It’s high school football game day once again in the Augusta area, and as always, we’ve got you covered with analysis, insight and the best stories we can find during the season.
Doesn’t it feel like football season takes forever to come, but once it’s here, it moves so fast? Some of our local teams are already on Game 3 of the season while a handful are already jumping into region play.
Last week we saw North Augusta jump off to a solid start to its season with an impressive win at Thomson, with many of our South Carolina area schools also beginning their 2024 campaigns.
And now that Aquinas has gotten that historic stadium groundbreaking game behind it, the Fightin’ Irish can zoom its focus in on a Region 4-AAA championship and more.
We’re going to monitor scores, highlights and notable plays and players for every game that’s happening in our 33-team coverage area this week. But here are the five games we’re picking for this week’s games to watch.
Who: Grovetown (0-2) at Evans (1-0)
When: Friday August 30, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: We get to welcome the Knights back to the Friday night slate two weeks removed from an emotional season opening 35-28 win against Thomson. That means, we’ll begin to see how Evans takes the next step in this season from beating a team many thought it wouldn’t to how it performs against a struggling Grovetown squad that most think the Knights should handle handily. Meanwhile, the Warriors are desperately trying to get back to winning football. Grovetown’s last victory came on Sept. 15, 2023 in a 63-43 decision over Jefferson County. Since then, it’s been eight straight losses, many not being real close. Evans will look to senior quarterback EJ Hogan to pick up where he left off two weeks ago, going 8-for-8 passing with 157 yards and two scores through the air, along with a rushing touchdown and, most importantly, no turnovers. We’ll get to see more of Buddyrow Garrer who had several electrifying plays in Week 1. But also, sophomore receiver Christian Scott who caught four balls for 86 yards and a touchdown, as well as junior running back Jeremy Howard who ran for 78 yards on 12 carries.
The Prediction: Evans looked more explosive on offense than it has in a couple of seasons, while the defense held serve against a Thomson squad with plenty of offensive weaponry at its disposal. This one is a rivalry, which means anything can happen. But we expect Evans to get its sixth win in a row in this series: Evans 38, Grovetown 10.
Who: South Aiken (1-0) at Lakeside (1-0)
When: Friday August 30, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: Fans who watch this game will get a chance to peek at one of the best running back talents in the area in South Aiken’s Jevon Edwards. The senior tailback, with several Division I offers from the likes of Army, Charlotte, East Carolina and Gardner-Webb, opened his 2024 campaign by thrashing Silver Bluff’s defense in last week’s season opener to the tune of 303 rushing yards on 37 carries. That’s 8.2 yards per touch. His four touchdowns helped South Aiken to a 35-18 win. This debut comes after Edwards’ solid 2023 season where he ran for 1,442 yards and 16 touchdowns. Lakeside will counter with a deft running game of its own. The Panthers rolled up 346 yards on the ground in its season opening win against Grovetown two weeks ago. Senior quarterback Ty Jones had 179 of those yards and two of the Panthers’ four ground game scores. He was helped by senior Brandon Grissom’s 100 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. This game will come down to which team his sturdiest against the run. The last time Lakeside started a season 2-0 was 2019. That was also the last Panther team to post a winning record.
The Prediction: A hard one to decipher with two teams that look really similar on paper with just one game of film to go off of. It should be competitive and go by fast, as both teams will look to run much more than they pass. We’ll take the home team here. Lakeside 35, South Aiken 28.
Who: Putnam County (0-2) at Laney (1-1)
When: Friday August 30, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: It doesn’t look sexy on paper, but we’re watching this one because we’re still trying to get a bead on just how good this Laney squad can be. Wildcats coach Ronnie Baker talked about how young and inexperienced his team was coming into this season, thanks to the exodus of a large, talented senior class. But Laney looked the part through three quarters of a shortened season opener against Westside. And then surprised some with a solid offensive showing in a 30-21 win at Hephzibah last week. Putnam County and Oglethorpe County — Laney’s next two non-region tests — are a combined 0-4. Maybe the real litmus test will be Sept. 13 when the Wildcats go to Greene County (2-0) just before region play begins. But we’re watching how this team plays against an opponent that, at least on paper, it looks like it should beat.
The Prediction: The last time Laney was at home, gun fire cheated it out of an opportunity to start the season 1-0. Laney wants to get back to focusing only on winning football games at its home stadium, and they should have no problem here. Laney 38, Putnam County 14.
Who: Burke County (2-0) at Benedictine (0-2)
When: Friday, August 30, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: Don’t let that 0-2 next to Benedictine fool you. The 2023 Class AAAA semifinalists and former Burke County region foe is still “that team.” The Cadets opened their season with a 41-17 loss to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee (N.C.), the No. 4 team in North Carolina, regardless of classification, then dropped a 29-28 heartbreaker last week to Buford which happens to be the No. 21 ranked team in the country, according to MaxPreps.com. There are some new faces for the Cadets, including at quarterback where junior Stephen Cannon replaces Luke Kromenhoek who’s now a freshman at Florida State. But programs like Benedictine don’t rebuild as much as they reload. That’s the kind of program Burke County coach Franklin Stephens wants to turn the Bears into over time. It starts with beating teams like Benedictine, even if this game is no longer a region game. Burke County’s gotten off to a strong start with lopsided wins over Richmond County teams, Cross Creek and Richmond Academy. Needless to say, it’s taking a huge step up in competition when it travels to Savannah. Burke County quarterback Sean Vandiver is much more experienced and ready to lead his offense into unfriendly confines of Savannah Memorial Stadium. The Bears have two electric playmakers in seniors A’merre Williams (running back) and receiver Kel’von Scott.
The Prediction: After a slow start in last year’s region matchup, Burke County stormed back to a near upset bid at home. It’s a different beast playing Benedictine on the road, though. The Cadets are still finding themselves a bit, so it could be a tight ballgame, especially early. Just hard to pick against a team like that on its own home field. Benedictine 31, Burke County 17.
Who: Lexington (S.C.) (1-0) at North Augusta (1-0)
When: Friday, August 30, 2024, 7:30 p.m.
The Matchup: What will coach Richard Bush’s team do for an encore after what he called an “ugly” but good win at Thomson? Hopefully knock off 2023 South Carolina playoff team Lexington which would allow the Yellow Jackets to take another momentum step in its quest for a region crown. North Augusta’s defense is salty. Despite Thomson’s 0-2 start, the Bulldogs have offensive playmakers all up and down its roster, and to hold that team scoreless in the first half is no small feat. Offensively, running back Michael Doe and wideout Connor Brown are top-tier weapons. Quarterback Corey Tillman, Jr. looked in command of the offense in Thomson. North Augusta fans will be ready to root their Yellow Jackets on in the home opener, which should give North Augusta a solid atmosphere edge to go along with its ample talent on both sides of the ball.
The Prediction: It’s always tempting to stare at the skill position talent, but next time you watch North Augusta, take a look at that offensive line. Especially No. 65. Malcolm Gaston is a legit Power 4 talent with the offers to prove it. We think the difference in this game will be in the trenches. North Augusta 28, Lexington 10.
