North Central
Gilbert at Cheraw
Bezjak’s prediction: Gilbert
Hammond at Wilson Hall
Bezjak’s prediction: Hammond
Laurence Manning at Ben Lippen
Bezjak’s prediction: Laurence Manning
Laurens at River Bluff
Bezjak’s prediction: River Bluff
Lewisville at Batesburg-Leesville
Bezjak’s prediction: Batesburg-Leesville
Lugoff-Elgin at Fort Mill
Bezjak’s prediction: Lugoff-Elgin
Richard Winn at Charleston Collegiate
Bezjak’s prediction: Richard Winn
South Aiken at White Knoll
Bezjak’s prediction: White Knoll
Wardlaw Academy at WW King
Bezjak’s prediction: WW King
Westwood at Aiken
Bezjak’s prediction: Westwood
Saturday
Edisto at Dreher, 10 a.m.
Bezjak’s prediction: Dreher
Ashley Ridge at Lexington, noon
Bezjak’s prediction: Ashley Ridge
Canceled: Pelion at Gilbert; Lexington at Spring Valley; May River at Ridge View; Ninety Six at Saluda; Conway at Blythewood; Gray Collegiate at Andrew Jackson; Irmo at James Island; Batesburg-Leesville at Strom Thurmond; Central Davidson (NC) at Irmo
Last Week: 12-4
Season totals: 57-23
This story was originally published September 16, 2021 at 1:54 PM.
