(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Augusta Press.)
With one-third of the regular season schedule behind us, we are starting to learn about which teams will be likely to shine when the region schedule begins, which for a few teams will be this Friday, the fifth week of the season.
After last Friday’s 50-14 beating of Evans (class 6A) in Waynesboro, the #8 ranked Burke County Bears (4A) have proven that they are almost in a class by themselves when considering the area’s best teams. I say almost because #7 Thomson (2A) showed it belongs alongside Burke County (3-0) when the two teams opened the season with an instant classic of a game that looked more like a state playoff battle than a mid-August matchup.
Thomson (2-1) will be among the first teams to begin region action this Friday when the Bulldogs travel to Laney (3-0) for what has gradually become a highly anticipated matchup while the Wildcats have tallied wins in each of their first three games. Burke County won’t begin its “second season” until Sept/ 30, so the Bears will take the opportunity to hone their skills against Oconee County, the #4 ranked team in class 3A, in a non-region clash this Friday in the Bear Den.
MORE: Burke County edges Thomson
Also ranked in the top 10 by the Georgia High School Football Daily newsletter is #6 Aquinas (1A Division II), one spot behind region rival Washington-Wilkes. The Fighting Irish (3-0) and the Tigers (3-0) belong to an exciting seven team region that also includes Lincoln County (2-1) and Greene County (3-1). That grouping will begin its second season Sept. 30. But this Friday will provide Aquinas and Washington-Wilkes both a special opportunity to prepare when the Fightin’ Irish will host Harlem (3-1) of class 3A, and the Tigers will get a visit from #10 Elbert County (1A Division I).
With the exception of #3 Barnwell (3A), the area schools on the South Carolina side of the border have been unable to break into the weekly top 10 rankings from the S.C. Prep Media poll. The Warhorses (4-0) will host Aiken (0-4) this Friday, possibly keeping a trend alive in which the Aiken County schools that all occupy the same class 4A region have taken their lumps during non-region play against a seemingly never ending stream of ranked opponents.
Defending region champion South Aiken (1-3) will host undefeated White Knoll Friday after suffering losses against #6 Gilbert (3A) and #10 River Bluff (5A) the past two weeks. And after falling to #4 Dorman last Friday, North Augusta (1-3) will get a visit from #1 Dutch Fork (5A), winner of five of the last six state championships in South Carolina’s highest classification. And Barnwell will be the second ranked opponent Aiken has faced in two weeks after the Hornets fell to #5 Clinton (3A) last Friday.
South Aiken and North Augusta will clash on Sept. 30 in the region opener for both teams. That rivalry game often decides the region champion. Both teams should be sharp when that pivotal contest arrives after playing the best the state has to offer. Midland Valley and Aiken will be seeking to upset the order as well.
Week 5 Schedule, Previews and Picks
#4 Oconee County (3-1) at #8 Burke County (3-0)
Pick: Burke County
So far this season, Burke County has displayed the most complete and varied attack of any area team. Head coach Eric Parker and his staff have done a wonderful job of engaging an abundance of talented playmakers on both sides of the ball, as well as on special teams.
Take senior Jordan Franklin, who missed all of last season with an injury after a breakout sophomore campaign. Already this year, Franklin has returned a kickoff for a touchdown against Evans, and scored a rushing touchdown early in the game against Thomson. And later in that same game Franklin made what eventually amounted to a game saving tackle for a loss on first-and-goal from the 2-yard line to push Thomson back towards the 10-yard line on the deciding series.
A similar abundance of talent shows through in the passing game, which is led by three-year starter Marshall Flowers, who has thrown for an average of 161 yards and two touchdowns per game while completing 60% of his passes. What stands out is that the defense can never know whom Flowers will target next. Eleven different receivers have caught at least one pass, and five have found the end zone already.
Interestingly, last year’s leading receiver, Jaylen Golphin (5 touchdowns and 25 yards per reception), has yet to catch a pass from Flowers. But Golphin has stayed busy, and productive. It was Golphin who made the tackle for a loss and broke up a pass on fourth down to end Thomson’s final two offensive possessions in the memorable season opener.
The year is still young. But whether it be the variety of offensive weapons, the stingy defense (14 points per game allowed against three good teams), or the effectiveness of its special teams (3 touchdowns against Evans), much of the evidence suggests that this could be the best squad Burke County has fielded in at least five seasons. This Friday’s game against a second top 10 opponent will provide the Bears a chance to continue to make progress towards making that idea a reality.
#7 Thomson (2-1) at Laney (3-0)
Pick: Laney
Last week’s column went in depth with second year head coach Ronnie Baker about Laney’s new philosophy, the dedication of its players to the process it has entailed, and the team’s impressive execution during the non-region portion of its schedule. The team’s fastest start in 15 seasons has Laney’s dedicated fan base optimistic that the Wildcats can upset the mighty Bulldogs of Thomson.
MORE: Chad Cook: A look ahead to week 4
Laney’s physical front forms the initial ingredients needed to pull off such an upset. Thomson has rushed for nearly 280 yards per game, and its explosive offensive has revolved around the most electric back anybody around here has seen in years, senior Jontavis Curry, who has accounted for 491 yards from scrimmage and 6 touchdowns through three games. Laney’s front seven will need to stand up to Thomson’s sizable offensive line and find a way to corral Curry before he breaks loose for one of his patented long runs to the house.
