For the first time in 2021, everyone in the Lowco is playing football. That’s right, we have the first legitimate full slate of the season lined up for Week 6 with a total of 10 games, including four Lowco-on-Lowco matchups.
For the second straight week, we kick things off on Thursday this week, so get ready for gameday with our Week 6 primer.
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Battery Creek (0-3, 0-0) at Academic Magnet (2-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. Thursday
The region opener couldn’t be any bigger for Battery Creek. The Dolphins need two region wins to secure a playoff spot from Region 8-3A, and it’s nearly impossible to imagine them getting there without beating the Raptors on Thursday night.
Coach Terrance Ashe’s team is still in search of its first victory, but the Dolphins have shown steady improvement in their past two games. The offensive line had a solid night in last week’s 36-14 loss to North Central, paving the way for Jeremiah Dilbert’s 196-yard rushing output. Dilbert has been one of the top rushers in the Lowco, averaging 97.7 yards per game, and Dreshaun Brown has emerged as a threat to break big plays on the ground and as a receiver.
The Raptors’ defense was torched in losses to Pinewood Prep and Burke to open the season, but the unit has stood tall the past two weeks, allowing a total of 20 points in wins over Bethune-Bowman and Northwood Academy. Battery Creek’s offense has more firepower than those squads, but the Dolphins will have to execute well to find success against a confident defense.
Academic Magnet’s offense is also coming in with momentum after putting up 37 points in consecutive games, albeit against a pair of winless teams. Keveon Ford is coming of a monster game against Northwood with 149 yards on 10 carries, but his output was much more modest in the first three games. Quarterback William Hyatt’s favorite target has been Charlie Kuyper, who leads the team with 18 catches for 342 yards and two scores, so look for the Dolphins to try to limit his opportunities to burn them.
Battery Creek’s defense has been hurt by short fields and the offense’s inability to stay on the field at times, but the unit has strong leadership in linebackers Quatrell Livingston and Jaden Daniels. That duo will need to spend a lot of time in the Raptors’ backfield Thursday for the Dolphins to disrupt Academic Magnet’s offense.
Turnovers and untimely penalties have plagued the Dolphins, but if they can avoid those self-inflicted mistakes, they’ll have an excellent chance of starting the region slate right and keeping their playoff dreams alive. — Justin Jarrett
PREDICTION
JJ: Battery Creek 28, Academic Magnet 20
WK: Battery Creek 27, Academic Magnet 24
Beaufort Academy (2-1, 1-0) at Hilton Head Prep (4-1, 0-0), 4:30 p.m. Friday
The 4-1 Dolphins grinded out a victory last week at Bethesda Academy, and now return home to take on an Eagle side that allowed just 24 points against Thomas Heyward’s explosive offense. But Mark Clifford’s group will have to slow down speedy and shifty running back Loncelle Daley, who found the end zone three times against the Blazers. The Eagles will certainly have their eyes on the junior standout along with powerful fullback Jake Rodney-Brown. If Beaufort Academy can win up front and prevent the explosive duo from getting loose, the Eagles should limit the home team’s capabilities on offense.
Hilton Head Prep has won with its defense this year, as Rodney-Brown has excelled alongside AJ Barger and Sean Graham to anchor a menacing group surrendering just 12.4 points per contest. Beaufort Academy will need to get the offense into high gear after being shut out a week ago at Thomas Heyward.
Braydon Dineen has taken a fantastic step forward at quarterback this year, and the Eagles will rely on the junior to take care of the football against an excellent Dolphin unit known for picking up takeaways. Dineen’s got some stellar weapons at his side in Devonte Green and Jaxen Porter, but he’ll need to be quick and accurate under the heat of the Sea Pines sun.
