Last week as Friday approached and the season officially opened, the buzz on social media and the hype from fans about several high-profile matchups almost made it feel like the playoffs had arrived.
Quick Recap of Week 1
On Aug. 19, Thomson came within a deflected pass at the goal line of extending a two-game winning streak over its archrival Burke County. But the Bears used a genuinely all-around team effort to spoil the first home game for the Bulldogs with a 24-21 Burke County victory that was in doubt until the game’s final seconds.
The Bulldogs of Silver Bluff also fell in front of their home crowd at the hands of an out-for-revenge foe in South Aiken. The Thoroughbreds avenged a 40-0 defeat from a year ago with a convincing 36-14 win over the class 2A lower state champion.
And Evans topped North Augusta 16-7 at home, marking the first time in a quarter century that the Knights have been able to defeat the Yellow Jackets. In addition to the impressive showing on the field, Evans junior John Lane, a standout in the school’s third level audio-visual class, excelled by capturing the team’s performance and the Friday night vibe from the sidelines in this wonderful video:
Those three games were previewed in detail in this space last Tuesday, and I picked Thomson, Silver Bluff and North Augusta to win. That’s right. I went 0 for 3 in picking the featured games (14 for 23 overall)! It’s difficult to predict the future, high school football results included.
Week 2 Preview
Let’s look at this Friday’s matchups and commend some of last week’s top performers along the way.
Laney (1-0) at Hephzibah (1-0)
Pick: Hephzibah
This matchup between steadily improving Richmond County teams might be the most intriguing of week two. Laney tallied an impressive 16-0 win over Strom Thurmond last Friday, holding the Rebels to only 15 rushing yards and winning the overall yardage battle 254 to 146. Laney kept Strom Thurmond’s offense off the field by taking care of the football (zero turnovers) and running it effectively (173 rushing yards). And when Laney’s defense did take the field, it showed why some people believe its front seven can outplay any defensive front in the area.
Those ingredients would seem like the right recipe for a win at Hephzibah this week because it will take a strong defensive showing to slow down the dynamic offense the Rebels sported last Friday in a commanding 32-3 victory over Westside. That offense runs on the passing ability of senior quarterback Jalen Patrick (1709 passing yards and 21 touchdowns last season), the high-flying receiving skills of senior Eric Grant (10 TDs last year), and the combined rushing efforts of juniors Telly Johnson and Jaylon Alford. But even if Laney manages to address that triple threat from the Rebels, Patrick still possesses the ability to make something out of nothing, using his elusiveness and speed to run away from Laney’s vaunted defense.
Patrick’s complete array of abilities and his exceptional athleticism make him my choice for the area’s most dangerous quarterback. And he’s the reason I picked Hephzibah to win this Friday against Laney in what will be one of a few games this season that will decide which team will have bragging rights in Richmond County.
Grovetown (1-0) at Greenbrier (0-1)
Pick: Grovetown
Speaking of county bragging rights, this one will impact such conversations in Columbia County. But when Grovetown and Greenbrier clash every season, it’s all about “the hammer.” That’s the actual sledgehammer that the winning team takes home after every game between the schools to keep it safe before they fight over it again twelve months later.
After Grovetown toppled Greenbrier 34-16 last season, the Wolfpack probably felt like they had been struck by that sledgehammer. The Warriors piled up 300 rushing yards in that game, and the return of Joseph Jean, Zaidon Gunn and Cardelle Rudolph suggests that the team’s rushing prowess should remain intact. But what leaves me no choice but to predict that Grovetown will remain the keeper of the hammer for at least another year is the emergence of a passing game for the Warriors.
Junior Amare Clark, a capable passer, has moved behind center for a team that gained only 200 yards through the air all last season. Clark’s value revealed itself last Friday towards the end of the first half when Grovetown looked to build on a 15-10 lead against Midland Valley. On the final drive of the second quarter, Clark completed passes of 35 and 50 yards before connecting on a short touchdown strike right before halftime. Grovetown then received the second half kickoff, and shortly afterwards Clark threw another touchdown completion, this time a 65-yarder. It was his second touchdown pass of the game, which matched the total Grovetown was able to tally all last season.
