After feasting on an appetizer last week and getting a little snack in Thursday night, we’re pulling up to the table for the full feast Friday night.
We had a total of 15 games on the local high school football slate this week, so Team Lowco will be far-flung Friday night to chase down the scores, stats, and highlights from around the region and report them on Lowco Pigskin Live, setting sail around 9:30pm on the Lowco Media Network on YouTube and our social media platforms.
A couple of late schedule changes caught us off-guard, so we weren’t able to get out previews for the two games played Thursday — Hilton Head Prep’s storm-shortened 28-14 loss to St. Andrew’s and May River’s 38-7 rout of Airport on the road — but here’s a look at the 13 local matchups scheduled for Friday night, weather permitting.
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Fort Dorchester (0-0) at Beaufort (0-0)
All-Time Series: Fort D leads 12-10
Last Meeting: Fort D W 28-21 (2024)
Streak: Fort D won 3
Outlook: This is a brutal matchup for the Eagles’ opener, as Bryce Lybrand’s squad is inexperienced at the offensive skill positions and is still looking to find a rhythm on that side of the ball. Beaufort’s defense should be able to keep the Eagles in the game, but it will take a tremendous effort against a potent Fort Dorchester offense to have a chance at opening with a win.
Bluffton (0-0) at Whale Branch (0-0)
All-Time Series: Bluffton leads 7-0
Last Meeting: Bluffton W 57-0 (2024)
Streak: Bluffton won 7
Outlook: The Bobcats boast the biggest collection of offensive weapons we’ve seen on one roster in the Lowco in quite some time, with electric receivers Carnell Warren and Amare Patterson working the outside for quarterback Aedan McCarthy and running back Kordell Holley. The Warriors, on the other hand, are facing something of a rebuild in their first year without legendary coach Jerry Hatcher, so it could be a rough night for the home team.
Hampton Co. (0-0) at Colleton Co. (0-0)
All-Time Series: Hampton leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Hampton W 41-20 (2024)
Streak: Hampton won 2
Outlook: The Hurricanes graduate a ton of talent every year, but they continually reload, and this year looks no different. Dynamic back Jaylen Singletary is back to carry the load, and he torched the Cougars for 225 yards and two TDs a year ago. Colleton County is excited about coach Adam Kinloch’s third season thanks to a talented backfield led by senior Kenari Koger, but the Cougars aren’t built to play from behind, so they’ll need to grab an early lead and play sound defense to stay in this one until the final whistle.
Stall (0-0) at Hilton Head (0-0)
All-Time Series: Hilton Head leads 14-1
Last Meeting: Hilton Head W 65-0 (2024)
Streak: Hilton Head won 11
Outlook: The Seahawks could have hit triple-digits against the Warriors a year ago if they wanted to, and not much is likely to change about this year’s matchup in The Nest. Sure, bruising back Troy Timko has graduated, but Hilton Head has two guys capable of carrying the load in Thaddeus Czarnecki and Hampton County transfer Jayvin “Bill” Risher. BJ Payne also started 10 sophomores a year ago, so despite a smaller senior class than usual, the Seahawks are short on leadership, and they won’t be challenged Friday.
Battery Creek (0-0) at HHCA (0-1)
All-Time Series: HHCA leads 1-0
Last Meeting: HHCA W 17-7 (2024)
Streak: HHCA won 1
Outlook: The Eagles were able to grind out a tough road win at Creek last year, but the Dolphins have gotten bigger and stronger in the trenches over the offseason, while HHCA is light on size up front this season. That doesn’t mean the Dolphins will have an easy time containing Navy commit Reid McCollum, whose big arm and strong frame make him a menace on the ground and through the air, but if their linebackers can limit big plays on the ground and their secondary holds up, Creek could be poised for a huge confidence-boosting win in its opener on the road.
Bethune-Bowman (0-0) at Hardeeville (0-0) — at Ridgeland Stadium
All-Time Series: Hardeeville leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Hardeeville W 48-6 (2024)
Streak: Hardeeville won 1
Outlook: The Hurricanes blew out the Mohawks a year ago in their first varsity game since 2011, and with only a handful of seniors lost to graduation and some major additions in the trenches and on the edges, Hardeeville is hopeful for giving longtime Lowco assistant Arthur Gardner his first win as a high school head coach. The Canes have a talented group of skill players returning, including senior two-way standout Camari Brown, and Gardner has recruited the hallways effectively to cultivate some depth all over the field, which is a luxury for a 1A program and should pay dividends late in games like Friday’s.
