Blackville-Hilda takes on Wagener-Salley in 1 vs. 2 showdown in Class A Division II

Sumter – Blackville-Hilda High School will be traveling to Wagener-Salley on Friday for a football game. It’s a big game because it’s the Region 4-Class A opener for both schools. It’s a big game because the War Eagles come in undefeated with a 6-0 record, while B-H comes in 5-1 after suffering a 39-38 loss to Portal from Georgia last week.

Oh yeah, there’s one more reason it’s a big game. B-H is ranked No. 1 in the High School Sports Report Class A Division II poll, while the War Eagles are No. 2.

While acknowledging all of the hoopla that will surround the game, Blackville-Hilda head coach Dwayne Garrick said it doesn’t make much difference that perhaps the two best teams in the region are facing off in the region opener.

“It should be a big-time, fun atmosphere,” said Garrick, a veteran head coach who is in his first season with the Hawks. “Wagener-Salley has got a ton of athletes. I don’t think it matters (that the teams are facing off so early). We just knew this would be a very good team, and we have to prepare for them this Friday.”

Along with being in his first season at B-H, Garrick has been dealing with the merger of the football players from Williston-Elko with his team.

While W-E is still open, its B team, junior varsity and varsity football players now make the 10-mile commute to play for Blackville-Hilda. The move was approved by the South Carolina High School League and the other Region 4 members to help maintain safe roster numbers and competitive opportunities.

“This is our first year with this deal, putting these teams together,” Garrick said. “Our kids have done a really good job of gelling together. I think we’re right on track to where we want to be.”

The Hawks’ offense revolves around the running game in general and senior Jayden Peeples in particular. The team is averaging 314.0 rushing yards per game with Peeples accounting for an average of 198.5 of those.

Peeples has 1,191 yards and 16 touchdowns on 109 carries.  

B-H has thrown only 40 passes between two quarterbacks. Sophomore Ahmad Brown has completed 11 of 22 passes for 174 yards and four scores, while junior Trevor Kinard is 14 of 18 for 209 yards and two scores.

Senior Darrell Newman is the leading receiver with seven catches for 143 yards and three TDs. Junior Deonte Jamison has six catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Up until the game against 5-1 Portal, Blackville-Hilda hadn’t allowed more than eight points in a game. Sophomore outside linebacker Jordan Dash is the leading tackler with 30 and is tied for the lead in tackles for loss with three. The others with three TFLs are both juniors, defensive end Chayce Hallinquest and middle linebacker Joseph Lott.

Junior cornerback Kaleb Brooks has four interceptions.

Under first-year head coach E’Mond Brown, Wagener-Salley has already bypassed its victory total from last year when it went 5-7 and reached the second round of the state playoffs.

Brown said the expectations were high for the Eagles coming into the season.

“Honestly, I wouldn't call it surprised,” Brown said of the undefeated mark. “It is moreso reaping the rewards of hard work being put in and just having faith in our abilities.

“The reasons for success are we are a family first, we protect each other, and we look out for each other, a true brotherhood.”

Senior quarterback Zamien Capers is the leader of the offense. Through five games, he had completed 33 of 56 passes for 753 yards and 11 touchdowns while rushing for 173 yards and five TDs on 13 carries,

Senior Trenton Summers was the top pass catcher with 14 for 370 yards and five scores. Sophomore Amarion Bell had five receptions for 203 yards and four touchdowns, senior Jaden Collins had nine receptions for 84 yards, and junior Jaiden Gilchrist had two touchdown receptions among his four catches for 89 yards.

Senior Aden Coates was the leading rusher with 211 yards and two TDs on 20 carries. He also has four catches for 91 yards and a score.

Senior defensive end Kaleb Landy is the leader of the defense. He had 49 tackles, 35 of them solo stops, 11 TFLs and two quarterback sacks.

“Kaleb is a game wrecker,” Brown said. “He makes an impact in all phases of the game, and he is very football savvy. His IQ is an underrated tendency he carries. He moves around and can play any position in the front seven.”

Sophomore middle linebacker Quention Kearse had 55 tackles, and Capers had three interceptions in the secondary.

Brown said his defense knows what it’s job will be on Friday: stop the run.

“Blackville sticks to their game plan and doesn't let anyone make them change what they do,” he said.

Boiling Springs (5-0) at Northwestern (4-1)

Region play begins in Region 2-AAAAA on Friday and this region is stacked. Five of the six teams have just two losses between them in non-region play. Northwestern will travel to face undefeated Boiling Springs in one of the three region games.

Northwestern is 4-1 and ranked fourth in the AAAAA poll. The Trojans lost to Hough from Cornelius, North Carolina, 15-10 to being the season. They have since demolished four instate opponents by a combined score of 245-61.

The Bulldogs are 5-0 and right behind NHS in the rankings at No. 5. They have four players they count on in the running game. Junior RJ Byrd has 198 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries, senior quarterback Imri Logan has 182 yards and six scores on 31 carries, senior Kyron Tobler has 134 yards and two TDs on 36 carries, and sophomore Malik Wannamaker has 123 yards on 21 attempts.