This one could have massive postseason implications, and with a reeling Orangeburg Prep trending south, the winner of this one could put itself in position to earn the No.2 seed and a home playoff game. It could come down to which side stays composed and executes down the stretch against a duo of terrific defenses. — Wes Kerr
PREDICTION
JJ: Beaufort Academy 22, Hilton Head Prep 20
WK: Beaufort Academy 17, Hilton Head Prep 14
Pinewood Prep (4-2) at Hilton Head Christian (5-0), 7 p.m. Friday
The stage is set for a shootout in Bluffton, as Class 3A Pinewood Prep makes the trip to undefeated Hilton Head Christian Academy in a matchup of high-powered offenses.
The Eagles have dominated their matchups so far on the defensive end, but Pinewood should test the Junkyard Dogs with its blitzkrieg-like explosiveness. Ron Peduzzi’s group hasn’t seen many pass-happy teams so far and had difficulties holding down the field-stretching Hartzog brothers of Dorchester Academy. The challenge will be even tougher on Friday, as the Eagles face TJ Hatchett, Asa Windham, and a dangerous Panther offense.
Jace Blackshear leads an unproven HHCA secondary looking to step up alongside linebackers Jackson Lanier and Keene Reese, while a young defensive line looks to continue its stellar start and put pressure on the Pinewood playmakers under center.
The offense should have its way against the Panthers with Blackshear’s array of weapons across the field. John Paul II racked up 36 points against a leaky Pinewood defense, and HHCA may very well exceed that mark by night’s end. It should be another monster game for the senior quarterback alongside phenom running back Joseph Robinson, but Riley Shinn, Isaiah Anderson, Morgan Bedenbaugh, and Lanier are also valuable components of what has become an offensive juggernaut.
With 1,000 receiving yards already between just Shane DaRe and Jaa Scott, the Panthers have the capabilities of striking and scoring at a moment’s notice. But Peduzzi and the Eagles have thrived in prove-it games just like this one and should rise to the challenge against a strong SCISA 3A opponent. If the Eagle offense continues its high flying and the defense can dig in and force a turnover or two, Hilton Head Christian can soar into the second half as title favorites again in the SCISA 2A ranks. — Wes Kerr
PREDICTION
JJ: Hilton Head Christian Academy 56, Pinewood Prep 34
WK: Hilton Head Christian Academy 38, Pinewood Prep 28
Hilton Head (1-3, 0-0) at Beaufort (4-1, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday
After a brillant 4-0 start, it looked like the Beaufort High Eagles were destined for an undefeated regular season, but a trip to Oceanside Collegiate derailed those plans. Two weeks later, a motivated Eagles squad is set to begin its back-to-back Region 7-4A title defense against a budding Hilton Head High Seahawk team.
There’s a lot to be encouraged about for BJ Payne’s squad after nearly knocking off Wade Hampton, but the ‘Hawks will have a menacing task in front of them in the final leg of their season-opening, five-game road swing. Bryce Lybrand’s tenacious defensive line will be a major challenge for Jaylen Sneed and a reinvented Hilton Head attack. We’ll see two of the Lowco’s most highly recruited stars take the stage Friday night, as Sneed will be opposed by junior superstar Eamon Smalls. The Eagle star should have his way breaking through a young Hilton Head line and creating difficulties for Sneed and a solid group of skill players to execute their offense.
It was a disappointing showing for Tyler Haley and the Beaufort offense at Oceanside two weeks ago, and they have certainly worked over the past 14 days to correct some glaring issues. After a six-turnover game against the Landsharks, the Eagles will need to protect the football against a Seahawk defense led by dangerous Notre Dame commit Sneed. Chris Marable has emerged as a stellar presence in the heart of Payne’s defensive line, and Carter Saleeby is becoming a strong complement to Sneed’s athleticism and explosiveness at linebacker. But the Seahawks may not have enough horses to slow down a versatile and multidimensional Beaufort group led by athletic receiver Zyrin Odom and dynamic running back Amariee Morris. If Haley can make good reads and find his many talented weapons down the field, the Eagles should have no problem moving the ball.
