Staff reports
WILLISTON-ELKO VS. EDISTO
Last time they played
Williston-Elko won 19-0 in 1995 after losing to Edisto three straight years.
Players to watch
Williston-Elko• Jarius Jenkins, RB. Jenkins went over the 1,000-yard mark a year ago, and the Blue Devils will be leaning heavily on him this year.
• Taylor Hearn, OT. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound senior will anchor the offensive line after receiving a scholarship offer from Clemson.
• Juan-Yee Jenkins, TE/LB. The Blue Devil defense will rely on its linebackers, and Jenkins is part of that.Edisto• Tyrell Maxwell, QB. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior is threat to make plays with his arm and his legs.
• Marcus Darby, DT. Listed at only 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds, the senior will be trying to plug Jenkins' running lanes.
What this means
Williston-Elko head coach Dwayne Garrick said that winning the first game of the season is a always a good goal.
"I think it's key for anybody," he said. "You want to win the opener; you want to win the first football game of the season."
That said, Garrick has seen first-hand in recent years that a team can rebound from an opening loss to a tough opponent from a larger classification. Like Edisto, Williston-Elko's Week Zero opponent each of the last two years - Strom Thurmond - came from the Class AA ranks. The Rebels got the best of the Blue Devils both years, but Garrick's squad has only one regular-season loss other than that over those two seasons. Williston-Elko also won its region both years and went at least three rounds into the playoffs.
Because of that, Garrick wants to win against Edisto, but he knows bigger games lie ahead.
Keys to the game
Garrick said that limiting turnovers and penalties is the biggest factor in early-season success for high school teams.
"Especially in the earlier part of the season, it's as few mistakes as possible," he said.
He added that physical line play on both sides of the ball will be important, and on defense, he's looking for his secondary to limit big plays as much as possible.
He'll live with long sustained drives if the Cougars manage those, but quick scores must be avoided, he said.
What they're saying
"I've been doing this a long time, and I can see down the road and see what's really important is those last six (games)." - Williston-Elko head coach Dwayne Garrick
SOUTH AIKEN AT RICHLAND NORTHEAST
Last time they played
South Aiken defeated Richland Northeast 25-7 last season.
Players to watch
South Aiken• Bo Baldwin, QB. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Baldwin led the Thoroughbreds to a 2-0 start last season before suffering a broken collarbone. His play will dictate how much success South Aiken will have this season.
• DeAndre Schoultz, WR/DB. Schoultz is the T-Breds most versatile player and will have an impact breaking and making tackles.
• Teddrick Steadman, WR/S. Steadman is being counted on to serve as one of the leaders of the defense and will provide experience from the secondary.Richland Northeast• A.C. Whaley, QB. The senior QB is similar to Baldwin in that he's big (6-3, 220) and is a more traditional pocket passer who is highly rated.
• Denzel Washington, RB. The senior running back is as dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield as he is when taking a handoff.
• Railand Quarles, NT. Quarles is a fireplug in the middle of the defensive line at 6-feet, 325 pounds and can dictate the flow of the game.
What this means
As the season opener for both teams, it's the difference between starting with a win and feeling a mile high or losing and starting a long week of practice.
Beyond that, it's a rematch from last season's opener when South Aiken pulled off an upset at the Stomping Grounds.
T-Breds coach Jeremy West is aware that his team will have to deal with a hostile crowd and a talented opponent that's out for revenge.
"They went 9-2 last year but one of their losses was to us," he said. "So they may be amped up. We need to match their emotion."Keys to the gameIf South Aiken can endure the waves of emotions it will deal with playing an opener against a vengeful opponent, it must do its best to slow the game down. The T-Breds have good size on both of their lines and will need the big men up front to dictate the pace of the game. That will mean protecting Baldwin while opening holes for Adam Allen and Damion Brown to run through. Establishing a consistent running attack will be key for the T-Breds who will try to keep the Cavaliers' blitzing defense from becoming too aggressive. A solid run game should create good passing lanes for Baldwin to exploit.
Defensively, South Aiken will need to knock Whaley off rhythm to keep the Richland Northeast quarterback from consistently looking for deep balls. West wants his defenders to make the Cavaliers to earn every yard they get, rather than give up a series of big plays. That will mean slowing the pace of play and could kill clock with long drives.
