Two Midlands football teams eye region titles, plus top games and predictions
It’s just the first week of October but two Midlands teams can wrap up region titles Friday night.
Some regions chose to move up conference schedules in case there were COVID postponements so Lower Richland and Camden could lock up No. 1 seeds with victories.
LR can win its third region title since 2017 and first under second-year coach Marlin Taylor with a victory over Mid-Carolina for the top spot in Region 4-3A. Camden can wrap the Region 6-3A championship with a win at Marlboro County. It would be the Bulldogs’ third straight region championship for a team that has been challenged by injuries, including to quarterback Cauthen Best, who is out for the season after ACL surgery. Bezjak’s prediction: Camden and Lower Richland.
Top Midlands matchups
Dutch Fork (5-0) at Chapin (4-1): Dutch Fork is nationally ranked and has a 55-game unbeaten streak. The Silver Foxes have outscored their opponents 284-69 and their offense is averaging 525.2 yards per game. Dutch Fork receiver Antonio Williams has four straight 100-yard receiving games and needs 23 yards for 1,000 all-purpose yards on the season. Chapin running back Bennett Galloway and receiver Zavier Short each have rushing, receiving and special teams touchdowns this season. Eagles quarterback Jayden Bradford has thrown for 750 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bezjak’s prediction: Dutch Fork.
Brookland-Cayce (4-1) at Strom Thurmond (3-1): Both teams won their Region 5-3A openers last week. B-C is ranked No. 6 in the Class 3A poll this week. Strom Thurmond won last year’s game, 42-28. Bezjak’s prediction: Brookland-Cayce.
Saluda (4-1) at Newberry (2-3): Key battle in Region 3-2A with the winner moving to 2-0. Newberry is trying to start 2-0 in the region for the first time since 2017. Newberry leads the all-time series, 23-15-2. Running back KJ Robinson leads Newberry in rushing with 510 yards and six touchdowns. Saluda quarterback Jonah McCary has completed 74% of his passes for 781 yards and nine touchdowns. Bezjak’s prediction: Saluda.
Spring Valley (4-1) at Ridge View (2-3): Spring Valley has won three of the last four in the series but Ridge View won last year, 17-16. SV’s lone loss this year came against Carver (Ga.) in the Cam Newton Classic. Mondell Hutto leads the Vikings with 10 sacks this season. Spring Valley’s defense is giving up just nine points a game and has two shutouts. RV enters the game with a three-game losing streak. Blazers quarterback Andre Washington has thrown for 994 yards and 10 touchdowns. Zion Agnew leads the team with five TD catches. Bezjak’s prediction: Spring Valley.
This Week’s Schedule, Picks
All games begin at 7 p.m. unless noted
Thursday
Florence Christian at Heathwood Hall, 6:30 p.m.
Bezjak’s prediction: Florence Christian
South Aiken at River Bluff, 7 p.m.
Bezjak’s prediction: River Bluff
Friday
AC Flora at Richland Northeast
Bezjak’s prediction: AC Flora
Airport at North Augusta
Bezjak’s prediction: North Augusta
Ben Lippen at Wilson Hall
Bezjak’s prediction: Ben Lippen
Blythewood at Northwestern
Bezjak’s prediction: Northwestern
Columbia at Gray Collegiate
Bezjak’s prediction: Gray Collegiate
Fairfield Central at Chester
Bezjak’s prediction: Chester
First Baptist at Hammond
Bezjak’s prediction: Hammond
Gilbert at Fox Creek
Bezjak’s prediction: Gilbert
Irmo at Dreher
Bezjak’s prediction: Irmo
Lugoff-Elgin at Westwood
Bezjak’s prediction: Westwood
Newberry Academy at Wardlaw Academy
Bezjak’s prediction: Wardlaw
North Central at Andrew Jackson
Bezjak’s prediction: Andrew Jackson
Silver Bluff at Pelion
Bezjak’s prediction: Silver Bluff
Swansea at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Bezjak’s prediction: O-W
White Knoll at Lexington
Bezjak’s prediction: Lexington
WW King at Palmetto Christian
Bezjak’s prediction: Palmetto
Canceled: Laurence Manning at Cardinal Newman; Batesburg-Leesville at Eau Claire
Last Week: 19-3
Season Totals: 122-34
This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 10:56 AM.