Logan has completed 34 of 57 passes for 621 yqrds and six touchdowns. His top targets are senior Deion Suber with 12 catches for 232 yards, senior Dijay Leak with 11 catchers for 141 yards and two scores, and sophomore Jaydn Jones with seven receptions for 183 yards and two TDs.

Northwestern is led by senior quarterback Xavier Means, who is coming off of a ridiculous performance in a 56-21 rout of Rock Hill crosstown rival South Pointe. Means, an East Carolina commitment, hit on 13 of 15 passes for 433 yards and six touchdowns.

Senior Payton Vining had three TD catches for 107 yards, and senior Malik Ratliff had five grabs for 152 yards and two scores.

For the season, Means has hit 69 of 96 passes for 1,066 yards and 13 touchdowns. Ratliff has 23 catches for 382 yards and six scores, and Vining has 15 receptions for 272 yards and four TDs.

Senior Daylen Shankle is the leading rusher with 408 yards and three touchdowns son 55 carries. Means has 315 yards and four scores.

Dorman (5-0) at Fort Mill (5-0)

This is a battle of unbeatens. Both Dorman and Fort Mill own 5-0 records. The Cavaliers are ranked third in the AAAAA poll, while FM is unranked.

The Yellow Jackets can both run and throw the football. They are averaging 204.0 rushing yards per game and 219.4 passing yards.

Junior quarterback Harper Love has completed 69 of 122 passes for 1,086 yards and 12 touchdowns. His favorite target is senior Jameson Terrell, who has 20 catches for 259 yards and five scores.

Three other players are in double figures in receptions. Sophomore Greyson Love has 12 for 311 yards and two TDs, junior Jerrell Douglas has 12 for 155 yards and two touchdowns, and senior running back Broden Mitcheson has 11 for 131 yards and a score.

Mitcheson is averaging 121.8 rushing yards a game. He has 609 yards and 10 TDs on 80 totes. Sophomore Aiden Ohara has 312 yards and five touchdowns on 39 carries.

DHS is coming off of a 48-35 road victory in which running back Nick Means and quarterback Cooper Patterson had big games.

Means ran for 291 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries and finished with 315 yards of total offense as he had three catches for 24 yards. Patterson hit on 10 of 18 passes for 210 yards and three more scores.

Dai’Shion Watkins-Hymes caught four passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns. Anthony Peaks had two catches for 50 yards and the other TD reception.

North Augusta (5-1) at Irmo (3-2)

North Augusta, ranked fifth in the HSSR AAAA poll compared to Irmo’s No. 2 ranking, will have a chance to make a statement and put itself in a position to take control of the Region 4 race. NA already owns a region win, while Irmo is playing its region opener.

North Augusta lost to defending AA state champion Strom Thurmond 21-7 to open the season. It has since reeled off five straight wins, scoring at least 27 points in each game. The most recent was a 55-19 triumph over May River.

Running back Jayden Hatcher scored three touchdowns and running back Alkaleb Terrell ran for a score as well. NA scored 27 points in the fourth quarter with safety Akeam Williams returning an interception for a touchdown.

Irmo is led by running back Tai Phillips, an Alabama commitment. In four games, he is averaging just under 100 yards with 394 yards and five touchdowns on 78 carries. Blocking for him is senior tackle Nate Carson, a South Carolina commitment.

Junior quarterback Britton Davis has completed 49 of 102 passes for 766 yards and 13 scores. Junior Demarrion Arrington and junior Delreco Eady Jr. both have 14 catches, Arrington for 242 yards and three touchdowns and Eady for 261 yards and four scores.

Senior defensive end Jaiden Bryant, a Miami commitment, is having a strong season. He has 37 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks.

Hanahan (6-0) at Oceanside Collegiate (2-3)

Like North Augusta, Hanahan will have the opportunity to make a big statement in its Region 5-AAA opener against Oceanside Collegiate Academy.

The Hawks come in with a 6-0 record and are ranked fifth in the HSSR AAA poll. OCA is only 2-3 but is ranked 10^th in the poll, primarily because it has won three straight state titles and has a load of talent.

HHS junior quarterback Tripp Gallus is averaging 286.3 passing yards a contest. He has completed 71 of 103 passes for 1,718 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Gallus’ top targey is senior Grayson Mathes with 33 catches for 711 yards and ine scores. Junior Quamell Grant has 26 catches for 718 yards and six TDs, and senior Julian Washington has seven receptions for 180 yards and three touchdowns.

Hanahan averages 150.3 rushing yards a game as well. The top rusher is sophomore Nevalius Gourdine with 458 yards and 11 scores on 82 carries.

The Landsharks are led by senior quarterback Aiden Manavian, who tossed 41 touchdown passes last season.

Manavian has a pair of Power 4 conference commitments to throw the football to in Anthony Williams and Jaiden Kelly-Murray. Williams is committed to North Carolina, while Kelly-Murray is committed to Colorado.

Senior Cooper Webb is a consistent target as well.

