Week 4 Preview Capsules: Greenville County

Powdersville (2-2) at Class 5A No. 4 Hillcrest (4-0)

Series record: Hillcrest won the teams’ first-ever meeting in a classic, 37-35, last season.

Last week: Powdersville defeated Pendleton 56-40; Hillcrest beat Boiling Springs 21-6

Radio/TV/Internet: Hillcrest – facebook.com/HHSRamAthletics (Facebook Live stream).

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

Who to watch for Powdersville: QB Eli Hudgens, RB Brandon Waldrop

Who to watch for Hillcrest: ATH Avery McFadden, DE DJ Henderson, RB Thomas Stanley

About the Patriots: After losing each of its first two games on late two-point conversions, Powdersville has pulled its record even with a pair of shootout wins. The Patriots jumped out to a 30-6 lead after one quarter against Pendleton last week. Hudgens threw two touchdown passes, while rushing for 85 yards and another score. Waldrop ran 14 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns.

About the Rams: Henderson was the most dominant part of a dominant defense that held Boiling Springs to 60 yards rushing last week. Henderson had four sacks, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. McFadden accounted for all three Hillcrest touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). He ran six times for 58 yards and caught seven passes for 73 yards. McFadden’s next receiving touchdown will tie the school’s career record of 25.

Class 5A No. 8 Spartanburg (2-2) at Riverside (3-1)

Series record: Spartanburg leads 10-0, including a 59-25 win last season. 

Last week: Spartanburg lost to Grayson (GA) 21-19; Riverside won at Christ Church 48-28

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

Location: Riverside High, 794 Hammett Bridge Rd, Greer

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

Who to watch for Riverside: WR/RB Mikkel Skinner, QB Ty Breeze, DL Marcus Downs

About the Vikings: Spartanburg has won every game in the series by double digits, but this could be the most intriguing matchup ever between the schools. It looks to be a battle between Spartanburg’s outstanding defense and Riverside’s explosive pass offense. Against a tough schedule this season, the Vikings haven’t scored more than 19 points but haven’t allowed more than 21 in any game.

About the Warriors: Riverside is coming off an emotional comeback win in which it outscored Christ Church, 27-0, over the fourth quarter and the final 1:06 of the third quarter. Breeze, a Goose Creek transfer, has shown a great touch on deep balls and has thrown for 928 yards and 15 touchdowns with two interceptions. Skinner and Speedy Taylor have caught six touchdowns apiece. Skinner also leads the Warriors in rushing (375 yards) and is averaging 11.0 yards per carry.

Class 5A No. 9 J.L. Mann (4-0) at Greenville (2-2)

Series record: Greenville leads 32-21-1, including a 49-6 victory last season for its eighth consecutive win in the series.

Last week: J.L. Mann beat Easley 49-13; Greenville downed Mauldin 52-7.

Location: Sirrine Stadium, 100 Cleveland St, Greenville

Who to watch for J.L. Mann: WR Mikel McClellan, QB Ethan Anderson, RB Obadiah Jones

Who to watch for Greenville: WR KD Mosley, DL Jayden Wilson-Abrams, DL Bruce Knauber

About the Patriots: J.L. Mann is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since starting 6-0 in 1996. After missing the previous game-and-a-half due to injury, Anderson returned with a bang last Friday. He completed 17-of-28 passes for 319 yards with four touchdowns and one interception. Jones rushed eight times for 124 yards and a touchdown.

About the Red Raiders: After back-to-back losses, Greenville took out some frustration against Mauldin last week, racing out to a 45-7 halftime lead. The Red Raiders did so without standout Mazeo Bennett, who was injured the week before at Byrnes. Mosley had three catches for 102 yards and a touchdown. He was one of nine different Red Raiders who caught a pass. Six different backs – none of whom had double-digit carries – combined for 278 yards rushing and averaged 7.8 yards per attempt. Wilson-Abrams had nine tackles, including two tackles-for-loss.

Class 1A No. 2 St. Joseph’s (4-0, 0-0 Region I-1A) at Ware Shoals (1-2, 0-0 Region I-1A)

Series record: St. Joseph’s leads 7-1, including a 55-0 win last season for its seventh straight victory in the series.