What they're saying
"We're going to give it our all. We're not going there to lose." - Jeremy West, South Aiken coach
NORTH AUGUSTA AT TL HANNA
Last time they played
North Augusta defeated TL Hanna 28-21 in a 2010 playoff game.
Players to watch
North Augusta
Trey Morgan DB/WR/KR. Morgan is one of the best athletes in the CSRA and will be called on to show off his skills in a variety of ways on both sides of the ball.
Cody Turner and Trib Reece, QB. The plan is to play both Turner, a transfer from Greenbrier, as well as the rising sophomore this season, with both possessing powerful passing arms.
Jake Whitley, OT. Whitley is a massive 6-4, 315-pound tackle that can do almost as much to help the North Augusta passing game as the quarterbacks.
TL Hanna
Ben Boulware, LB. The Clemson commitment is a four-year starter and led TL Hanna in tackles each of the past two seasons, utilizing his strength and nose for the ball.
Dom Catalfomo, QB. Catalfomo is making the rare transition from linebacker to quarterback and is being counted on to manage the game rather than fling the ball all around the stadium.
Deon Williams, RB. Williams has big shoes to fill replacing graduated senior Will Gay who was the school's all-time leading rusher. He doesn't have Gay's experience but is bigger and a step faster than his predecessor.
What this means
While it's the season opener for both squads, it's also a chance to make good impressions and answer questions about players with minimal experience. North Augusta is replacing stalwarts at all of the skill positions on offense and head coach Dan Pippin is optimistic that his tradition of replacing seniors with seniors will continue to work for North Augusta.
"I'm apprehensive with so many unknowns - how will the kids respond in a big-game atmosphere so far from home," Pippin said of the team he holds in high regard for their work ethic. "I'm proud of how this group works. I can't ask them to do more than what they've done this offseason."
Pippin's counterpart at TL Hanna, Kenya Fouch, had similar thoughts about his own team, which is green in some positions.
"The last two years we've lost a lot of kids, so this a rebuilding deal on offense for us."
Keys to the gameIf North Augusta can win the battle on the line of scrimmage, it should be able to exert its will on TL Hanna. Look for senior tailback DeVonte Pressley to get a lot of touches and if the running game is in rhythm, it will allow North Augusta to play at the fast pace that's been so successful in recent years.
"They have size up front and we have to play a great game on the defensive line," Fouch said.
Pippin said his concern with TL Hanna's offense is their ability to convert big plays. He's looking for his team to keep the inexperienced unit under wraps and avoid them from being confident.
What they're saying
"It would be great to win, but it's just one game, win or lose. It's a big deal (tonight) but every game is a big deal." - Dan Pippin, North Augusta head coach
"We want to get into the position where North Augusta is, they're a contender year after year." - Kenya Fouch, TL Hanna head coach
WAGENER-SALLEY AT LATTA
Last time they played
This is the teams' first meeting.
Players to watch
Wagener-Salley
Trey Davis, RB. Davis played a partial season last year and still cleared 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
RJ Tyler, TE/DE. Tyler is all over the field for the War Eagles, also serving as long snapper for the punt team.
Malcolm Stroman, QB. Stroman brings athleticism to the position for the War Eagles, and his passes in practice also had some zip.
Latta
Donell Staley, LT. At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, the War Eagle defensive linemen will have their hands full with Staley up front.
RJ McClam, RB. Wagener-Salley head coach Ken Tucker said that McClam had some "good runs on film."
Ken'che Page, S. Tucker didn't have any in-depth analysis for Page, just that "I like the way he plays."
What this means
The War Eagles have started each of the last three seasons with five consecutive losses. Because of that, Tucker said that winning early this year will be crucial.
"Our kids need some confidence early on," he said.
With both teams coming off a 2-8 year, the War Eagles won't be alone in their search for early confidence.
Keys to the game
The trenches will be where this game is won, Tucker said.
With Staley up front for the Vikings, battle up front when Latta has the ball will be important for the War Eagles. Tucker said that his line must focus on not getting dominated by one large opponent.
On the flipside, his offensive line will need to open holes for Davis to make plays in the Viking secondary.