Sneed will provide a difficult matchup on both sides, but a loaded and motivated group of Eagles should come out flying on Friday night with the home crowd behind them and soar to a region-opening win. — Wes Kerr
PREDICTION
JJ: Beaufort High 31, Hilton Head High 14
WK: Beaufort High 31, Hilton Head High 14
Bluffton (1-3, 0-0) at Colleton County (0-0, 0-0) , 7:30 p.m. Friday
After waiting an extra six weeks, Colleton County and first-time head coach Kris Howell are finally ready to make their 2021 debut Friday when the Cougars host Bluffton in what could be a pivotal Region 7-4A game.
The COVID-19 surge this fall hit Colleton County hard, prompting the Cougars to scrap their non-region schedule and set their sights on October. That dynamic has created a difficult set of circumstances for the Cougars as they open the season against a Bobcats squad that has already played four games and shown steady improvement each week.
“It is difficult to say where we are as a team right now because we remain untested,” Howell said. “We will know nothing until after the game against Bluffton. Bluffton is battle-tested already, which gives them a huge advantage.”
It could also benefit the Cougars, who have four games worth of film on the Bobcats, who will be going in blind as they prepare to face a team with a new head coach that has not yet played this season. The Bobcats are familiar with tailback Trey Magwood, a powerful runner who contributed to the Cougars rolling up 380 total yards against Bluffton last season, as well as Jackie White, who takes over at quarterback after playing running back a year ago. Colleton County will try to get the ground game going with that duo, but an inexperienced offensive line that returns only two starters could have its hands full with a strong Bobcat defensive front led by D1 recruit DJ Aiken and linebackers Jeremiah Curry and JaQuinn Williams.
Bluffton’s offense sputtered in a 28-7 loss to the Cougars a year ago — their second straight loss in the series and fourth in the past five meetings — but the Bobcats have shown signs of putting things together on that side of the ball in recent weeks. Quarterback Max Vonhohenstraeten led a stirring comeback to beat Thomas Heyward, and running back Roderick Buxton has found some success on the ground.
The Cougars are counting on linebackers Chris Hiers and Dorian Gant and safety Trey Fields to anchor a defense that came on strong at the end of last season. The Bobcats have enough talented receivers to spread teams out and pick them apart, so Colleton County’s secondary will need to adjust quickly to game speed and avoid giving up big plays.
“To have a chance to win, we must limit the mistakes that our team traditionally makes,” Howell said. “If we can do that, then we will have an opportunity to be successful. We are young and inexperienced, but we will not make excuses. Instead, I expect our guys to make plays.” — Justin Jarrett
PREDICTION
JJ: Bluffton 21, Colleton County 14
WK: Bluffton 35, Colleton County 20
James Island (2-2, 0-0) May River (3-2, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday
A week ago, May River’s season was at a crossroads. The Sharks needed a strong performance at home to close out the non-region schedule — and they pulled it off, taking down Class 5A Blythewood with a remarkable defensive performance. This time around, the stakes are even higher as the Sharks welcome in James Island to kick off region play.
The identity of this Rodney Summers team starts on the defensive side, as his group showed last week in a second-half shutout against the Bengals. It was a bend-but-don’t-break effort from an improving core to get the job done.
This week presents a new challenge, as quarterback Braxton Scott leads a balanced and talented Trojan offense to the Tank. The Sharks have done an exceptional job of stuffing the run and putting pressure on the quarterback, which should be key on Friday night to shut down Scott and fellow signal-caller Liam Nixon. John Grant is a deep-ball playmaker at 6-foot-3, and he could present a problem for an inexperienced secondary, but the emergence of running back Jaiden Jones now playing in the heart of the defense alongside Kade Carpenter and Chris Snowden will make it difficult for the Trojans to win at the point of attack.
The Sharks are difficult to beat when playing with the lead, and quarterback Garvin Douglas can wear down an opposing defense with his legs just like he did against the Bengals. If May River can pounce early with a quick score or a defensive takeaway, the Sharks can rely on their powerful and electric ground attack to take charge.