Jefferson County (0-1) at Thomson (1-0)
Pick: Thomson
Effingham County (0-1) at Burke County (1-0)
Pick: Burke County
Burke County and Thomson will try to regroup from last Friday’s instant classic at the Brickyard in time to defend the home field against a couple familiar opponents. Thomson blitzed Jefferson County 35-6 a year ago, and the last time Burke County and Effingham County met, the Bears prevailed 47-35. Burke County will have a tougher test in Effingham County this Friday than Thomson will with Jefferson County, but I think both local powerhouses will come out on top.
But before we close the books on last week’s Thomson-Burke County showdown, I want to recognize some of the standout performances that I was unable to include in my game report from Friday night.
Burke County’s All Around Team Effort
Burke County’s senior quarterback Marshall Flowers took home WJBF’s McDonald’s Offensive Player of the Game award after passing for 177 yards and two touchdowns. Flowers spread the ball around like I’ve never seen by completing passes to no fewer than eight different receivers: Kohen Rogers, Donta Williams, A’merre Williams, Noah Boynton, Mason Flakes, Jeremy Richardson, Charlie Dorsey and Zion Wilson. Donta Williams and Richardson were the recipients of the two touchdown passes. The first, to Williams, put Burke County ahead 17-14 toward the end of the second quarter. The second, to Richardson, gave the Bears a 24-21 lead, which turned out to be the final score, at the end of the third.
Charlie Dorsey rushed for 110 yards on 14 carries, and the most important run of the game might have been his 67-yard scamper in the second quarter that began on Burke County’s own 3-yard line. As you can see in the video below, the way was paved for Dorsey by left tackle Chavous Johnson (#65), a senior captain who takes a linebacker to the ground and in the process impedes the pursuit of three more Bulldog defenders!
Thomson’s Standouts
For good reason, much attention is focused on Thomson’s senior blur of a running back Jontavis Curry, who rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns Friday while gaining another 39 yards receiving. But the Bulldogs also benefited from the contributions of two more backs, junior Jordan Lane (48 rushing yards and 1 touchdown) and sophomore Anthony Jeffery (10 carries for 85 yards).
Meanwhile Thomson’s defense was powered by the play of sophomore lineman Dan’Quavious Cummings and senior linebacker Jaquan Hart. It’s uncommon for a defensive lineman to stuff the stat sheet, but that’s exactly what Cummings did by recording four tackles, three more for a loss, and making a sack too. Hart piled on with four tackles, a sack, two deflected passes and a quarterback hurry.
More Week 2 Games and Picks
Lexington (0-1) at South Aiken (1-0)
Pick: South Aiken
Aquinas (1-0) at Westside (0-1)
Pick: Aquinas
Silver Bluff (0-1) at Socastee (1-0)
Pick: Silver Bluff
#9 Swainsboro (1-0) at Washington County (0-0)
Pick: Washington County
Hancock Central (1-0) at Harlem (1-0)
Pick: Harlem
#7 Barnwell (1-0) at Blackville-Hilda (0-0)
Pick: Barnwell
Dorman (1-0) at North Augusta (0-1)
Pick: Dorman
McCormick (0-1) at #8 Lincoln County (1-0)
Pick: Lincoln County
Aiken (0-1) at #3 Appling County (GA Class 2A)
Pick: Appling County
#5 Saluda (0-1) at Ridge Spring-Monetta (0-1)
Pick: Saluda
Bulloch Academy (1-0) at Augusta Christian (1-0)
Pick: Augusta Christian
Richmond (0-1) at Savannah (0-1)
Pick: Richmond
Warren County (0-0) at #10 Montgomery County (0-0)
Pick: Montgomery County
Midland Valley (0-1) at Strom Thurmond (0-1)
Pick: Strom Thurmond
Fox Creek (0-1) at Lakewood (0-1)
Pick: Fox Creek
Thomas Jefferson Academy (1-0) at Briarwood (0-0)
Pick: Thomas Jefferson
Wagener-Salley (1-0) at Lewisville (1-0)
Pick: Wagener-Salley
Cross Creek (0-1) at Glenn Hills (0-1)
Pick: Cross Creek
Westminster (0-0) at Westwood (0-0) – Saturday
Pick: Westminster
