Week Three Capsules: Spartanburg Area

Boiling Springs (2-1) at 5A No. 5 Hillcrest (3-0)

Series record: Boiling Springs leads 12-11, but Hillcrest won last season’s meeting 48-0

Last week: Hillcrest won at Clover 24-7; Boiling Springs topped Chapman 29-7

Radio/TV/Internet: Boiling Springs – upstateprepcast.net/boiling-springs; Hillcrest – facebook.com/HHSRamAthletics (Facebook Live stream).

Location: Chandler Stadium, 3665 S Industrial Dr, Simpsonville, SC 29681

Who to watch for Boiling Springs: RB Javen Chhim, RB Ry’shaun Morgan, DE Jameilion Miller

Who to watch for Hillcrest: ATH Avery McFadden, LB Jy Leake, LB Tyson Moses

About the Bulldogs: Boiling Springs snapped a long home losing streak in a big way last week when it defeated a Chapman team that was coming off a win over Byrnes. Morgan had 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while the Bulldogs held the Panthers to 31 yards rushing in winning at home for the first time since Oct. 16, 2000. Morgan and leading rusher Chhim are averaging 7.0 and 6.8 yards per carry, respectively, this season. Miller has three sacks.

About the Rams: After a 19-14 win in its first-ever game against Clover last season, Hillcrest pulled out another win in another defensive battle with the Blue Eagles last week. The Rams won despite being held to 158 yards of total offense on just 42 snaps. Leake had the highlight of the night with a punt return for a touchdown. Moses had 11 tackles.

5A No. 7 Byrnes (2-1) at Greer (1-2)

Series record: Byrnes leads 33-26-1, including a 23-14 victory last year in Duncan to extend its winning streak in the series to 15.

Last week: Byrnes defeated Greenville 37-14; Greer won at Blue Ridge 51-0

Radio/TV/Internet: Byrnes – The Fan Upstate 97.1/97.7 FM (Byrnes); Greer – WGYT 92.1 FM, yellowjacketsports.net

Location: Dooley Field, 301 Chandler Rd, Greer, SC 29651

Who to watch for Byrnes: QB Andrew Stevens, RB Tre Sagarra, WR Armoni Weaver

Who to watch for Greer: RB LaDainnian Martin, RB Chris Hall, MLB Darius Johnson

About the Rebels: Stevens threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns, while Sagarra rushed for 148 yards and a score, as Byrnes rebounded from a stunning loss to Chapman with a resounding win over Greenville last Friday. Weaver caught seven passes for 113 yards and a score. Sagarra, a freshman, has rushed for 410 yards and is averaging 7.7 yards per carry this season.

About the Yellow Jackets: Greer got its offense on track last week despite missing one of its top players. Playing without Martin for the second straight week, Hall stepped up in a huge way. Hall ran 18 times for 261 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 14.5 yards per carry. Johnson led the defense’s shutout effort with seven tackles, including three tackles-for-loss. The Yellow Jackets held Blue Ridge to 74 yards of total offense and forced seven turnovers.

Woodruff (1-2) at 3A No. 5 Belton-Honea Path (2-0)

Series Record: Woodruff leads the all-time series 11-6, but BHP won last year’s meeting 34-27.

Last week:  Woodruff lost to J.L. Mann 40-0; BHP beat Laurens 49-21

Radio/TV/Internet: meridix.com/channel/?liveid=woodruffathletics#/

Location: 11000 Belton Honea Path Hwy A, Honea Path

Who to watch for Woodruff: QB T.J. Morris, ATH Kori Moates, ATH Kory Scott

Who to watch for BHP: RB Marquise Henderson, RB Shaheem Robbs, RB Justin Lathon

About the Wolverines: Woodruff has looked good in spots under new head coach Brett Sloan, but they’re young and building experience as they go. Morris has looked good at QB, and Scott is a threat every time he touches the ball.

About the Bears: After a year with an athletic, dual-threat QB, the Bears have returned to a rush-heavy attack. Henderson is the featured back, and one of the best in the state, but Robbs and Lathon are equally capable of big plays.

