If you’re a football fan, like most people in the South are, you’re probably chomping at the bit to catch as much action as you can, as the season draws near.
The local high school scene promises to be one to remember as an uptick in collegiate-level talent across the CSRA increases the chances of seeing some high-level football being played throughout the area in 2024.
So, as much as you might want to try your best to catch all the action, we’re going to give you five “can’t-miss matchups” — in no particular order — that we think you’ll definitely want to circle on your calendar.
Who: Burke County at Thomson
When: Friday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Thomson High School, Thomson, Ga.
Why: These two teams lately have been accustomed to starting the season off against each other. But you’ll have to wait a little later to catch this classic CSRA rivalry, as Burke County and Thomson are back in the same region for the first time since they shared Region 4-AAA back in 2021. This will be the 41st matchup in this long-running rivalry, and while Burke County leads the series 22-18, it’s almost a given that these two teams play to the wire. Last year, Burke outlasted Thomson 14-12. That came one year after the Bears traveled to the Brickyard and won by a field goal. In fact, you’ll have to go all the way back to November 4, 2011 to find the last time a Burke County-Thomson game was decided by more than 16 points. And it doesn’t take rocket science to know that this already-intense rivalry will get hotter this year with region and playoff implications on the line.
Who: North Augusta at Thomson
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Thomson High School, Thomson, Ga.
Why: It’s sort of hard to believe that these two schools haven’t met more often, given their CSRA proximity and the success and history of their programs. This will be just the fifth meeting between these two schools. The last two came in 2018 and 2019 with the two-game series. Before that, you’ll have to go back to 1923 and 1924 — both games won by Thomson. Thomson seems to always be loaded and always challenging for a state championship. But North Augusta coach Richard Bush is feeling good about the collection of talent on this year’s squad, particularly with guys like quarterback Corey Tillman returning and junior tailback Michael Doe coming back after a strong sophomore campaign where he rushed for 1,102 yards and 14 touchdowns for a team that was a missed field goal away from a South Carolina Region 4-AAAA title last year. Meanwhile, for whatever other answers Thomson’s looking for at positions like quarterback, Kent State commit Anthony Jeffery provides reasons for coach Michael Youngblood to have confidence in his offense. Even more impressive than Jeffery’s 1,138 rushing yards in 2023 was his 8.6 yards-per-carry average. The Brickyard atmosphere will make this a fun game to watch.
Who: Aquinas at Westside
When: Friday, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Westside High School, Augusta
Why: We’ll call this game a barometer game, particularly for Westside — a program that was really close to getting over the hump in 2023, but seems primed to take that next step. Meanwhile, Aquinas is has left the Class A ranks and has moved to Class AAA with an ultra-talented squad. This game will be intriguing simply because it will feature two of the CSRA’s most dynamic offensive talents in Westside senior running back Jeanarion Kamga and Aquinas quarterback and Davidson commit, Jim Franklin. Kamga piled up 1,504 rushing yards on just 201 carries — that’s a 7.5 yard-per-tote average, to go with 14 rushing scores. At times, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound back literally carried the Westside offense, almost singlehandedly willing the Patriots to victory at times. Meanwhile, Franklin’s 2,692 passing yards, 31 touchdowns and 68% pass completion rate puts him as the top returning signal caller in the area. Aquinas could safely be called the favorite in this new Region 4-AAA, but a win by Westside here could make a strong case for the Patriots.
Who: Cross Creek at Burke County
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Burke County High School, Waynesboro, Ga.
Why: One of the teams really worth watching this season is the Cross Creek Razorbacks. Without making any predictions, it can be safe to say that this has the chance to be the most talented — and perhaps just all-around best — Cross Creek football team at least since 2016, if not longer. The Razorbacks definitely boast one of the best players in recent program history in 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior Nasan Houston. He can line up at defensive end, tight end or at one of the linebacker positions and dominate. He’s got legit college football scholarship offers and will likely attract more with his play. But it’s not just him. The Cross Creek roster just looks different than what we’ve seen. Credit that to coach Ezzard Horn being the first coach to stay on at the school for more than two years in a decade. Are we saying Cross Creek travels to Burke County and scores the upset? Not necessarily. But this definitely is a game to watch to see exactly how far along Horn’s rebuilding project is, and how much, in year three, has Cross Creek closed the talent gap on the rest of the area.
Who: Midland Valley at Gray Collegiate Academy
When: Friday Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m.
Where: West Columbia, S.C.
Why: What will Midland Valley do for an encore to 2023? Record-setting running back and offense. Record-setting undefeated regular season. First region championship in years. Deepest playoff run since 2015. But now, thanks to some offseason, a new coach in Brent Dorn. Midland Valley’s cupboard talent isn’t bare. But what we don’t know is how much the exodus of a 3,000-yard rusher in Trevon Dunbar, plus several other all-region caliber performers and the departure of coach Earl Chaptman who put so much of this together will impact this team. This game won’t be the first test of the season for Midland. They’ll open up with a real stiff opponent in J.L. Mann on Aug. 23. But not only does Gray Collegiate play a “prep program” schedule, the War Eagles now have a former CSRA coach in Deangelo Bryant taking the program’s helm after a six-year stint at Silver Bluff. It’ll be interesting to see where both of these teams are at at this stage of the season — the beginning of region play — given the fact that Bryant will be the first coach not named Adam Holmes in program history.
