The high school football season, which for so many is the most beloved part of the sports calendar, will begin this week. No fewer than 20 games involving teams from the CSRA will kick off as the sun begins to set and the lights turn on for the beginning of the 2022 season. All but two of the games will be played Friday at 7:30 P.M. Below I preview three high profile matchups and pick winners and give details about the season’s opening week.
Burke County (Class 4A) at #9 Thomson (2A)
*Televised live on MeTV Friday at 7:30 P.M.
Records Last Season
Burke County (9-3, 5-1)
Thomson (11-1, 6-0)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Thomson 27, Burke County 14 (at Thomson)
Pick: Thomson
Prime Time Matchup at the Brickyard
The matchup that during most seasons earns “game of the year” acclaim will headline opening week. After occupying the same region for the last eight years, the Bears have moved up one classification to 4A while the Bulldogs have moved down one. But it’s Thomson, who will host this Friday, that is positioned to earn a third straight victory over its archrival. The reason involves the game-changing presence of seniors Jontavis Curry and Marcellus Brigham.
Curry became eligible in the middle of last season’s schedule after starring for Richmond Academy during his sophomore year and playing one game for the Musketeers last season before surprising everybody with a mid-season transfer. But more stunning than any off the field move has been Curry’s game breaking dashes on the field. During last season’s edition of the area’s greatest rivalry, Curry scored on the first play from scrimmage on both of Thomson’s first two drives before rushing for 172 yards on only 12 carries.
Curry sat out of Thomson’s preseason scrimmage against Evans. But that made more room for the unveiling of another high impact newcomer in Brigham, who also transferred to Thomson after playing one football game for Laney last season. Brigham didn’t become eligible for athletic competition until the second semester of last year, which was in time for Thomson’s state playoff semifinal basketball run. But the area’s most dynamic athlete shines his brightest on the football field, as we were reminded of at Evans when Brigham gained 129 yards receiving on five receptions in two quarters of action.
Curry and Brigham are but two of many highly talented skill players who could make the difference in Friday’s opener. Thomson features two capable junior quarterbacks, Noah Story and Jahkiaus Jones. Story, who saw action in spurts last season, completed 11 of 16 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns in the scrimmage at Evans.
In addition to Brigham, a main target of Story’s that night was junior Jordan Lane, who caught 2 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
But Burke County’s array of offensive weapons rival Thomson’s not only in quality and quantity, but also in experience. Its senior quintet of playmakers (QB Marshall Flowers, RB Charlie Dorsey, ATH Jordan Franklin, WR Kohen Rogers and WR Jaylen Golphin) include four players who nearly powered the Bears to victory over Thomson when they were only sophomores two seasons ago.
Then Golphin emerged last season and showed a knack for catching touchdown bombs from Flowers. No matter the side, there will no shortage of playmakers on offense during Friday’s matchup at the Brickyard!
South Aiken (4A) at Silver Bluff (2A)
Records Last Season
South Aiken (7-3, 4-0)
Silver Bluff (11-1, 4-0)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Silver Bluff 40, South Aiken 0 (at South Aiken)
Pick: Silver Bluff
South Aiken, the larger of the two schools, will have revenge on its mind after Silver Bluff handed them a 40-0 defeat in last season’s opener. South Aiken did a wonderful job of bouncing back from the loss by eventually marching through its region schedule undefeated and advancing to the round of 16 in the class 4A playoffs. For its part, Silver Bluff never so much as took a pause following its fast start as the Bulldogs won their first 11 games in runaway fashion before finally coming up short in the state championship game against Gray Collegiate.
Three players to watch in this matchup between region favorites are Silver Bluff senior quarterback Maleik Williams, South Aiken junior quarterback Terrence Smith Jr., and South Aiken sophomore running back Jevon Edwards.
Williams is entering his fourth season behind center for fifth year head coach De’Angelo Bryant. Williams showed his maturity and command of Silver Bluff’s offense in an interview after his team’s blowout win over region rival Wade Hampton last season.
Last year Smith accounted for 140 yards per game and 13 total touchdowns combining the running and passing game. And Edwards rushed for 119 yards per game and 11 touchdowns.
North Augusta (South Carolina 4A) at Evans (6A)
Records Last Season
North Augusta (6-6, 3-1)
Evans (9-3, 4-1)
Pick: North Augusta
North Augusta will bring across the order a balanced offensive attack that features a pair of seniors in running back DJ Curry and quarterback Colson Brown. Curry gained 95 yards per game and scored 13 rushing touchdowns last season. As you can see, he prefers to run through defenders rather than go around them.
Brown should take all the snaps this season after splitting duties last year. His 6’3” and 200-pound frame is impressive in the pocket.
Evans will be led by its own pair of accomplished seniors, quarterback/athlete DJ Walton and WR/DB Kenneth Dorsey. Walton (6’2” and 190 lbs) and Dorsey (6’2” and 190 lbs) looked prepared for their final high school season in two quarters of scrimmage action against Thomson. In the first half, Walton rushed for 57 yards on 9 carries and passed for another 91 yards. Walton completed 8 of 11 passing attempts. He targeted Dorsey 6 times, and Dorsey caught 4 of them for 41 yards.