Last week: St. Joseph’s beat Seneca 24-7; Ware Shoals lost to West-Oak 29-20

Location: Riegel Stadium, 56 Greenwood Ave, Ware Shoals

Who to watch for St. Joseph’s: RB Brayden Johnson, MLB Johnny Jaraczewski, DE Joe Patterson

Who to watch for Ware Shoals: RB Justice Lomax, QB Jayden Johnson

About the Knights: Last Friday was the first time this season that St. Joseph’s didn’t score on its first drive – or in the first quarter – this season, but its defense led to another win. Jarazczewski had 13 tackles, including two sacks, while Patterson had 10 stops as the Knights limited Seneca to 144 yards of total offense. Johnson ran for 98 yards and a touchdown.

About the Hornets: Ware Shoals rallied from an early 14-0 deficit to tie West-Oak last week before ultimately falling. Lomax ran for two touchdowns to lead the Hornets. Riegel Stadium is an athletic multiplex and one of the most unique settings in the state. The baseball portion of the stadium was built in 1926, while the football part was completed in 1931. In April 1954, the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Senators played an exhibition game there as the teams were headed North to begin the season following spring training. The stadium was also where the football scenes were filmed for the 2008 movie “Leatherheads.”

Class 1A No. 4 Christ Church (2-2, 0-0 Region I-1A) at Calhoun Falls (2-1, 0-0 Region I-1A)

Series record: Calhoun Falls leads 27-12, but Christ Church has won each of the last seven meetings including a 73-0 win last year. Prior to the Cavaliers’ current streak, the Blue Flashes had 22 straight wins in the series.

Last week: Christ Church lost to Riverside 48-28; Calhoun Falls was off. The Flashes defeated Thornwell Charter 52-6 two weeks ago.

Location: Fulmer Stadium, 205 Edgefield St, Calhoun Falls

Who to watch for Christ Church: RB Dashun Reeder, WR Jackson Repp, DE Will Marguet

Who to watch for Calhoun Falls: RB Jamarri Norman, QB Kendraez Tatum

About the Cavaliers: Christ Church will try to bounce back from a gut-punch loss last week against Riverside. The Cavaliers jumped out to a 14-0 lead after one quarter and led 28-21 late in the third. But the Warriors scored touchdowns on each of their last three possessions, while Christ Church’s first three possessions of the fourth quarter ended on a blocked punt returned for a touchdown and two interceptions. Reeder finished with 260 yards on 34 carries, but he had 265 yards at the end of the third quarter before Riverside dominated the fourth. Marguet had seven tackles, including three sacks.

About the Blue Flashes: Calhoun Falls snapped a 30-game losing streak when it defeated Thornwell Charter 42-13 in Week 1. The Blue Flashes made it a winning streak a week later with another win over Thornwell. The two wins are the most in a season since Calhoun Falls went 2-6 in 2016. In the second win over Thornwell, Norman ran for two touchdowns and returned a punt for another score.

Westside (2-1) at Mauldin (0-3)

Series record: Westside leads 17-9, including a 34-7 win last season in Anderson.

Last week: Westside downed Abbeville 48-13; Mauldin lost at Greenville 52-7

Location: Freeman Field, 701 E Butler Rd, Mauldin

Who to watch for Westside: QB Cutter Woods, RB Sharode Richardson, WR Joshua Williams

Who to watch for Mauldin: RB Devan Ortega, DL DeMario Moore, QB Jaxon Vicars

About the Rams: After falling at Belton-Honea Path to open the season, Westside has responded with impressive wins over TL Hanna and Abbeville for new coach Brian Lane. The Rams are loaded with talent all over the field. Woods has completed 77.2 percent of his passes and thrown for 719 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. Richardson has rushed for 252 yards and is averaging 10.1 yards per carry. Williams has 19 receptions for 351 yards and five touchdowns.

About the Mavericks: With the loss of quite a few players to graduation and transferring to other schools since last season, Mauldin is off to a rough start this year. The Mavericks have been outscored 148-39.

Easley (1-2) at Woodmont (3-1)

Series record: Easley leads 10-3, including a 29-14 win last season.

Last week: Easley lost to JL Mann 49-13; Woodmont shut out Travelers Rest 22-0

Location: Whitt Memorial Stadium, 2831 W Georgia Rd, Piedmont

Who to watch for Easley: RB Logan Sullivan, WR Will Patton, OLB Talan Scott

Who to watch for Woodmont: RB Tavorace Williams, OT Ahmad Carwise, DL RJ Flemmings

About the Green Wave: On a tough night against unbeaten JL Mann last Friday, Sullivan was a bright spot as he rushed 27 times for 147 yards. He’s rushed for 429 yards this season, while Patton has 288 yards receiving on just 12 catches. Scott is Easley’s leading tackler and is coming off a monster effort in which he had 12 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a sack, a pass breakup and a blocked kick.