Ridgeland (0-0) at Eau Claire (0-0)
All-Time Series: Ridgeland leads 1-0
Last Meeting: Ridgeland W 30-6 (2024)
Streak: Ridgeland won 1
Outlook: The Jaguars made easy work of the Shamrocks in last year’s opener in Ridgeland, but the star of that game is gone to graduation, so it’s time for the heir to Wenson Smith to emerge from the backfield. Smith and fullback Xavier Plowdeniz accounted for 86 percent of the Jags’ ground game last year, and it falls to Palaal “Bam” Crawford to pick up where they left off. Ridgeland also returns quarterback Taishaun Smith, who might look to use his legs a little more this year and become the focal point of the offense. The offense might be slower to come this year, but Ridgeland defense should have enough juice to limit Eau Claire and bring home the win.
John Paul II (1-0) at Laurence Manning (0-0)
All-Time Series: LMA leads 1-0
Last Meeting: LMA W 54-25 (2024)
Streak: LMA won 1
Outlook: The Golden Warriors played their best game of football in coach Shayne Milligan’s three years on the job in last week’s 31-22 win over Colleton Prep, showing off an efficient offense and a resilient defense. This will be a tougher test on the road, but this JPII team seems up to the challenge. Quarterback Grainger Powell and company torched the Golden Warriors’ secondary a year ago, but the defensive backfield held up well against a War Hawks team with some passing prowess, so don’t expect history to repeat itself. This one could go down to the wire, and JPII has already shown it can salt away a win late.
Beaufort Academy (1-0) at Carolina Academy (1-0)
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: BA W 23-21 (2024)
Streak: BA won 1
Outlook: Last year’s meeting in the first round of the SCISA 1A playoffs was a Donnybrook, with BA squeaking out a victory, so it’s safe to assume another competitive matchup. Dietrich Shuford was the star against the Bobcats a year ago, and he’s now in the coaching booth. But his younger brother Nic Shuford Jr. put on a show in his debut under center in a 36-0 win over Hilton Head Prep, and he has some serious weapons around him in receiver Devin Fripp and Jace Paulk and powerful running back Nych Underwood. BA’s speed combined with its size up front should be enough to get the Eagles to 2-0.
Colleton Prep (0-1) at St. John’s Christian (0-1)
All-Time Series: CPA leads 6-0
Last Meeting: CPA W 28-13 (2024)
Streak: CPA won 6
Outlook: The War Hawks have owned the all-time series, but the three meetings in coach Greg Langdale’s tenure have been decided by a combined 24 points, including a pair of one-possession games. This one figures to be competitive, as well, with the War Hawks on the road and looking to rebound from a rough opening loss to John Paul II. CPA’s defensive front must do a better job of containing the run, and the secondary has to shore up its tackling and limit big plays, or the War Hawks could find themselves staring at an unexpected 0-2 record.
Academic Magnet (0-0) at Patrick Henry (0-0)
All-Time Series: Tied 1-1
Last Meeting: PHA W 34-7 (2024)
Streak: PHA won 1
Outlook: Last season, Patrick Henry scored early and often on the Raptors, dominating them in all phases of the game in a season opening win. Mikell Tucker Mathis scored most of the Patriots’ points in that game, but he’s lost to graduation. This year, the Patriots have a core of experienced starters along with some who haven’t seen much playing time. A few incoming freshmen from last year’s undefeated JV squad will be expected to contribute early, but this young team will improve every week. Academic Magnet has a new coach and looks to have a little more pep on both sides of the ball. Should be a tight game at Cone Field.
Thomas Heyward (0-0) at Bethesda Academy (0-0)
All-Time Series: THA leads 6-4
Last Meeting: THA W 41-32 (2024)
Streak: THA won 4
Outlook: This has developed into a decent rivalry over the years, with the most heated matchups coming in 2019, when the Blazers stunned the Rebels in the regular season before THA routed Bethesda 30-6 in the state championship game. The Rebels have won every meeting since, but last year’s 41-32 home victory was a battle. Thomas Heyward doesn’t return a ton of firepower from last year’s SCISA 1A championship team, but they do have Tony O’Banner back, and he should be able to keep the Rebels in it and give them a chance to win it.
Cross Schools (0-1) at Jefferson Davis (0-1)
All-Time Series: JDA leads 2-0
Last Meeting: JDA W 70-12 (2024)
Streak: JDA won 2
Outlook: The Stingrays entered the season with high hopes for former Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Rico McCoy’s first season at the helm, but Cross is already struggling for numbers after suffering several key injuries in a season-opening shutout loss at The King’s Academy. The Raiders were also routed in their opener against powerhouse Providence Athletic Club, but they should have plenty of firepower to take down a short-handed Stingrays squad.