More Schedule Information and Picks:
#5 Metter (1A Division I) at #9 Swainsboro (1A Division I)
Records Last Season
Metter (13-1, 7-0)
Swainsboro (11-3, 5-0)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Metter 32, Swainsboro 20 (at Metter)
Pick: Metter
Harlem (3A) at Greenbrier (5A)
Records Last Season
Harlem (5-6, 3-3)
Greenbrier (4-6, 3-4)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Harlem 29, Greenbrier 25 (at Greenbrier)
Pick: Harlem
Hephzibah (3A) at Westside (2A)
Records Last Season
Hephzibah (5-5, 3-3)
Westside (9-3. 7-1)
Pick: Hephzibah
Aiken (South Carolina 4A) at Lakeside (6A)
Records Last Season
Aiken (4-8, 2-2)
Lakeside (3-8, 2-3)
Pick: Lakeside
East Laurens (1A Division I) at #3 Washington-Wilkes (1A Division II)
Records Last Season
East Laurens (6-5, 2-3)
Washington-Wilkes (9-3, 4-1)
Pick: Washington-Wilkes
Jefferson County (1A Division 1) at Aquinas (1A Division II)
Records Last Season
Jefferson County (6-5, 5-2)
Aquinas (6-6, 3-3)
Pick: Aquinas
Strom Thurmond (South Carolina 2A) at Laney (2A)
Records Last Season
Strom Thurmond (4-4, 2-3)
Laney (6-5, 4-3)
Pick: Strom Thurmond
Grovetown (6A) at Midland Valley (South Carolina 4A)
Records Last Season
Grovetown (3-8, 2-3)
Midland Valley (1-10, 0-4)
Pick: Grovetown
Ridge Spring-Monetta (South Carolina 1A) at Augusta Christian (SCISA 3A)
*Televised live on MeTV Thursday at 7 p.m.
Records Last Season
Ridge Spring-Monetta (9-3, 5-1)
Augusta Christian (9-3, 3-1)
Pick: Ridge Spring-Monetta
Bryan County (1A Division I) at #9 Lincoln County (1A Division II)
Records Last Season
Bryan County (3-7, 2-5)
Lincoln County (8-4, 4-1)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Lincoln County 22, Bryan County 0 (at Lincoln County)
Pick: Lincoln County
Richmond Academy (3A) at Veterans (6A)
Records Last Season
Richmond (2-8, 2-5)
Veterans (2-9, 1-4)
Pick: Veterans
Williston-Elko (1A) at Barnwell (2A)
*Thursday Night Game
Records Last Season
Williston-Elko (3-8, 3-5)
Barnwell (8-5, 1-3)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Barnwell 35, Williston-Elko 0 (at Williston-Elko)
Pick: Barnwell
Fox Creek (2A) at St. Joseph’s Catholic (1A)
Records Last Season
Fox Creek (4-5, 2-3)
St. Joseph’s Catholic (8-3, 3-0)
Pick: Fox Creek
Allendale-Fairfax (1A) at Wagener-Salley (1A)
Records Last Season
Allendale-Fairfax (6-5, 4-2)
Wagener-Salley (4-6, 3-3)
Pick: Wagener-Salley
John Milledge Academy (GIAA 3A) at Brentwood (GIAA 2A)
Records Last Season
John Milledge (12-0, 3-0) – State Champion
Brentwood (11-1, 2-0) – State Champion
Pick: John Milledge
Josey (2A) at Savannah (1A, Division 1)
Records Last Season
Josey (2-7, 2-5)
Savannah (2-8, 1-5)
Pick: Josey
Thomas Jefferson Academy (GIAA 1A) at St. Andrew’s (GIAA 3A)
Records Last Season
Thomas Jefferson (12-1, 3-0) – State Champion
St. Andrew’s (4-5, 1-4)
Pick: Thomas Jefferson
Augusta Prep (GIAA 2A) at Bethlehem Christian (GIAA 3A)
Records Last Season
Augusta Prep (4-7, 0-3)
Bethlehem Christian (7-5, 1-2)
Last Season Head-to-Head
Bethlehem Christian 28, Augusta Prep 27 (at Augusta Prep)
Pick: Augusta Prep
Butler (2A) at Cross Creek (3A)
Records Last Season
Butler (0-10, 0-8)
Cross Creek (1-9, 1-7)
Pick: Cross Creek
Glenn Hills (2A) at Hancock Central (1A Division II)
Records Last Season
Glenn Hills (1-8, 1-7)
Hancock Central (2-7, 2-5)
Pick: Hancock Central
Glascock County (1A Division II) at Warren County (1A Division II)
Records Last Season
Glascock County (2-7, 1-3)
Warren County (9-4, 6-2)
Pick: Warren County