"If we can get him into the second level of their defense ... he'll be able to break off a few runs for us."
What they're saying
"If we were able to start the season off playing well and getting a couple wins, it'd be huge for our kids' conference." - Wagener-Salley head coach Ken Tucker.
PELION AT RIDGE SPRING-MONETTALast time they played
Ridge Spring-Monetta fell to Pelion 35-0 in 2007. Ridge Spring's last victory in the rivalry came in 2005 when they won 34-20.
Players to watch
Ridge Spring-Monetta
Reggie Preston, QB. The Trojans will begin their shift to a more balanced attack and it will begin with Preston. The junior will also be asked to make plays with his legs.
Travious Wigfall, WR/LB. Wigfall will see some time on offense, but his contributions as a linebacker could be the difference.
Tripp Padgett, OL/LB. The senior will see time on the offensive line as well as linebacker. Along with Wigfall they will be tasked with slowing down the Pelion rushing game.
Pelion
James McFadden, RB. McFadden is a senior tailback that plays bigger than he is. He is also very tough to bring down on first contact.
Freddie Phillips, WR. The 6-foot-2 sophomore is already getting attention from Clemson and South Carolina. He started as a freshman and will only continue improving throughout the next few years. For now, though, he is a major weapon on the outside that pulls defenders away from stacking the line against McFadden.
Carlton Richard, SS. Should the Trojans go through the air, it will be up to the senior to make plays.
What this means
The Trojans and Panthers play each other in just about every sport, but their rivalry had to go to the back burner following RS-M's move to another region.
To Corley, this is just another Friday night. He expects his team to give the same level of effort each time his team steps on the field. For his players, though, this is a chance to implement all of the work put in during the offseason.
"They've showed up and worked their tails off," Corley said. "They supported us coaches and have been willing to learn."
Keys to the game
It will be up to the Trojans' defense to withstand the storm led by McFadden, Phillips, and quarterback Zach Hawkins. According to Corley his players will have to stay in the game mentally and consistently do their jobs.
On the other side of the ball, the Trojans will have to play mistake free football. They cannot give the Panthers short field position through penalties or turnovers. They may also need some big plays.
"Reggie will throw it as much as need him to," Corley said.
What they're saying
"We're going to have to take some shots and get one. Whether it's a long run, a deep pass, or a shorter one that an athlete turns into a big gain, we'll probably need some gamechanging plays," - Ridge Spring-Monetta head coach Heath Corley
DREHER AT FOX CREEK
Last time they played
This is the teams' first meeting.
Players to watch
Fox Creek
Zabian Adams, RB. One of the few returning players for the Predators, he is the team's best ball carrier.
Trey Mock, QB. Mock has won the starting job and will see the lion's share of snaps. Deondre Baskett may also see time as a change of pace QB, but he will be on the field regardless as a WR.
Brandon Stallings, DT. The D-line will be key for the Predators in containing Howard Henderson in the pocket.
Dreher
Bradford Lemmons, WR. A state champion sprinter, he will be a burner on the outside for the Blue Devils.Howard Henderson, QB. Fox Creek head coach Russ Schneider said that Henderson "can run around in the backfield and fling it."
Kwayshon Drayton, S. The now-senior recorded 90 tackles and forced two fumbles last year.
What this means
Following the most successful season in school history, the Predators will be big underdogs in this matchup. They will have to find an answer for Dreher's speed on both sides of the ball There will also be some bumps in the road with Schneider fielding such a young squad.
"We're a whole new group and we have to start gaining an identity for ourselves," he said.
Keys to the game
This is a game that the Predators can win if they keep the Blue Devils off the field, Schneider said.
Adams, along with Fox Creek's other tailbacks, will be asked to grind out tough yards, hold on to the ball, and shorten the game. They will have to watch out for what Schneider calls a "very fast" defensive line.
When the Predators are on defense, they will have to keep Dreher's playmakers in front of them to avoid giving up long gainers. They'll have to keep up with the no huddle attack and avoid making this game a track meet.
What they're saying
"We absolutely do not want to get in a shootout with them, we want to shorten the game as much as possible," - Fox Creek head coach Russ Schneider.![]()
WILLISTON-ELKO VS. EDISTO
Last time they played
Williston-Elko won 19-0 in 1995 after losing to Edisto three straight years.
