Now that the first two weeks of the high school football season have come and gone, we are starting to learn which teams will have the best chance to compete favorably when region play arrives, which for some teams will begin as early as week five. But for most of the area, we still aren’t even halfway through the non-region schedule, so there will be at least a few more weeks to learn which teams will be poised for a run when the “second season” begins. Let’s look at the matchups for this Friday, Sept. 3, and in the process review what we’ve seen so far from the teams and players who have distinguished themselves to date.
#2 Bamberg-Erhardt (2-0) at #6 Barnwell (2-0)
Pick: Barnwell
This matchup between state championship hopefuls will be talked about throughout the Palmetto State all this week. #2 Bamberg-Ehrhardt won its first 14 games last season before falling short to Southside Christian in the class 1A title game. The Red Raiders have gained the services of senior Omarion Buckmon, a hard hitting linebacker and running back who starred for Blackville-Hilda the past two seasons. Bamberg was tested last week by a scrappy Denmark-Olar squad, but the Red Raiders prevailed 36-20.
#6 Barnwell (class 2A) has yet to be tested after defeating Williston-Elko and Blackville-Hilda by a combined score of 102-7 in the season’s first two weeks. The Warhorses use a prolific rushing attack powered by senior Tyler Smith, who seems destined to rewrite one or more record books before he graduates. After rushing for 2,151 yards and 28 touchdowns last season, Smith has already piled up 407 yards and eight touchdowns in only two games so far this year.
South Aiken (1-1) at #7 Gilbert (1-0)
Pick: South Aiken
MORE: Laney tops Hephzibah in Friday football
Led by junior quarterback Terrence Smith and sophomore running back Jevon Edwards, South Aiken’s high octane rushing attack has been posting numbers that look like a misprint during the first two games. Last Friday’s 63-56 loss to Lexington can’t be blamed on the offense because get this: Smith ran the ball 27 times for 416 yards and scored six touchdowns. And Edwards, who also carried it 27 times, added another 209 yards and two scores. According to MaxPreps.com, the Thoroughbreds have tallied more rushing yards (1,018) than any team in the entire nation.
Gilbert has never been an easy place to win. But I predict South Aiken’s defense will improve after last week’s showing, and the defending region champion Thoroughbreds will get back into the win column.
Thomson (1-1) at Grovetown (2-0)
Pick: Thomson
After taking to the road and defeating Midland Valley 43-16 and Greenbrier 17-7, Grovetown has started the season 2-0 for the first time since 2011. Head coach Cory Evans feels good about his team’s progress during the offseason because the players have embraced the program’s strength training regimen. And Evans couldn’t ask for a better senior leader than Joseph Jean, a 6-foot-one-inch tall and 218-pound running back/linebacker who has rushed for three touchdowns and recorded 22 tackles so far this year.
But the Warriors haven’t played a team as talented, or as motivated, as Thomson since at least last season. The Bulldogs appeared to take out the frustration from a heartbreaking season opening loss to rival Burke County on Jefferson County in a 48-6 win at home in week two.
The Thomson triple threat from Friday’s win featured the rushing of senior Jontavis Curry (153 yards and two touchdowns on only five carries), the passing of junior Jah’Kiaus Jones (6-11 for 218 yards and three touchdowns) and the receiving of senior Marcellus Brigham (three receptions for 120 yards and a TD).
And Thomson’s defense is equally scary. Sophomore defensive end Dan’Quavious Cummings (6″2′, 240 pounds); senior linebacker Jaquan Hart (6-2, 170 pounds); junior safety Jamere Roberts (6″1′ 170 pounds); and senior linebacker Travion Curry (5-7, 160) have all tallied more than 10 tackles after two weeks of play.
Augusta Christian (2-0) at Hephzibah (1-1)
Pick: Hephzibah
I picked Ridge Spring-Monetta to beat Augusta Christian in week one (AC prevailed 28-7) and Hephzibah to top Laney in week two (Laney won 26-17), so take my prediction above for what it’s worth.
For Hephzibah to be successful, the Rebels will need to limit their mistakes after committing 5 turnovers and suffering 9 penalties for 65 yards in the loss to Laney. Quarterback Jalen Patrick (236 combined yards passing and rushing against Laney) leads a capable offense that features a balanced attack with junior Telly Johnson in the backfield and senior Eric Grant on the outside. Hephzibah’s large offensive line should give Augusta Christian trouble.
But the Lions are extremely well coached, and the young team, which lost 25 seniors off of last season’s roster of 40 players, finds ways to win. That includes shifting the focus from past seasons and emphasizing the passing game, where quarterbacks Grayson Brooker, a senior, and Wilson Donnelly, a junior, have had success finding freshman Aaron Gregory who had four receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns in Week 2 and 6-foot-9-inch tall tight end Luke Wilson with seven catches for 64 yards in Week One.
Bending but not breaking has been the theme for the defense, which has been led by Wes Michaelson, a junior machine of a linebacker who has logged 35 tackles and forced three fumbles so far this season. The Lions surrendered 211 rushing yards in week one and 355 in week two. But last Friday on the most important play of the season so far, Luke Wilson tackled Bulloch Academy’s Isaiah Smart in the backfield with 2:38 remaining when the Gators were attempting to grab a one-point lead with a two-point conversion.