Laurens (0-3) at 3A No. 8 Chapman (2-1)

Series Record: Chapman leads the all-time series 3-0, including a 27-24 win a year ago.

Last week: Laurens lost to BHP 49-21; Chapman lost to Boiling Springs 29-7

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net

Location: Panther Stadium, 1420 Compton Bridge Rd., Inman

Who to watch for Laurens: QB Nick Danciu, LB Ja’Mauri Williams

Who to watch for Chapman: QB Coleman Gray, LB Reece Lynch, WR Shawn Cunningham

About the Raiders: Laurens has struggled mightily on defense this season, giving up 55, 50, and 49 points in its 0-3 start. The Raiders have had particular trouble with the running game, something that doesn’t bode well against a Chapman team that find strength in a power rushing attack.

About the Panthers: Speaking of Chapman’s rushing attack, the Panthers were held to fewer than 50 yards on the ground by a stout Boiling Springs defense. This week, they’ll try to get back on track against a Laurens defense that has had problems slowing folks down. The Panthers will also look to utilize the talents of Cunningham, who is a mismatch anywhere he lines up.

RS Central (NC) (1-1) at Chesnee (2-1)

Series Record: R-S Central holds a 2-0 all-time lead, including a 27-20 win last season.

Last week: R-S Central was idle; Chesnee beat Walhalla 28-10

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net

Location: Eagle Stadium, 795 S. Alabama Ave., Chesnee

Who to watch for R-S Central: RB Karlen McEntyre; WR Saynt Wilkins, LB Levi Vogel

Who to watch for Chesnee: Kaylob Blanton, RB Austin Bigford

About the Hilltoppers: R-S Central has moved from a tight offensive set on offense to a shotgun version. The Hilltoppers have been led by McEntyre on the ground and by Wilkins when they take to the air.

About the Eagles: Chesnee’s offensive transition has looked good so far, but last week the defense shined for the Eagles, and it started up front. Kjay Proctor, Bradley Myers, Wesley Wilkie, and Paul Martin combined for 7.5 tackles for loss and four sacks last week to help hold Walhalla to 127 total yards.

Polk County (NC) (1-2) at Landrum (1-1)

Series Record: The teams have met nearly 60 times, but only five since Polk Central became Polk County. The Wolverines hold a 3-2 lead since then, including a 49-7 win last season.

Last week: Polk County lost to West Henderson 48-6; Landrum lost to St. Joseph’s 34-6.

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net

Location: Cardinal Stadium, 18818 Asheville Hwy., Campobello

Who to watch for Polk County: QB Lawson Carter; DB Nolan Simpson

Who to watch for Landrum: RB Colton Link, ATH Braden Mashtare

About the Wolverines: Polk County is in its first year under former Clemson standout Dustin Fry, and the Wolverines have played well despite a 1-2 record. They’ve shown an early penchant for thievery, notching four interceptions in their opening win and another last week against West Henderson.

About the Cardinals: Landrum is adjusting to a new look on offense, as Brent Bridges has brought the spread attack to the Cardinals. Landrum had a great first week against Berea, but struggled last week against 1A power St. Joseph’s. Despite the change in philosophy, Landrum’s success has come largely on the ground, due in part to Link’s performance.

Blacksburg (2-1)  at 1A No. 1 Lewisville (2-1)

Series Record: Lewisville leads the overall series 13-12, including a 31-25 win last season.

Last week: Blacksburg beat Cherryville (N.C.) 59-46; Lewisville beat Chesterfield 58-0.

Radio/TV/Internet: None

Location: Lions Stadium, 3971 Lewisville High School Rd., Richburg

Who to watch for Blacksburg: QB Josh Sims, WR Cam Cobb, WR Ziyon Harris

Who to watch for Lewisville: QB Ian Grissom, ATH Jordan Strong, LB Daquan Evans

About the Wildcats: Blacksburg had a huge offensive week in a big win over Cherryville. Sims threw for 344 yards and SIX touchdowns, finding Cobb twice, Harris twice, and two more. The offensive explosion in the Wildcats’ new spread system is something that is crucial to their success this season.