Players to watch
Williston-Elko• Jarius Jenkins, RB. Jenkins went over the 1,000-yard mark a year ago, and the Blue Devils will be leaning heavily on him this year.
• Taylor Hearn, OT. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound senior will anchor the offensive line after receiving a scholarship offer from Clemson.
• Juan-Yee Jenkins, TE/LB. The Blue Devil defense will rely on its linebackers, and Jenkins is part of that.Edisto• Tyrell Maxwell, QB. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound junior is threat to make plays with his arm and his legs.
• Marcus Darby, DT. Listed at only 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds, the senior will be trying to plug Jenkins' running lanes.
What this means
Williston-Elko head coach Dwayne Garrick said that winning the first game of the season is a always a good goal.
"I think it's key for anybody," he said. "You want to win the opener; you want to win the first football game of the season."
That said, Garrick has seen first-hand in recent years that a team can rebound from an opening loss to a tough opponent from a larger classification. Like Edisto, Williston-Elko's Week Zero opponent each of the last two years - Strom Thurmond - came from the Class AA ranks. The Rebels got the best of the Blue Devils both years, but Garrick's squad has only one regular-season loss other than that over those two seasons. Williston-Elko also won its region both years and went at least three rounds into the playoffs.
Because of that, Garrick wants to win against Edisto, but he knows bigger games lie ahead.
Keys to the game
Garrick said that limiting turnovers and penalties is the biggest factor in early-season success for high school teams.
"Especially in the earlier part of the season, it's as few mistakes as possible," he said.
He added that physical line play on both sides of the ball will be important, and on defense, he's looking for his secondary to limit big plays as much as possible.
He'll live with long sustained drives if the Cougars manage those, but quick scores must be avoided, he said.
What they're saying
"I've been doing this a long time, and I can see down the road and see what's really important is those last six (games)." - Williston-Elko head coach Dwayne Garrick
SOUTH AIKEN AT RICHLAND NORTHEAST
Last time they played
South Aiken defeated Richland Northeast 25-7 last season.
Players to watch
South Aiken• Bo Baldwin, QB. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound Baldwin led the Thoroughbreds to a 2-0 start last season before suffering a broken collarbone. His play will dictate how much success South Aiken will have this season.
• DeAndre Schoultz, WR/DB. Schoultz is the T-Breds most versatile player and will have an impact breaking and making tackles.
• Teddrick Steadman, WR/S. Steadman is being counted on to serve as one of the leaders of the defense and will provide experience from the secondary.Richland Northeast• A.C. Whaley, QB. The senior QB is similar to Baldwin in that he's big (6-3, 220) and is a more traditional pocket passer who is highly rated.
• Denzel Washington, RB. The senior running back is as dangerous catching the ball out of the backfield as he is when taking a handoff.
• Railand Quarles, NT. Quarles is a fireplug in the middle of the defensive line at 6-feet, 325 pounds and can dictate the flow of the game.
What this means
As the season opener for both teams, it's the difference between starting with a win and feeling a mile high or losing and starting a long week of practice.
Beyond that, it's a rematch from last season's opener when South Aiken pulled off an upset at the Stomping Grounds.
T-Breds coach Jeremy West is aware that his team will have to deal with a hostile crowd and a talented opponent that's out for revenge.
"They went 9-2 last year but one of their losses was to us," he said. "So they may be amped up. We need to match their emotion."Keys to the gameIf South Aiken can endure the waves of emotions it will deal with playing an opener against a vengeful opponent, it must do its best to slow the game down. The T-Breds have good size on both of their lines and will need the big men up front to dictate the pace of the game. That will mean protecting Baldwin while opening holes for Adam Allen and Damion Brown to run through. Establishing a consistent running attack will be key for the T-Breds who will try to keep the Cavaliers' blitzing defense from becoming too aggressive. A solid run game should create good passing lanes for Baldwin to exploit.
Defensively, South Aiken will need to knock Whaley off rhythm to keep the Richland Northeast quarterback from consistently looking for deep balls. West wants his defenders to make the Cavaliers to earn every yard they get, rather than give up a series of big plays. That will mean slowing the pace of play and could kill clock with long drives.