Camden (4-2) at Gilbert (4-1)

This game could very likely decide the Region 4-AAA championship. Camden and Gilbert are the only teams above .500 in the 6-team region. Camden, ranked eighth in the HSSR AAA poll, are 4-2. Gilbert is 4-1 and unranked.

This will be the Bulldogs’ second region contest as they have a win over Swansea. GHS will be playing its region opener.

CHS is led by senior quarterback Grayson Rimpf. The son of head coach Brian Rimpf, he has completed 63 of 115 passes for 1,352 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Senior Isiah Smith has 20 catches for 542 yards and seven scores, while junior Bernard Green has 19 receptions for 431 yards and three TDs, and senior Will Haurnert has 15 grabs for 256 yards and three touchdowns.

Camden averages almost 185 rushing yards a game but spreads the wealth. The leading rusher is junior Aaden Manning with 340 yards and five scores on 57 carries. Senior Jaden Manning has 220 yards and four TDs on 44 attempts.

The 4-1 Indians are coming off of a 28-24 victory over Chapin, their second win over a AAAAA school this season. Gilbert rallied from a 10-0 deficit.

Quarterback Kendall Wright threw for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Wide receiver Chandler Guthrie caught the TD passes, finishing with seven catches for 168 yards.

Army commitment Gavin Elliott scored the game-winning touchdown with 6:07 left in the game.

Colleton Prep (6-1) at Dorchester (5-1)

This is a big game for an obvious reason. Colleton Prep Academy is the No. 1 team in the HSSR SCISA AA poll, while Dorchester Academy is No. 1 in the SCISA Class A poll. However, there is more to it than just rankings. There’s history between the teams, very recent history.

CPA played Class A last season before moving up to AA via reclassification. The teams played in the regular season last year with DA winning 28-14. They met again in the semifinals of the state playoffs, and the War Hawks came away with a 22-16 victory.

The Raiders are averaging 273.0 rushing yards per game. They are led by junior Reed Almers with 839 yards and 14 touchdowns on 128 carries. Junior Warren Judy hasa 360 yards and five scores, and freshman Carter Proctor has 216 yards and three TDs.

Dorchester is averaging about 12 passes a game. Junior quarterback Carter Beeks has completed 39 of 75 passes for 638 yards and nine touchdowns.

Senior Noah Risher leads with 16 catches for 253 yards and five scores. Junior Graham Varnadoe has 14 catches for 218 yards and two TDs, and sophomore Colson Williams has four grabs for 137 yards and a touchdown.

Sophomore defensive lineman Matthew Byron leads the defense. He has 34 tackles and a team high 11 TFLs to go with two sacks. Junior defensive back Ryan Gaillard is the leading tackler with 36 to go with five TFLs. Risher and senior Lane Gruber have two interceptions apiece.

Colleton Prep is coming off its first loss, albeit a close 31-28 decision to AAA No. 2 Hilton Head Christian Academy. The War Hawks are led by senior quarterback Caleb Owens. He has completed 63 of 88 passes fo 1,312 yards and 21 scores.

Owens is also the leading rusher with 359 yards and six touchdowns on 48 carries.

There are four players in double rigures in catches. They are senior Hartman Fisk with 20 catch for 286 yards and eight TDs, senior Thomas Corbett with 18 for 540 yards and eight touchdowns, sophomore Kaiden Kinard with 14 for 273 yards and three scores, and senior Charlie Walker with 12 for 280 yards and four TDs.

Pinewood Prep (6-0) at Ben Lippen (5-1)

Undefeated Pinewood Prep will make the drive up Interstate 26 to Columbia to face once-beatn Ben Lippen. The 6-0 Panthers are ranked second in the HSSR SCISA AAAA poll while the 5-1 Falcons are ranked sixth.

Senior quarterback Silas Brawner is having an unbelievable season for PP. He is averaging 316.3 passing yards, hitting on 98 of 139 passes for 1,898 yards and 24 scores.

Senior Tre Green has 33 catches for 687 yards and eight touchdowns, Senior Lavoris Lucas has 22 receptions for 612 yards and 11 TDs, and senior Heyward Moore has 20 grabs for 345 yards and five scores.

Pinewood can run the ball too, averaging 158.7 to leave it just short of averaging 500 yards of total offense. Senior Grayson Salego leads the way with 389 yards and six touchdowns on 58 carries, and junior Jeremy Kendall is close behind with 364 yards and six TDs on 52 attempts.

BL passes for 186.2 yards a game with juniors Graham Bokinsky and Ashton Chapman sharing duties. Bokinsky has completed 29 of 43 passes for 569 yards and four touchdowns, while Chapman has hit on 45 of 70 passes for 511 yards and four scores.

Most of their completions have gone to senior Michael Traynum and junior Jimmele Smith. Traynum has 32 receptions for 395 yards and four TDs, and Smith has 28 catches for 447 yards and three touchdowns.

Ben Lippen runs for 164 yards a contest. It is led by senior Johnathan Eckert with 448 yards and four scores on 65 carries. Freshman James Wilson has 228 yards and three TDs, and Traynum has 193 yards and six touchdowns.