Further, Laney’s secondary will need to play disciplined football to contain Thomson’s dangerous weapons on the outside, namely senior Marcellus Brigham (164 receiving yards and two touchdowns this year), who actually played his first two seasons, plus one game of his junior year, for Laney before transferring to Thomson and missing the rest of his eleventh grade season. And even if Laney’s can somehow contain Curry and Brigham, they will also need to contend with junior Jordan Lane (168 combined yards rushing and receiving and three touchdowns) and Anthony Jeffrey (194 rushing yards and three touchdowns).
All of that seems almost too much to ask of Laney’s still developing group. So the real recipe for a win on the Boulevard for the home team will have to be an inspired defensive effort combined with an offensive that can methodically run the ball and move the chains, which would allow Laney to eat up the clock and keep Thomson’s offense off the field.
Laney has proven itself capable of doing just that so far this season. During wins against Hephzibah and First Presbyterian, the Wildcats rushed for greater than 500 yards and 7 touchdowns combined. Junior CJ Holmes is coming off of one of the best individual offensive performances of any area player this season. In Friday’s 26-14 win over First Presbyterian, Holmes rushed 24 times for 251 yards and three touchdowns while gaining another 64 yards receiving.
The Wildcats have the ingredients for success this Friday. But at this point in the transformation process, it might be too much to ask for them to hit so precisely on every note in order to pull off what was unimaginable to most only a few weeks ago.
Harlem (3-1) at #6 Aquinas (3-0)
Pick: Aquinas
During the past four seasons, the Aquinas-Harlem game has become probably the most reliably entertaining non-region game of the year. And this season’s edition has the potential to be the best one yet. Aquinas employs a potent offense (33 points and 387 total yards per game) that is powered by the arm of 6-3 sophomore Jim Franklin, who has passed for 612 yards and seven touchdowns through three games.
Intending to thwart that aerial attack no doubt will be senior defensive back Jonathan Howard, one of the area’s most exciting and productive two-way players. Howard has had a hand in breaking up and intercepting passes against the best offenses in the area for two seasons.
But as good as Howard is, it is likely that the best player on the field will be Aquinas junior Clark Jackson, whose production has been unparalleled so far this year. Through three games, Jackson has had a hand in 46 tackles (27 solo), and 6 have been for a loss. On the other side of the ball, he has rushed for 290 yards and 6 touchdowns, and he’s added another 90 yards receiving and a touchdown.
The attention of Jackson and his defensive teammates will need to be on Harlem running back Jason Williams, who has already rushed for 11 touchdowns through four games. Williams, who is averaging well over 100 rushing yards per game this season, will be no stranger to Aquinas and its fans after last year’s breakout game (136 yards and a touchdown) in the season opener. Harlem took that one 28-14 in a two day affair after a weather shortened Friday night. Aquinas was victorious in the three games leading up to last year in this budding rivalry series.
More Games and Picks
#1 Dutch Fork (4-0) at North Augusta (1-3)
Pick: Dutch Fork
White Knoll (3-0) at South Aiken (1-3)
Pick: South Aiken
Strom Thurmond (1-2) at Evans (2-1)
Pick: Evans
#10 Elbert County (3-0) at #5 Washington-Wilkes (3-0)
Pick: Elbert County
#3 Barnwell (4-0) at Aiken (0-4)
Pick: Barnwell
Jefferson County (1-2) at Grovetown (2-1)
Pick: Grovetown
Lakeside (2-1) at Veterans (2-1)
Pick: Lakeside
Lincoln County (2-1) at Commerce (1-2)
Pick: Lincoln County
#2 Swainsboro (4-0) at Emanuel County Institute (1-2)
Pick: Swainsboro
Butler (2-1) at #8 Putnam County (2-1) – Region
Pick: Putnam County
Trinity Collegiate (1-3) at Augusta Christian (2-2) – Region
Pick: Augusta Christian
Washington County (0-3) at Glenn Hills (1-3) – Region
Pick: Washington County
Westwood (0-4) at Midland Valley (2-2)
Pick: Midland Valley
Hancock Central (1-2) at Warren County (1-2)
Pick: Warren County
Westside (0-3) at Josey (2-1) – Region – Saturday
Pick: Westside
Blackville-Hilda (0-3) at Denmark-Olar (2-1)
Pick: Denmark-Olar
Orangeburg-Wilkinson (1-3) at Silver Bluff (0-3)
Pick: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
#5 Lewisville (4-0) at Ridge Spring-Monetta (0-3)
Pick: Lewisville
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (3-1) at Wagener-Salley (1-3) – Region
Pick: Wagener-Salley
Airport (1-3) at Fox Creek (0-3)
Pick: Fox Creek
Holy Spirit Prep (2-0) at Westminster (1-2)
Pick: Westminster
Calhoun (3-1) at Williston-Elko (0-3) – Region
Pick: Calhoun
Savannah (0-4) vs Cross Creek (0-3)
Pick: Cross Creek