What they're saying
"We're going to give it our all. We're not going there to lose." - Jeremy West, South Aiken coach
NORTH AUGUSTA AT TL HANNA
Last time they played
North Augusta defeated TL Hanna 28-21 in a 2010 playoff game.
Players to watch
North Augusta
Trey Morgan DB/WR/KR. Morgan is one of the best athletes in the CSRA and will be called on to show off his skills in a variety of ways on both sides of the ball.
Cody Turner and Trib Reece, QB. The plan is to play both Turner, a transfer from Greenbrier, as well as the rising sophomore this season, with both possessing powerful passing arms.
Jake Whitley, OT. Whitley is a massive 6-4, 315-pound tackle that can do almost as much to help the North Augusta passing game as the quarterbacks.
TL Hanna
Ben Boulware, LB. The Clemson commitment is a four-year starter and led TL Hanna in tackles each of the past two seasons, utilizing his strength and nose for the ball.
Dom Catalfomo, QB. Catalfomo is making the rare transition from linebacker to quarterback and is being counted on to manage the game rather than fling the ball all around the stadium.
Deon Williams, RB. Williams has big shoes to fill replacing graduated senior Will Gay who was the school's all-time leading rusher. He doesn't have Gay's experience but is bigger and a step faster than his predecessor.
What this means
While it's the season opener for both squads, it's also a chance to make good impressions and answer questions about players with minimal experience. North Augusta is replacing stalwarts at all of the skill positions on offense and head coach Dan Pippin is optimistic that his tradition of replacing seniors with seniors will continue to work for North Augusta.
"I'm apprehensive with so many unknowns - how will the kids respond in a big-game atmosphere so far from home," Pippin said of the team he holds in high regard for their work ethic. "I'm proud of how this group works. I can't ask them to do more than what they've done this offseason."
Pippin's counterpart at TL Hanna, Kenya Fouch, had similar thoughts about his own team, which is green in some positions.
"The last two years we've lost a lot of kids, so this a rebuilding deal on offense for us."
Keys to the gameIf North Augusta can win the battle on the line of scrimmage, it should be able to exert its will on TL Hanna. Look for senior tailback DeVonte Pressley to get a lot of touches and if the running game is in rhythm, it will allow North Augusta to play at the fast pace that's been so successful in recent years.
"They have size up front and we have to play a great game on the defensive line," Fouch said.
Pippin said his concern with TL Hanna's offense is their ability to convert big plays. He's looking for his team to keep the inexperienced unit under wraps and avoid them from being confident.
What they're saying
"It would be great to win, but it's just one game, win or lose. It's a big deal (tonight) but every game is a big deal." - Dan Pippin, North Augusta head coach
"We want to get into the position where North Augusta is, they're a contender year after year." - Kenya Fouch, TL Hanna head coach
WAGENER-SALLEY AT LATTA
Last time they played
This is the teams' first meeting.
Players to watch
Wagener-Salley
Trey Davis, RB. Davis played a partial season last year and still cleared 1,000 rushing yards for the season.
RJ Tyler, TE/DE. Tyler is all over the field for the War Eagles, also serving as long snapper for the punt team.
Malcolm Stroman, QB. Stroman brings athleticism to the position for the War Eagles, and his passes in practice also had some zip.
Latta
Donell Staley, LT. At 6-foot-4 and 305 pounds, the War Eagle defensive linemen will have their hands full with Staley up front.
RJ McClam, RB. Wagener-Salley head coach Ken Tucker said that McClam had some "good runs on film."
Ken'che Page, S. Tucker didn't have any in-depth analysis for Page, just that "I like the way he plays."
What this means
The War Eagles have started each of the last three seasons with five consecutive losses. Because of that, Tucker said that winning early this year will be crucial.
"Our kids need some confidence early on," he said.
With both teams coming off a 2-8 year, the War Eagles won't be alone in their search for early confidence.
Keys to the game
The trenches will be where this game is won, Tucker said.
With Staley up front for the Vikings, battle up front when Latta has the ball will be important for the War Eagles. Tucker said that his line must focus on not getting dominated by one large opponent.
