It’s high school football game day in the CSRA.
That means it’s time for us to highlight the biggest games in our area and show off our football knowledge — or lack thereof — as we make our picks and predictions on the second week of gridiron action.
If last week was any indication, this week — and the season as a whole — should go down as a memorable one.
Sometimes it’s hard to know during the first week of the season which games should be considered marquee matchups. For example, how many thought that Harlem vs. Greenbrier was going to be such a barn burner? Who picked Evans to beat Thomson the way it did last week?
It begs the question, “what’s next” for this Friday’s action? Well, in a few hours, we’re about to find out.
You can see the full slate of last week’s scores and this week’s matchups across our CSRA coverage area to get you up to speed, but in this space, each week, we’re going to give analysis and picks for our top five games.
Who: North Augusta (0-0) at Thomson (0-1)
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: Things aren’t going to get any easier for the Bulldogs who will be looking to bounce back from last week’s loss at Evans. North Augusta is coming into its season opener as one of the area’s most highly touted squads with tons of talent, featuring an offensive line every bit as big and nasty as the Mason Short-led Evans unit with a running back in junior Michael Doe and dual-threat quarterback in senior Corey Tillman, Jr. Defensively, senior DE Deondre Baskett is a terror to an opponent’s offensive backfield. Senior Nick Grant should anchor an active secondary. This team, at least on paper, may be even more talented than Evans. But Thomson, even in defeat, showed tons of promise, particularly on offense. Quarterback Markevion Jones was solid in his first start behind center. Of course, there’s running back Anthony Jeffery, but a new offensive star in Jaris Sinkfield was born. Thomson’s defense was quite porous against Evans at times last week, so it’ll be interesting to see what improvements have happened between Game 1 and Game 2.
The Prediction: It’s really, really hard to pick against Thomson in the Brickyard. And even more difficult to imagine them starting the season 0-2. In fact, you’d have to go back to 2013 to find the last Thomson squad that dropped the first two games of its season. This could have the makings of another shootout. But North Augusta’s defense against a still-young quarterback may tip the scales here. North Augusta 31, Thomson 27.
Who: Grovetown (0-1) at Greenbrier (0-1)
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: At least a small part of the Greenbrier camp has to feel like it should be 1-0 this week after last week’s 38-37 overtime heartbreaker loss to Harlem. But no coach is going to glory long — if at all — in a moral victory. Greenbrier’s offense looked active last week. And the Wolfpack look hungry to break a skid of 21 losses in the last 22 games, dating back to the last two contests of the 2021 season. Greenbrier quarterback Brayden Stephens was very serviceable in his first start. The junior completed 14 of 25 passes for 154 yards and a pair of touchdown tosses while also rushing for 56 yards on 11 carries.
Fellow junior Cole Trupp was an effective compliment in the ground game with 80 yards on 14 carries and two rushing scores against Harlem last week. Meanwhile, Grovetown’s recent struggles continued with a 30-12 loss to Lakeside-Evans — its third setback against the Panthers in the last four meet-ups. The Warriors haven’t had a winning season since it won a region championship under then-coach Damien Postell back in 2018. Since then, Grovetown is a combined 9-23, and since the 2020 season, only two of those losses have been by less than two scores.
The Prediction: First-year Greenbrier coach Sean Tiernan seems to have a bought-in bunch that’s looking to reverse the Wolfpack’s recent misfortunes. Almost beating a solid Harlem program in Week 1 is a solid sign that the trajectory at Greenbrier is upward. Greenbrier 35, Grovetown 24.