About the Wildcats: Woodmont recorded its first road shutout since 2016 last Friday. Flemmings had seven tackles, including a sack, while Jordan Wilson had two interceptions for a defense that allowed just 91 yards of total offense. Williams rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown to lead the Wildcats’ offense. Carwise earned Lineman of the Week honors by the South Carolina Football Coaches Association.

Wade Hampton (1-3) at Blue Ridge (0-4)

Series record: Wade Hampton leads 13-9, including a 35-25 victory last year.

Last week: Wade Hampton beat Berea 35-13; Blue Ridge lost at Eastside 54-40

Radio/TV/Internet: Blue Ridge – upstateprepcast.net/blue-ridge

Location: Blue Ridge High, 2151 Fews Chapel Rd, Greer

Who to watch for Wade Hampton: QB Jack Stepp, WR Jamarion McKinney, DE Javarous Haygood

Who to watch for Blue Ridge: RB KB Henderson, WR Asheton Stokes, DE Eli Smith

About the Generals: McKinney and Stepp scored touchdowns to give Wade Hampton a 14-10 lead at the half against Berea last Friday and the Generals pulled away in the second half to record their first win. After getting shut out at Seneca to open the season, Wade Hampton has scored 95 points over its past three games. 

About the Tigers: Blue Ridge had a one-point lead at the half and piled up 410 yards of total offense for the game last Friday, but it was not enough as the Tigers allowed 581 yards of total offense in the loss. Henderson rushed 26 times for 296 yards and four touchdowns, while Stokes had 78 yards receiving. That gives Stokes, who’s averaging 27.8 yards per catch, 334 yards this season.

Travelers Rest (1-3) at Eastside (2-2)

Series record: Eastside leads 18-11, but Travelers Rest has won each of the last three meetings including a 35-28 win last year.

Last week: Travelers Rest lost to Woodmont 22-0; Eastside beat Blue Ridge 54-40

Location: John Carlisle Stadium, 1300 Brushy Creek Rd, Taylors

Who to watch for Travelers Rest: WR/DE Drew McKibben, LB Lucas Tankersley

Who to watch for Eastside: RB Kalvin Banks, DE Jaquavious Dodd

About the Devildogs: Coming off a heartbreaking 20-19 loss to Palmetto in which it saw a 19-6 third quarter lead disappear, Travelers Rest was held to just 91 yards of total offense in getting shut out last Friday. The Devildogs piled up 60 points at Wade Hampton in their lone road game this season, but have mustered just 26 points combined in their three home games.

About the Eagles: After missing Eastside’s first win the previous week, it’s probably fair to say that Banks made up for lost time last Friday. Banks rushed 24 times for 420 yards and six touchdowns in the Eagles’ wild shootout victory over Blue Ridge. He’s got 643 yards rushing and nine touchdowns this season, and is averaging 10.2 yards per carry. In a game without much defense, Dodd managed to post nine tackles including five tackles-for-loss.

Pendleton (2-1) at Fountain Inn (2-2)

Series record: Pendleton won the first-ever meeting between the schools, 43-7, last season.

Last week: Pendleton lost to Powdersville 56-40; Fountain Inn beat Carolina 26-6

Location: Fountain Inn High School, 644 Quillen Ave, Fountain Inn

Who to watch for Pendleton: QB Luke Gray, WR Kory Jones, WR Ebijah Webb

Who to watch for Fountain Inn: QB Sam Holliday, LB Xeviel Gonzalez, RB BoJack Johnson

About the Bulldogs: Pendleton’s pass-happy offense has put up at least 40 points in each game this season, but last Friday it wasn’t enough as the Bulldogs lost a shootout with Powdersville. Three of Gray’s four touchdown passes last Friday went to Jones, who finished with 133 yards receiving and also threw a 20-yard touchdown pass. For the season, Gray has thrown for 838 yards with 14 touchdowns and no interceptions. Jones has 20 receptions for 415 yards, while Webb has 15 catches for 280.

About the Fury: Holliday ran 13 times for 116 yards and two touchdowns as Fountain Inn celebrated its first home win for the second-year varsity program last Friday. The freshman quarterback also threw for two scores. Johnson added 84 yards rushing on just five carries. Gonzalez, Fountain Inn’s leading tackler with 30.5 this season, had 3.5 tackles-for-loss in the win. 