On the flipside, his offensive line will need to open holes for Davis to make plays in the Viking secondary.
"If we can get him into the second level of their defense ... he'll be able to break off a few runs for us."
What they're saying
"If we were able to start the season off playing well and getting a couple wins, it'd be huge for our kids' conference." - Wagener-Salley head coach Ken Tucker.
PELION AT RIDGE SPRING-MONETTALast time they played
Ridge Spring-Monetta fell to Pelion 35-0 in 2007. Ridge Spring's last victory in the rivalry came in 2005 when they won 34-20.
Players to watch
Ridge Spring-Monetta
Reggie Preston, QB. The Trojans will begin their shift to a more balanced attack and it will begin with Preston. The junior will also be asked to make plays with his legs.
Travious Wigfall, WR/LB. Wigfall will see some time on offense, but his contributions as a linebacker could be the difference.
Tripp Padgett, OL/LB. The senior will see time on the offensive line as well as linebacker. Along with Wigfall they will be tasked with slowing down the Pelion rushing game.
Pelion
James McFadden, RB. McFadden is a senior tailback that plays bigger than he is. He is also very tough to bring down on first contact.
Freddie Phillips, WR. The 6-foot-2 sophomore is already getting attention from Clemson and South Carolina. He started as a freshman and will only continue improving throughout the next few years. For now, though, he is a major weapon on the outside that pulls defenders away from stacking the line against McFadden.
Carlton Richard, SS. Should the Trojans go through the air, it will be up to the senior to make plays.
What this means
The Trojans and Panthers play each other in just about every sport, but their rivalry had to go to the back burner following RS-M's move to another region.
To Corley, this is just another Friday night. He expects his team to give the same level of effort each time his team steps on the field. For his players, though, this is a chance to implement all of the work put in during the offseason.
"They've showed up and worked their tails off," Corley said. "They supported us coaches and have been willing to learn."
Keys to the game
It will be up to the Trojans' defense to withstand the storm led by McFadden, Phillips, and quarterback Zach Hawkins. According to Corley his players will have to stay in the game mentally and consistently do their jobs.
On the other side of the ball, the Trojans will have to play mistake free football. They cannot give the Panthers short field position through penalties or turnovers. They may also need some big plays.
"Reggie will throw it as much as need him to," Corley said.
What they're saying
"We're going to have to take some shots and get one. Whether it's a long run, a deep pass, or a shorter one that an athlete turns into a big gain, we'll probably need some gamechanging plays," - Ridge Spring-Monetta head coach Heath Corley
DREHER AT FOX CREEK
Last time they played
This is the teams' first meeting.
Players to watch
Fox Creek
Zabian Adams, RB. One of the few returning players for the Predators, he is the team's best ball carrier.
Trey Mock, QB. Mock has won the starting job and will see the lion's share of snaps. Deondre Baskett may also see time as a change of pace QB, but he will be on the field regardless as a WR.
Brandon Stallings, DT. The D-line will be key for the Predators in containing Howard Henderson in the pocket.
Dreher
Bradford Lemmons, WR. A state champion sprinter, he will be a burner on the outside for the Blue Devils.Howard Henderson, QB. Fox Creek head coach Russ Schneider said that Henderson "can run around in the backfield and fling it."
Kwayshon Drayton, S. The now-senior recorded 90 tackles and forced two fumbles last year.
What this means
Following the most successful season in school history, the Predators will be big underdogs in this matchup. They will have to find an answer for Dreher's speed on both sides of the ball There will also be some bumps in the road with Schneider fielding such a young squad.
"We're a whole new group and we have to start gaining an identity for ourselves," he said.
Keys to the game
This is a game that the Predators can win if they keep the Blue Devils off the field, Schneider said.
Adams, along with Fox Creek's other tailbacks, will be asked to grind out tough yards, hold on to the ball, and shorten the game. They will have to watch out for what Schneider calls a "very fast" defensive line.
When the Predators are on defense, they will have to keep Dreher's playmakers in front of them to avoid giving up long gainers. They'll have to keep up with the no huddle attack and avoid making this game a track meet.
What they're saying
"We absolutely do not want to get in a shootout with them, we want to shorten the game as much as possible," - Fox Creek head coach Russ Schneider.