With a battle for second place in Region 7-4A emerging, this first one is huge for both sides to grab that upper hand. If the May River defense continues its relentless effort while the offensive line leads the way for an effective trio of Douglas, Cam Scott, and Jaeon Allen on the ground, the Sharks should take command of this one at home and start 1-0 in a tough Region 7-4A. — Wes Kerr
PREDICTION
JJ: May River 28, James Island 14
WK: May River 24, James Island 14
Cross (0-1, 0-0) at Whale Branch (3-1, 2-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday
After a stunning second-half meltdown derailed their region title hopes a week ago, Whale Branch looks to get back to its winning ways when the Warriors host Cross for a Region 7-1A matchup Friday.
Whale Branch rolled to a 25-8 halftime lead against Baptist Hill before the Bobcats rallied for 22 unanswered points in the second half to stun the Warriors last week, so the Warriors now have to buckle down an run the rest of the table in the region to ensure they open the Class 1A playoffs at home.
That shouldn’t be too difficult against a Cross team that finally played its first game last week, falling 14-12 to Lake Marion in a defensive struggle. The Trojans didn’t muster much offense against the Gators, and they should find an inspired Warriors defense eager to redeem itself when they arrive in Seabrook. Whale Branch had a tough time containing a mobile quarterback in the second half against Baptist Hill, and they’ll have to contend with another one in Cross senior Antwain Hoskins, who led the Trojans with 79 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries last week.
The Trojans will have their own challenges on defense, most notably slowing down Whale Branch star Joseph Hicks, whose 159.3 rushing yards per game lead the Lowco. Hicks is averaging 13.9 yards per carry and has taken 11 of his 46 attempts to the house, including three long TD runs a week ago. With Hicks running behind a strong offensive line anchored by Virginia Tech commit Xavier Chaplin, the Warriors should be able to control the clock and put up plenty of points to get back in the win column. — Justin Jarrett
PREDICTION
JJ: Whale Branch 34, Cross 6
WK: Whale Branch 32, Cross 12
Ridgeland-Hardeeville (0-2, 0-0) at Timberland (4-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Jaguars won’t get to ease into their first region game since 2019, as they hit the road Friday to face Region 6-2A frontrunner Timberland in a difficult matchup.
Coach Rodney Barr’s team got back on the field last week but didn’t find the success it sought in a 34-14 road loss to a strong Pelion team, and it won’t get any easier against the undefeated Wolves. Timberland’s perfect record might be somewhat misleading, though, as the Wolves’ first four opponents are a combined 4-15 this season, and they weren’t exactly blowouts. The Wolves struggled to put away a pair of winless teams the past two weeks, eking out an 18-10 win over Bishop England and needing a second-half surge to put away Chesnee in a 32-19 victory last week.
Timberland has plenty of talent on offense with quarterback Kylen Brown and all-state athlete Roman Wadford leading the way. Brown is an effective runner who can hurt defenses with his arm, and Wadford will line up all over the field — including at quarterback — to find matchups the Wolves can exploit. Ridgeland-Hardeeville’s defense will have to be disciplined and execute well to slow down a dynamic offense.
The Jags’ offense is still trying to find its footing, but quarterback Maurice Brown and running back Jayven Grant both found the end zone last week, and receivers Hamid Brown and Dylan Pryor give RHHS a number of capable playmakers. They will be tested by an excellent Timberland defense, though, with all-state linebacker Omari Jenkins leading the way. The Jags will have to be aware of where Jenkins lines up on every play and find ways to make someone else stop them.
This is a tough challenge that isn’t likely to end with the Jags’ first region victory, but if they can continue to improve and take away some positives, it will help prepare them for more favorable matchups later in the region slate. — Justin Jarrett
PREDICTION
JJ: Timberland 33, Ridgeland-Hardeeville 14
WK: Timberland 38, Ridgeland-Hardeeville 12
John Paul II (2-2) at Thomas Heyward (4-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Nevermind that it’s a non-region game, there’s a grudge match on tap in Ridgeland on Friday night.
