Week 9’s top Midlands high school football matchups
Friday
Blythewood (5-2, 0-1) at Westwood (7-1, 2-0)
LAST MEETING: 2014, Westwood 35-0
LAST GAME: Blythewood lost to Dutch Fork, 35-28; Westwood def. Ridge View, 37-16
PLAYERS TO WATCH – B: QB David Israel, Micah Byrd; W: RB Rudy Mitchell, QB Jalen Smith
NOTES: Westwood leads all-time series 2-1. … Westwood running back Rudy Mitchell has 11 TDs over the last three weeks. … Blythewood averaging 98 yards a game in penalties. … Bengals’ receiver Kenny Benton had five catches for 166 yards and two TDs against Dutch Fork last week. … Westwood’s Darieus McCaskill and Blythewood’s Micah Byrd are the top two tacklers in the Midlands.
Dreher (5-2, 2-0) at Chapin (7-0, 2-0)
INTERNET: www.chapinfootball.net
LAST MEETING: 2014, Dreher 35-33
LAST GAME: Dreher def. Camden, 47-15; Chapin def. Lower Richland, 57-22
PLAYERS TO WATCH – D: QB Avery Armstrong, RB/S Earl Preddy; C: QB Logan Bailey, WR Evan Estridge
NOTES: Chapin looking for first 8-0 start since 1987. … Dreher’s win last season snapped a four-game losing streak to the Eagles. … Dreher RB Jay Washington needs 151 yards to go over 1,000 yards for the season. … Dreher’s defense has two shutouts and is giving up just 15 points a game. … Chapin WR Evan Estridge has 13 TD catches.
Irmo (3-5, 2-0) at Lexington (7-1, 2-0)
TV/INTERNET: WACH Fox 57.2 (digital channel)/www.wach.com
LAST MEETING: 2014, Irmo 17-14
LAST GAME: Irmo def. South Aiken 41-14; Lexington def. River Bluff 27-24
PLAYERS TO WATCH – I: QB Mason Smith, ATH Ronnie Jamison; L: WR Jayson Hopper, WR Taylor Schadewald
NOTES: Irmo leads the all-time series, 38-11. … Winner takes over first place in Region 5-4A. … Lexington RB Slade Carroll needs 21 rushing yards to go over 1,000 yards for the season. … Wildcat receivers Jayson Hopper and Taylor Schadewald have combined for 1,095 yards receiving and 11 TDs this year.
Midland Valley (4-4, 3-0) at Airport (8-0, 3-0)
LAST MEETING: 2014, Airport 24-20
LAST GAME: Midland Valley def. Brookland Cayce, 21-7; Airport def. Gilbert, 35-0
PLAYERS TO WATCH – MV: RB Dre’Kwon Carr, QB Daniel Carr; A: QB Josh Tucker, RB Jonathon Earl
NOTES: Winner wins Region 4-3A championship. …. Airport defense is forcing 2.5 turnovers a game. … Airport QB Josh Tucker has 1,672 yards of total offense and 16 TDs this season. … MV quarterback Daniel Carr returned last week after missing three games with a shoulder injury. ... Dre’Kwon Carr needs 147 yards rushing to go over 1,000 for the season.
River Bluff (6-2, 1-1) at North Augusta (5-3, 0-2)
LAST MEETING: 2014, River Bluff 20-17
LAST GAME: River Bluff lost to Lexington, 27-24; North Augusta lost to White Knoll, 24-7
PLAYERS TO WATCH – RB: QB/LB Brandon Tillmon, WR/DB Davon Johnson; NA: RB Tavian Price, LB Rashad Byrd
NOTES: Jarod Farchione leads River Bluff with 65 tackles. … NA linebacker Rashad Byrd is a Shrine Bowl selection and leads the game with 114 tackles. Gators have outscored opponents 85-19 in the third quarter. … River Bluff kicker Justin Salters is 2-of-4 on field goals from 40-49 yards. … River Bluff has given up just three sacks this season.
Spring Valley (4-3, 1-0) at Dutch Fork (5-3, 1-1)
RADIO/INTERNET: 107.5 FM/www1075thegame.com
LAST MEETING: 2014, Dutch Fork 25-12
LAST GAME: Spring Valley def. Lugoff-Elgin, 58-21; Dutch Fork def. Blythewood, 35-28
PLAYERS TO WATCH – SV: RB Ty’Juan Fulton, LB Kenan Reed; DF: QB Cole Douglas, DE Rory Gallman
NOTES: SV quarterback Ryan Lee and running back Ty’Juan Fulton each rushed for more than 100 yards in win over Lugoff-Elgin last week. Dutch Fork is averaging 417 yards a game on offense. … SV’s Cameron Jones had a punt return and interception return for TD last week against L-E. … DF quarterback Cole Douglas needs 75 yards to go over 2,000 yards for the season. …. DF receiver Austin Connor has 549 yards receiving and is averaging 28.9 yards per catch.
Strom Thurmond (7-1, 2-1) at Batesburg-Leesville (7-1, 2-1)
RADIO/INTERNET: 1430 AM/www.palmettosportscast.com
LAST MEETING: 2014, Batesburg-Leesville 15-13
LAST GAME: Strom Thurmond lost to Saluda, 34-31; Batesburg-Leesville lost to Abbeville, 30-13
PLAYERS TO WATCH – ST: RB/LB Chad Gilchrist, QB Tyrece Nick; B-L: RB Terrence Wilson, Zhadiran Burgess
NOTES: Strom Thurmond leads all-time series 30-20 and has won seven of last eight matchups. … Strom Thurmond and Batesburg-Leesville are part of a four-way tie for first place in Region 2-2A. … ST’s Chad Gilchrist leads the team in rushing with 933 yards and eight sacks. … B-L’s Terrence Wilson needs 56 yards to become the school’s all-time leading rusher. He is averaging just 49 yards in three games against ST.
LOU Bezjak
This story was originally published October 22, 2015 at 9:35 PM.