This week’s Midlands high school football schedule, top games, predictions
The high school football season is in its second week in South Carolina. Here are some of the top matchups in the Midlands as well as the weekly power rankings of local teams.
Top Midlands games this week
▪ AC Flora at Dreher (Saturday): Game moved to Saturday at 10 a.m. Two teams are playing earlier than usual with Dreher dropping down to Class 3A. Both have first-year head coaches in Ken Floyd (Flora) and Corey Jenkins (Dreher) and they each won their openers last week. AC Flora has won 14 of the last 15 in the series and has scored 50 points or more in each of the last four games against the Blue Devils. Bezjak’s prediction: AC Flora
▪ Airport at Brookland-Cayce: Two Lexington 2 rivals square off in early-season matchup with both coming off a loss in their openers. B-C has won seven of the last eight matchups in the series with Airport, including three straight by shutouts. The Bearcats gave up 552 yards in a loss to Byrnes last week. Bezjak’s prediction: B-C
▪ Camden at Lugoff-Elgin: Camden has dominated the series with its Kershaw County rival lately, winning eight of the last nine from the Demons, including 50-0 last season. Camden QB Grayson White had 344 yards of total offense and five touchdowns last week against Myrtle Beach. Bezjak’s prediction: Camden
▪ Chapin at Mid-Carolina: Schools face off in annual “Battle of the Bell” matchup. Two teams have met every year since 1961. Chapin holds a 47-17 lead in series since 1958. The Eagles won 46-26 last season. Both teams are coming off losses in their season openers. Bezjak’s prediction: Chapin
▪ Dutch Fork at Spartanburg: Second straight year the two teams playing in the regular season. The Silver Foxes won 42-13 in 2021. Dutch Fork moved up to No. 1 in Class 5A rankings after a win over Hough (NC) last week. Spartanburg dropped to No. 9 after losing to Langston Hughes (Ga.) 47-16 in its opener. Spartanburg’s Raheim Jeter is the No. 2 QB prospect in the state and No. 13 overall. Dutch Fork running back Jarvis Green committed to James Madison this week. Bezjak’s prediction: Dutch Fork
▪ Richland Northeast at Blythewood: First meeting since 2013 when Blythewood defeated RNE 27-12. Blythewood leads the all-time series 7-1. The Bengals are coming off a 21-14 loss to Ridge View last week. RNE defeated Crestwood 29-27 last week on a last-second field goal by Aaron Guiterrez. RNE is looking for its second-straight 2-0 start to the season. Bezjak’s prediction: Blythewood
▪ Sumter at Ridge View: Both teams are coming off season-opening victories and are ranked in the S.C. Prep Media Poll. Sumter is No. 6 in Class 5A, and RV is tied for 10th in 4A. Sumter leads the all-time series 2-1, including 28-21 in 2017. South Carolina Gamecocks commit Monteque Rhames is no longer on the Sumter roster after transferring to Manning. Bezjak’s prediction: Sumter
▪ Spring Valley at White Knoll: Both teams are coming off wins in their season openers. Spring Valley is ranked No. 10 in the latest Class 5A media poll. Spring Valley defeated White Knoll 23-0 last season. White Knoll is looking for its first 2-0 start since 2019. Bezjak’s prediction: Spring Valley
More games, picks for this week’s local football schedule
All games begin at 7:30 p.m. unless noted; Lou Bezjak’s prediction in parenthesis
- Ben Lippen at Heathwood Hall (The pick: Heathwood Hall)
- Columbia at Pelion (Pelion)
- Estill at CA Johnson (CAJ)
- Fairfield Central at Andrew Jackson (Fairfield Central)
- Gilbert at Batesburg-Leesville (Gilbert)
- Gray Collegiate at Crestwood (Gray Collegiate)
- Greenwood Christian at Northside Christian (Northside Christian)
- Hammond at Florence Christian (Hammond)
- Hannah-Pamplico at North Central (Hannah-Pamplico)
- Hunter Kinard Tyler at Eau Claire (Eau Claire)
- Irmo at Lancaster (Irmo)
- Keenan at Orangeburg-Wilkinson (Orangeburg-Wilkinson)
- Laurens Academy at Richard Winn (Richard Winn)
- Lexington at South Aiken (Lexington)
- Lower Richland at Westwood (Lower Richland)
- Pee Dee Academy at Cardinal Newman (Pee Dee Academy)
- Saluda at Ridge Spring-Monetta (Saluda)
- Swansea at River Bluff (River Bluff)
- Wardlaw at WW King (WW King)
▪ Bezjak’s record last Week: 19-6
▪ Season record: 19-6
The State’s Power Rankings
A look at The State’s Top 10 ranking of Columbia-area schools after Week 1:
1. Dutch Fork
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Hough (NC) 27-24
2. AC Flora
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Greenwood 38-20
3. Camden
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Myrtle Beach 42-13
4. Gilbert
Record: 0-0. Last Week: Did not play
5. Lexington
Record: 0-1. Last Week: Lost to West Florence 31-28
6. Ridge View
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Blythewood 21-14
7. Irmo
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Chapin 22-11
8. Gray Collegiate
Record: 0-1. Last Week: Lost to Oceanside Collegiate 48-20
9. Spring Valley
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Westwood 36-18
10. River Bluff
Record: 1-0. Last Week: Defeated Lugoff-Elgin 42-13
Others considered: Saluda, Fairfield Central, Richland Northeast, Brookland-Cayce
This story was originally published August 25, 2022 at 9:13 AM.
