It is finally time. High school football players all across the CSRA are ready to strap on their shoulder pads, buckle their chin straps and prepare to battle on the gridiron.
That’s right — it is football season. One of the most glorious times on the year gets underway Friday night with nearly 40 local teams in action.
Each week during football season, I will highlight the previous week’s top performers, comment on notable games and also offer my picks for each game involving local teams. Feel free to let me have it if you feel I am not giving your squad enough attention or if my picks are not up to par.
MORE: Ashley Brown Previews the Local Football Landscape for 2021-2022
Here are my picks for this week in local high school football.
North Augusta @ Lakeside
I will be attending this game to serve as Color Analyst for WJBF Game Night Live. John Hart, Matt Lane, Nathan Edwards and I will bring you all the action beginning at 7:30 pm. on MeTV 6.2 (Channel 380 on Comcast/Xfinity and Channel 246 on WOW!).
This is likely to be a long night for the Panthers. They will try to run the ball with junior tailback Temarcus Elam, but North Augusta will likely pack it in on defense and force Lakeside to throw the ball. This may also be the coming out party for Jaccari Gamble. The athletic senior has missed the last two seasons with an injury and is itching to show everyone what he is capable of.
Prediction: North Augusta 44, Lakeside 13
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Laney @ Washington-Wilkes
This is one of the better matchups of the week. Laney is out to regain their stranglehold on Richmond County football, while Wash-Wilkes is always happy to show larger programs what small town football is all about. I think this will be a close one, but QB Dalon Cobb and the Tigers will win a close one.
Prediction: Wash-Wilkes 20, Laney 19
Thomson @ Jefferson Co.
This is the best matchup of the week, in my opinion. Thomson rode the arms and legs of QB Tay Martin to a 9-3 mark a year ago, while Jefferson Co. made a deep playoff run and finished 10-3. Jefferson brings back Division I linebacker commit Nick Jordan but lost a lot of playmakers on offense. Thomson returns Martin, fresh off back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and I think he will be the difference in a Thomson victory.
Prediction: Thomson 26, Jefferson Co. 20
MORE: Ashley Brown’s Preseason Football Top 20 Teams
Here are the rest of my picks for this week:
Evans over Cross Creek; Aquinas over Harlem; Augusta Christian over Johnson; Campbell over Grovetown; Butler over Bryan Co.; Therrell over Glenn Hills; Westside over Greene Co.; Blackville-Hilda over Allendale-Fairfax; East Clarendon over Fox Creek; Batesburg-Leesville over Ridge Spring Monetta; Barnwell over Williston-Elko; Abbeville over McCormick; Strom Thurmond over Saluda; Lower Richland over Aiken; South Aiken over Silver Bluff
Ashley Brown covers sports for The Augusta Press. Reach him at Ashley.brown@theaugustapress.com.
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