It’s starting to get serious, y’all. As you run down the slate of high school football games involving local teams in Week 6, you’ll notice a second set of records next to many of the schools’ names.
Those are region records and denote region matchups, meaning the stakes are a little bit (or in some cases, a lot) higher. Heck, even the non-region games seem to carry more weight this week.
Sure, we have some lopsided matchups on the schedule, but we also have teams fighting to defend their undefeated records, hungry squads desperate for their first win, and cross-class clashes between state championship contenders.
I’m also fighting to protect my record, which has gotten increasingly more respectable in recent weeks. I was a perfect 11-0 last week, improving my season total to 41-5.
Here’s your Week 6 primer:
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Whale Branch (4-0, 0-0) at Woodland (3-2, 0-0)
Open the gauntlet.
Off to its best start since 2011, Whale Branch launches into its brutal Region 5-2A schedule tonight at Woodland. With No. 2 Barnwell and No. 3 Bamberg-Ehrhardt looming on the region slate, both teams know this game is pivotal to their postseason seeding.
The Warriors are ranked eighth in Class 2A and have played progressively better each week, but this will undoubtedly be their biggest challenge yet. The Wolverines have beaten up on the likes of Battery Creek, Lake Marion, and Bishop England, while their two losses have come against Class 5A Summerville and Class 4A Orangeburg-Wilkinson.
Woodland’s offense is dynamic and diverse, as running back Markaden Bryant has rushed for 376 yards and three TDs to complement a spread passing attack that is tough to matchup against. Quarterback Keyaun Johnson has completed passes to nine different receivers, seven of whom have caught a touchdown pass. The Warriors have been able to stop the run, but their secondary hasn’t seen a passing attack quite this effective yet.
Whale Branch’s best asset will be its strong offensive line and the rushing attack led by quarterback Jaylen Reeves and running back De’Arius Hazel, which will look to control the ball and the clock and keep Woodland’s offense off the field.
Prediction: Whale Branch 26, Woodland 23
Bluffton (1-4) at Richmond Hill, Ga. (1-3)
Don’t let the record deceive you, because the Bobcats are facing another strong challenge this week. The Wildcats’ three losses have come by a combined 19 points — and two of them were against undefeated teams. Richmond Hill likes to run the ball with star back Jalen Rouse (462 yards, 4 TDs), so the Bobcats will need to play sound defense and force the Wildcats into passing situations. Bluffton’s offense had a tough time in last week’s loss to Sumter, but with the talent the Bobcats have on offense that trend shouldn’t last long. The only question is whether the Bobcats can slow down the Wildcats’ rushing attack enough to keep pace.
Prediction: Richmond Hill 30, Bluffton 24
New Hampstead (2-3) at Hilton Head High (3-2)
These teams aren’t so different — both have a handful of talented players who are college prospects surrounded by inexperience. Unsurprisingly, that has led to inconsistency from both teams. It’s also a matchup of coinciding strengths, as the Phoenix and their talented receiving corps led by major D1 prospect Sam Brown look to exploit a Seahawks secondary that features two future college defensive backs in Cole DeMarzo and Christian Miller. The Seahawks’ offense has put up big numbers against weak competition and stalled against stronger opponents, but New Hampstead’s defense falls somewhere near the middle of that spectrum, so this will be a good measuring stick. The biggest difference will be depth — New Hampstead has it, and Hilton Head High does not — which always becomes a factor late in close games.
Prediction: New Hampstead 31, Hilton Head High 24
Beaufort High (0-4) at Effingham County, Ga. (1-4)
After one week at home, the Eagles are back on the road as they look for their first win of the season — and for the first time in a few weeks, they have a reasonable chance of getting it. Beaufort High’s schedule has been brutal, but this is a winnable game against a team facing similar struggles. The Rebels have struggled to get stops on defense and had to rely too much on the passing game, both of which should sound relatable for Eagles fans. Beaufort has been sharpened by the tough early-season schedule, though, and that will help the Eagles in crunch time of a close game.