About the Lions: Grissom and the offense have been putting up video game numbers for Lewisville, to be sure, but the Lions are getting it done on defense. They’ve allowed 24 points, all in a Week Zero loss to 2A powerhouse Oceanside Collegiate, with back-to-back shutouts following. Evans is one of two Lions who already have 30 tackles, and the Lewisville secondary has already picked off five passes.

5A No. 2 Gaffney (2-1) at Mallard Creek (NC) (1-1)

Series Record: Mallard Creek holds a 2-1 advantage in the all-time series, including a 20-13 win last season.

Last week: Gaffney beat South Pointe 27-21; Mallard Creek was idle.

Radio/TV/Internet: WZZQ 104.3 FM

Location: 3825 Johnston Oehler Rd. Charlotte, North Carolina

Who to watch for Gaffney: RB Jaiden McDowell, WR Emazon Littlejohn, LB Andrew Ruppe

Who to watch for Mallard Creek: DB Nassor Ashenafi, LB Tyrek Brown, WR Benjamin Black

About the Indians: Gaffney played its first complete game last week in a slugfest against South Pointe. The Indians look like a typical Gaffney team: fast and opportunistic on offense with a rugged running game, and physical on defense. McDowell is one of the best running backs in the state, regardless of class, and Littlejohn has been a touchdown machine.

About the Mavericks: If Mallard Creek’s early win over Independence opened some eyes, a loss absolutely kicked the doors in. The Mavericks held national powerhouse Buford (Ga.), the fourth-ranked team in the country at the time, to just 10 points, falling 10-7 and earning a ton of respect. As good as they are defensively, they’re sneaky-good on offense, with Black leading the way.

Grayson (GA) (2-1) at 5A No. 6 Spartanburg (2-1)

Series Record: Grayson won the only previous meeting between the schools 51-24 last season.

Last week: Grayson beat Fort Dorchester 41-0; Spartanburg beat Broome 14-13

Radio/TV/Internet: Fox Sports Spartanburg 1400 AM/98.3FM

Location: Viking Stadium, 2250 E. Main St., Spartanburg

Who to watch for Grayson: OL Bryce Hudson, QB JD Davis, TE/DE Kylan Fox

Who to watch for Spartanburg: S Demario Bookhart, LB Bennie Littlejohn, LB Cam’Rich Smith

About the Rams: Grayson will bring an up-tempo offense and an aggressive defense to Viking Stadium. Santavious Bryant is in his first year as head coach for Grayson, but was a tremendously successful defensive assistant at the school.

About the Vikings: Spartanburg’s been outstanding defensively so far, and that will have to continue against the Rams. Davis threw for more than 2,000 yards last season, but the Vikings have been stingy against the pass. With Littlejohn and Smith in the middle and Bookhart patrolling the secondary, the Rams might find the going tough in the passing game.

2A No. 10 Broome (2-1) at Union County (0-3)

Series Record: Union County leads the series 9-4, including a 32-27 victory last season.

Last week: Broome lost to Spartanburg 14-13; Union County lost to York 38-14

Radio/TV/Internet: coxsportsbroadcasting.com (Broome); WBCU 1440 AM (Union County)

Location: Union County Stadium, 100 Kirby St., Union

Who to watch for Broome: QB Kamajay Brackett-Brannon, OL Steven O’Dell, RB Jaylen McGill

Who to watch for Union County: RB Jakevious Jennings, RB Cam Owens

About the Centurions: Broome has quickly asserted itself as one of the top teams in 3A, with a pair of big wins and a narrow loss to Spartanburg, in which the Centurions scored with two minutes to play and came up short on a two-point conversion for the lead. Broome has shown offensive balance and a stingy defense.

About the Yellow Jackets: Union County is growing into some offensive adjustments, and has had a tough go against a rugged early schedule. Jennings and Owens have been bright spots for Union County so far.