AC’s secondary hasn’t had any problems so far this season. Sophomore Dallas Carter snagged a pick-six in week one and Gregory grabbed an interception in week two. But the explosiveness of Patrick, Grant and company will pose a fun test for the Lions this Friday night.
Lakeside (1-0) at North Augusta (0-2)
Pick: North Augusta
Lakeside breezed past Aiken in week one by holding the Hornets to only 34 yards of total offense. Lakeside’s offense has been centered around the run for the past two seasons, and the Panthers rushed for 221 yards and four touchdowns in the 32-0 win over Aiken.
North Augusta has tasked itself with what could be the most difficult non-region schedule in the area. Having lost to Evans (16-7) and Dorman (42-28) already, the Yellow Jackets better take advantage of the opportunity to grab a win Friday before #9 Greenwood (class 4A) and #1 Dutch Fork (class 5A) come to town in the following two weeks.
Greenbrier (1-0) at Evans (0-2)
Pick: Evans
This Columbia County rivalry game might be lopsided because Greenbrier is still trying to figure things out after losing key pieces to graduation and playing almost the entire game last Friday without star senior Malik Leverett because of an injury. Evans opened the season with an impressive win over North Augusta behind productive outings by senior quarterback DJ Walton with 180 yards passing and a touchdown, and 101 rushing yards and senior receiver Kenneth Dorsey who had three receptions for 11 yards and a touchdown. Also, 6-foot-7-inch-tall, 280 pounds sophomore Mason Short was recently ranked as the 38th best prospect in the class of 2025 by 247sports.com. Short has already received scholarship offers from such schools as Alabama and Georgia.
Savannah Country Day (2-0) at Aquinas (2-0)
Pick: Aquinas
This Friday, Savannah Country Day will encounter a completely different Fighting Irish squad than the one they lost to last season 28-27 in overtime. During that game a year ago, Aquinas only completed one pass for 4 yards. But with the addition this season of 6-foot-3-inch tall and 180-pound sophomore Jim Franklin, the Irish have taken to the air in a major way. Through two games, Franklin has completed 23 of 40 passes for 466 yards and seven touchdowns. A frequent target has been senior receiver Kevin Douglas, who has amassed 256 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile Clark Jackson (34 tackles through two games), Copelan Thurmond (23 tackles) and Malachi Gordon (16 tackles) have helped lead a scrappy defense.
MORE: Photojournalism: Aquinas rolls over Westside
#8 Silver Bluff (0-2) at Midland Valley (1-1)
Pick: Silver Bluff
Silver Bluff will probably fall from the rankings after last Friday’s 21-0 loss at Socastee. After making it all the way to the class 2A state championship game last season, the Bulldogs are trying to adjust after losing most of its offensive line to graduation, and star running back Traevon Dunbar, who transferred to… Midland Valley. But Dunbar has been out with an injury, and it’s not clear exactly when he will return.
Without Dunbar, the Mustangs earned an encouraging 29-23 win over Strom Thurmond. After managing only 5 wins in the 5 seasons leading up to this one, Midland Valley would surely love to make it two in a row this Friday in a game that will be aired on MeTV.
Richmond (1-1) at Josey (1-0)
Pick: Richmond
So far this season, both of these teams have taken to the road to beat the same opponent, Savannah High. Richmond had the easier time, winning 48-0 last Friday. One week earlier, the Eagles opened their season with a 22-16 overtime win over the Bluejackets. Altravion Simpkins rushed for 3 touchdowns and gained a combined 151 yards rushing and receiving for the Eagles. After the week one win, head coach John Starr II commended Josey’s offensive line as well its defense for making key stops in the overtime.
More Games:
Harlem (2-0) at Elbert County (2-0)
Pick: Harlem
Jeff Davis (0-2) at #3 Swainsboro (2-0)
Pick: Swainsboro
Washington County (0-1) at Dodge County (0-2)
Pick: Washington County
Emanuel County Institute (0-1) at #7 Lincoln County (2-0)
Pick: Lincoln County
Strom Thurmond (0-2) at Aiken (0-2)
Pick: Aiken
Warren County (0-1) at #8 Johnson County (1-0)
Pick: Johnson County
McCormick (0-2) at Fox Creek (0-2) – Thursday
Pick: Fox Creek
Butler (1-0) at Airport (0-2)
Pick: Airport
Glenn Hills (1-1) at #9 Washington-Wilkes (1-0) – Thursday
Pick: Washington-Wilkes
Westside (0-2) at Screven County (2-0)
Pick: Westside
Gatewood (1-0) at Augusta Prep (0-1)
Pick: Augusta Prep
Batesburg-Leesville (0-2) at Ridge Spring-Monetta (0-2)
Pick: Batesburg-Leesville
Blackville-Hilda (0-1) at Allendale-Fairfax (0-2)
Pick: Blackville-Hilda
Glascock County (0-1) at Briarwood (0-1)
Pick: Briarwood
Edmund Burke (1-0) at Trinity Christian (1-1)
Pick: Trinity Christian
Windsor Academy (0-0) at Westminster (0-1)
Pick: Westminster