Prediction: Beaufort High 27, Effingham County 20
Creekside Christian (0-5) at Battery Creek (0-3)
Someone will get their first win of the season tonight when the Dolphins host the Cougars. It has been a rough start for the Dolphins, but their defense has held its own against some strong offensive teams and has to be fired up to play a team that has scored only 41 points in five games. Battery Creek’s offense has struggled to get going but should have more success tonight.
Prediction: Battery Creek 19, Creekside Christian 12
May River (4-0, 0-0) at Lake Marion (0-5, 0-0)
This one has a chance to get ugly fast, as the May River machine rolls up to Santee to open Region 8-3A play against a Lake Marion team that has been outscored 240-20 this season. The Sharks should be able to get up big early and continue getting lots of players reps, and May River’s defense will have a chance to record its second straight shutout.
Prediction: May River 45, Lake Marion 0
Northwood Academy (1-3, 0-0) at Hilton Head Christian Academy (4-1, 0-0)
Once upon a time, this was a perennial playoff showdown, and these teams hooked up in a couple of SCISA 2A championship games. The Eagles look like they could be a contender again this year, but the Chargers have fallen on hard times. Northwood has been shut out in consecutive games — albeit against two tough teams in Colleton Prep and Thomas Heyward — and simply doesn’t have the personnel to match up with HHCA. The Eagles’ spread passing attack should be able to pick apart Northwood’s secondary and run HHCA’s winning streak to five games.
Prediction: Hilton Head Christian Academy 37, Northwood Academy 13
Hilton Head Prep (2-3) at Carolina Academy (5-1)
Coming off a thrilling win at John Paul II last week, the Dolphins hit the road for a tough test against Carolina Academy. The Bobcats are the No. 2 team in SCISA 1A, and their only loss came to SCHSL Class 4A school Berea. The Dolphins’ offense looked good in its first game with quarterback Stone McDonald back at the helm, and the duo of McDonald and running back Tommy Stauffer should be able to do some damage, but HHP’s defense will have a tough time against a Bobcats team that has scored 40 or more points in four straight games.
Prediction: Carolina Academy 37, Hilton Head Prep 30
Trinity-Byrnes (5-2) at Thomas Heyward (6-0)
It’s not often you get a surprise quite as nice as this. After Charleston Collegiate forfeited its region game to Thomas Heyward earlier this week, we were spared a blowout and rewarded with a bonus matchup of two SCISA powerhouses. The Rebels are the top-ranked team and defending state champion in SCISA 1A, while the Titans are ranked second in SCISA 2A. Trinity-Byrnes lost its first two games to strong competition, falling to First Baptist and Charlotte Country Day, but they’ve won their last five games by at least 34 points. The Rebels have been similarly dominant, but they’ll learn a lot more about themselves tonight.
Prediction: Trinity-Byrnes 22, Thomas Heyward 21
John Paul II (0-5, 0-1) at Orangeburg Prep (3-1, 1-0)
The Golden Warriors are making progress and put together their most complete performance yet in last week’s 34-26 loss to Hilton Head Prep, and if they can keep that trend going this week they’ll have a chance to earn their first win. The Indians are a perplexing team, having knocked off defending state champion Florence Christian one week and barely squeaked past a Hilton Head Prep team without its top two quarterbacks the next. Orangeburg Prep got beaten up last week, falling 41-13 to Porter-Gaud, so the Indians might be a little banged up, and the Golden Warriors are hungry for a victory.
Prediction: John Paul II 23, Orangeburg Prep 20
Beaufort Academy (1-3, 1-1) at St. John’s Christian (3-1, 1-1)
BA already has played two of the current top five teams in SCISA 8-man, and now the Eagles will make it three against No. 3 St. John’s Christian. The Eagles are starting to put things together and had by far their most complete performance in last week’s 54-6 win over Northside Christian. If they can duplicate that performance, they’ll be in the game, but it will be a tough challenge tonight.
Prediction: St. John’s Christian 38, Beaufort Academy 30