Southside (0-3) at Carolina (0-4)

Series record: Southside leads 38-17 and has won each of the last 12 meetings, including a 31-2 victory last season.

Last week: Southside lost at Walhalla 35-6; Carolina lost at Fountain Inn 26-6

Location: David Farnham Field, 2725 Anderson Rd, Greenville

Who to watch for Southside: RB Javontae Searles, QB Chance McClure, DE Christopher Smith

Who to watch for Carolina: RB Kimoray Holland, QB JaSean Bowens, WR D’Marcus Riley

About the Tigers: It’s been a rough start to the 2023 season for Southside, which has been outscored 137-19. The Tigers trailed 14-0 at the half last week at Walhalla after promising drives to start the game and end the half each ended on turnovers. Searles had the lone touchdown with a 13-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter.

About the Trojans: Riley’s fifth touchdown catch this season gave Carolina a 6-0 lead after one quarter last Friday at Fountain Inn, but that was all the scoring it produced. The Trojans were held to 196 yards of total offense in dropping their 10th consecutive game since defeating Fountain Inn last season.

Anderson Cavaliers (2-1) at Southside Christian (0-2)

Series record: Southside Christian won the only previous meeting between the teams, 42-0, in 2021.

Last week: Anderson lost to Georgia Force Christian 52-12; Southside Christian was off. The Sabres lost to Abbeville 22-21 two weeks ago.

Location: Sabre Stadium, 2211 Woodruff Rd, Simpsonville

Who to watch for Southside Christian: WR Ethan Chandler, WR Josh Hennum

About the Cavaliers: Founded in 2008, Anderson is an independent program whose roster is made up of homeschooled and private school students. The Cavaliers are part of the Pioneer Football League made up of similar teams from the Carolinas and Georgia.

About the Sabres: With a full schedule of games the rest of the way, Southside Christian will look to break out of what’s been a tough cycle thus far. Over the first four weeks of the season, the Sabres have suffered an agonizingly close loss to a traditional power followed by an extra week to think about it. A failed extra point after the first score of the season proved costly in a two-point loss at Commerce (GA) in Week 0. Two weeks ago, Southside Christian saw a 21-7 fourth quarter lead as Abbeville rallied for a one-point win. Chandler and Hennum each have 12 receptions for 165 and 144 yards, respectively. Southside Christian will likely try to get its running game some confidence as it has only 20 yards on the ground this season

Berea (1-2) at Class 3A No. 9 Broome (3-1)

Series Record: Broome leads the series 5-1, including a 39-7 win a year ago.

Last Week: Berea lost to Wade Hampton 35-13; Broome beat Union County 62-34

Radio/TV/Internet: coxsportsbroadcasting.com

Location: Royal Stadium, 381 Cherry Hill Rd.,Spartanburg

Who to watch for Berea: QB Amazay Robinson, RB Taurean Davis, WR Destin Eichelberger

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

About the Centurions: There are successful nights rushing, and then there’s what Broome was able to do against Union County last week. The Centurions ran for 493 yards and churned out 581 yards of total offense. Brackett-Brannon had 206 yards and four TDs on the ground, while McGill carried 23 times for 287 yards and scored five times.

About the Bulldogs: Berea is adjusting to a new coach and scheme with Drew Chisholm taking the helm, and the Bulldogs have been making strides. Robinson is a dynamic athlete at QB, and Davis brings tough, hard-nosed running to the table.

Greer (1-3) at Boiling Springs (2-2)

Series Record: Greer leads the all-time series 4-1, but Boiling Springs got its first win last year in a 27-25 decision.

Last Week: Greer lost to Byrnes 49-13; Boiling Springs lost to Hillcrest 21-6

Radio/TV/Internet: Yellow Jacket Sports Network (Greer); upstateprepcast.net (Boiling Springs)

Location: Bulldog Stadium, 2251 Old Furnace Rd., Boiling Springs

Who to watch for Greer: RB Chris Hall, RB LaDannian Martin, WR Chase Byrd

Who to watch for Boiling Springs: QB Lincoln Huskey, DL Calvin Jackson, DB Jeremiah Favorite

About the Yellow Jackets: Greer has been thumped a couple of times in a tough schedule, and ran all over Blue Ridge in their win. Hall has been an eye-opener, and if the Yellow Jackets can get healthy they’ll be a tough out in the region.

About the Bulldogs: Boiling Springs’ defense has been strong this season. Against Hillcrest last Friday, they gave up two big-play TDs and not much else. Jackson was excellent, with seven tackles, a sack, and a tackle for loss.