The three-time defending SCISA 1A champion Rebels intend to maintain their claim as the top private school program in Jasper County when they host the rival Golden Warriors in a rivalry they have dominated since its inception. THA is 5-0 all-time against JPII, and the closest contest was last year’s 28-18 Rebels win.
THA looks like the favorite to win a fourth straight title, even after losing quarterback Dietrich Shuford for the season to a knee injury. The Rebels’ defense was dominant in a 24-0 win over Beaufort Academy last week, completely neutralizing star running back Devonte Green and shutting out a dynamic Eagles team.
John Paul II has made big strides the past two weeks, blowing out Memorial Day and going toe-to-toe with Pinewood Prep in a shootout, but the offensive line will have a more difficult time against THA’s stout defensive front. Sophomore quarterback Christian Tilton will have to make good reads at the line of scrimmage to find running room for the triple option attack, and the Golden Warriors will likely need to make some plays in the passing game to keep the Rebels from pinning back their ears and letting linebacker Brandon Howard and defensive end Cameron VanGeison feast in the backfield. JPII needs to get speedster Jackson Ogden and versatile playmaker Mark Knight involved to have success, so look for the Rebels to pay them extra attention.
Howard and James Townsend took on bigger roles in the offense last week following Shuford’s injury, and both rushed for more than 100 yards, adding even more weapons to a backfield that already includes powerful runners Anthony Fripp and Tony Obanner. Linebackers Peter Hughes and Michael Carbone have been outstanding for JPII, and they will need to play their best game and prevent THA from picking up extra yards after contact to keep the Golden Warriors in the game.
The Rebels’ new-look offense doesn’t boast much of a passing threat, which is good news for JPII, which gave up 409 yards and 5 TDs through the air last week while doing a solid job against the Panthers’ ground game.
The Friday slate will kick off with an important region clash in Sea Pines, as the Beaufort Academy Eagles look to rebound on the road against a stingy Hilton Head Prep defense.
JPII can keep this game close if the offense puts together sustained drives and cashes in on red-zone trips, but the Golden Warriors will have their hands full with a strong Rebels squad, especially in the trenches. If THA gets an early lead or if JPII gives the Rebels any gifts, the chance of an upset will evaporate quickly. — Justin Jarrett
PREDICTION
JJ: Thomas Heyward 32, John Paul II 16
WK: Thomas Heyward 35, John Paul II 14
Colleton Prep (1-4, 0-1) at Bethesda Academy (0-4, 0-1), 7:30 p.m. Friday
Colleton Prep has a great chance to snap its two-game losing streak and pick up its first region win of the season when the War Hawks travel to Savannah to face winless Bethesda Academy on Friday.
The War Hawks have found tough sledding on offense the past two weeks, finding the end zone just once each in a 25-6 loss to Dorchester Academy and a 49-7 rout at the hands of defending SCISA 2A champion Hilton Head Christian Academy, but Drew Murdaugh and the CPA attack should be able to get going against a vulnerable Blazers defense. The Blazers did play their best game of the season in last week’s 22-14 loss to Hilton Head Prep, but they still surrendered 151 rushing yards to Loncelle Daley, which bodes well for CPA’s ground game.
Bethesda’s offense is not the dynamic unit we’ve grown accustomed to seeing the past few years with Antjuan McKay at the helm, but sophomore quarterback Triston Randall is developing into a solid dual-threat. He passed for 132 yards and rushed for a team-high 55 last week against the Dolphins, so containing him will be the top priority for the War Hawks.
CPA had a tough time last week against HHCA, but the Blazers don’t have anywhere near the firepower the Eagles boast. The War Hawks should be able to keep this one low-scoring and use their strong rushing attack to salt away their first region win of the year. — Justin Jarrett
PREDICTION
JJ: Colleton Prep 20, Bethesda Academy 14
WK: Colleton Prep 24, Bethesda Academy 21
SEASON RECORDS
WK: 7-2 last week, 37-6 overall
JJ: 6-3 last week, 30-13 overall
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