Who: Bryan County (1-0) at Aquinas (0-1)
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: Aquinas drew a tough season opener last week on the road at Athens Academy. But now the Fightin’ Irish are chomping at the bit to get back home to their brand-spankin-new football stadium. It’s going to be a festive night with likely a jam-packed house looking to catch a first glimpse at the new digs in regular season football mode. That should help coach James Leonard’s squad get over last week’s 45-22 setback to Athens Academy a bit more quickly than normal. Aquinas has plenty of returning talent, starting with senior Davidson commit Jim Franklin at quarterback. But Bryan County isn’t coming to Augusta to be a co-star in Aquinas’ feel-good Friday night. The Redskins knocked off Johnson 20-12 in their season opener last week and did so without completing a single pass. Quarterback Trevor Lanier went 0-for-5 with an interception last week, but junior running back Anddreas McKinley and his 111 rushing yards made sure the passing game wasn’t needed. In all, the Redskins rushed for 200 yards, and that run game could pose a few challenges.
The Prediction: There’s going to be so much intangible fire at Aquinas High School for this one that it’s hard to imagine a let down here. Aquinas 38, Bryan County 17.
Who: Laney (0-1) at Hephzibah (1-0)
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: The Rebels flexed some offensive firepower in last week’s 34-24 win against Washington-Wilkes, while Laney probably left its season-opening 7-6 loss in a shortened game against Westside with more questions than answers. Not much changed for the Wildcats this week, as the coaching staff worked to keep things as normal as possible following last week’s opener that got called late in the third quarter due to gunfire ringing out near Laney’s stadium. In the game, the Wildcats had some decent moments on either side of the ball, which was encouraging, given how much talent it had to replace from last season.
Senior quarterback Chimere Sturgis zipped the ball around with precision in spots, and was responsible for Laney’s lone touchdown on a long pass play to cap off a scoring drive on the first possession of the third quarter. The Wildcat defense limited Jeanarion Kamga to just 45 rushing yards on 10 carries, also forcing a pair of fumbles and making it generally difficult for the Patriots to get anything done offensively. Hephzibah’s run game will pose a formidable challenge. Quarterback J.J. Gant rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns last week while sophomore Reante Byrd was a workhorse with 193 yards on 30 carries. Anytime you show the ability to rush for 400 yards in a football game, you have the makings of a potentially dangerous squad.
The Prediction: We think Laney’s going to get really good before the season is over. The Wildcats are young in several key places, particularly on offense, but the talent is there. However, Hephzibah should win this one. Hephzibah 21, Laney 14.
Who: J.L. Mann (0-0) at Midland Valley (0-0)
When: Friday, Aug. 23, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: This is a really tough way to open a new season for the Mustangs. First, J.L. Mann will be a solid opponent, coming off an 11-3 campaign last year which followed a 7-5 season in 2022 with postseason berths both years. The Patriots lose some talent like graduated, 3,000-yard quarterback and Clemson signee Ethan Anderson and 1,400-yard receiver Mikel McClellan. But last year’s backup McLeod Darnell showed enough flashes in backup duty to seem fit for the job, while running backs Na’Cyus Morrison (963 yards and 20 TDs in 2023) and OJ Jones (631 yards and 4 TDs) return along with another 1,000-yard receiver in Keyshun Henderson. Simply stated, Mann’s coming into the season ranked No. 5 in South Carolina by MaxPreps, regardless of classification, for a reason.
Beyond the opponent, Midland Valley’s breaking in a new coach as Brent Dorn replaces Earl Chaptman. Gone is 3,000-yard rusher Trayvon Dunbar, along with several other key components from a record-setting 2023 season. Quarterback Preston Butler and 1,000-yard rusher Preston McNair will ensure that the Mustangs’ offensive cupboard isn’t completely void of talent. But all eyes will be on Midland’s defense which, even during a 12-1 season last year, had a lot of bend-but-don’t-break moments against top offenses. And that Midland defense won’t see many offenses better than Mann’s this season.
The Prediction: Please don’t set Midland Valley up for failure by expecting a repeat performance of last year. That’s too much to ask given all the shifts, changes and talent lost to graduation since December. But that doesn’t mean the Mustangs can’t be good. Good enough to beat J.L. Mann on opening night though? Probably not. J.L. Mann 41, Midland Valley 27.
