Week Seven Preview Capsules: Spartanburg County

Gaffney (4-2, 0-0) at Spartanburg (4-3, 0-1)

Series record: The all time series is tied 52-52-3. In 107 meetings, the teams are separated by a single point.

Last week: Gaffney was idle; Spartanburg lost to Byrnes 21-9

Radio/TV/Internet: WMYA TV 40; WZZQ 104.3 FM (Gaffney); Fox Sports Spartanburg 1400 AM/98.3FM (Spartanburg)

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

Who to watch for Gaffney: RB Jaiden McDowell, WR Emazon Littlejohn, QB Riley Staton

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

About the Indians: Gaffney had the luxury of a week off to watch what was happening in the region last week. What they saw indicates this game with Spartanburg is huge. The Indians have put up some big numbers on offense this season, particularly with McDowell in the run game. His presence will be huge this week.

About the Vikings: Spartanburg is 0-1 in Region II-5A play, and the sense of urgency for good playoff positioning is real. Friday night is going to come down to Spartanburg’s defense. If the opportunistic Vikings can be as stingy as they have been so far, they’ve got a shot in any game they play. The offense is going to have to score a lot more to make a significant run.

Byrnes (6-1, 1-0) at Boiling Springs (3-4, 0-1)

Series record: Byrnes leads the series 38-3-1, including last season’s 30-7 victory.

Last week: Byrnes beat Spartanburg 21-9; Boiling Springs lost to Dorman 14-10

Radio/TV/Internet: The Fan Upstate 97.1/97.7 FM (Byrnes); upstateprecast.net (Boiling Springs)

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

Who to watch for Byrnes: RB Tre Segarra, ATH Armoni Weaver, LB James Oates

Who to watch for Boiling Springs: DL Calvin Jackson, QB Lincoln Huskey, RB Javen Chhim

About the Rebels: Byrnes comes in at 1-0 in the region on the back of an incredible defensive performance against Spartanburg. Weaver stripped away a pass, recovered it, and returned it for a TD last week, while Oates was an absolute terror, with nine tackles and the game-clinching interception return for a touchdown. Segarra managed Byrnes’ only significant offense against Spartanburg on a 68-yard run.

About the Bulldogs: Boiling Springs needs a win in the worst way. With four teams headed to the playoffs from Region II-5A, the Bulldogs could be on the outside looking in after last week’s heartbreaking loss to Dorman. While the defense played well, the offense struggled mightily, and a date against a Byrnes team giving up fewer than 10 points per game might not be the best medicine.

Mauldin (0-6, 0-1) at Dorman (2-4, 1-0)

Series record: Dorman has won all 24 meetings between the schools, including a late 13-12 victory a year ago.

Last week: Mauldin lost to T.L. Hanna 62-7; Dorman beat Boiling Springs 14-10

Radio/TV/Internet: WQUL 101.7 FM (Dorman)

Location: Cavalier Stadium, 1050 Cavalier Way, Roebuck

Who to watch for Mauldin: RB Devan Ortega, QB Miller Brezeale

Who to watch for Dorman: WR KD Hainsworth, S Brannon Teamer, RB Nick Means

About the Mavericks: Mauldin has struggled this season, and their murderer’s row schedule hasn’t made things any easier. They’ve been outscored 323-56, and have struggled to mount any offensive consistency.  Ortega has been a bright spot, though, both as a big-play guy and a physical, every down back.

About the Cavaliers: Dorman found an offensive weapon last week against Boiling Springs’ solid defense. Nick Means rushed for 116 yards, and the Cavaliers scored a late TD for a much-needed win, which Teamer preserved with an interception in the end zone amid three Bulldog receivers as time expired.

Woodruff (2-5, 0-1) at Emerald (0-6, 0-0)

Series record: Woodruff leads the series 10-4, including a 35-28 win last season.

Last week: Woodruff lost to Chester 44-6; Eastside beat Emerald 35-12

TV/Radio/Internet: meredix.com (Woodruff Wolverine Network)

Location: Frank Hill Stadium, 150 Bypass 225, Greenwood

Who to watch for Woodruff: RB Aiden Gibson, DL Gunner Atkinson, LB/DE Nathan Gentry

Who to watch for Emerald: QB Key Holloway, RB Christian Foster, DL Christian Carruth

About the Wolverines: Woodruff has struggled on defense this season, but some leaders are emerging. Jordan Hood is playing well at LB, with Shaun Graybill seeing increasing time as well. Atkinson could be back this week, and Gentry has shown the ability to play either End or LB and have an impact either place.

Chesnee (4-2, 1-0) at Abbeville (5-1, 1-0)

Series record: Chesnee leads the all-time series 7-2, including a 49-0 win last season.

Last week: Chesnee beat Landrum 40-21; Abbeville beat Liberty 40-3

TV/Internet/Radio: upstateprepcast.net

Location: Dennis Botts Field at Hite Stadium, 701 Washington Street, Abbeville

Who to watch for Chesnee: ATH Adonis Burgess, QB Kjay Proctor, ATH Kayleb Blanton

Who to watch for Abbeville: RB Karson Norman, RB Altavious Patterson

About Chesnee: The Eagles endured an unimaginable week last week, as three Chesnee students were killed in a car accident just after school last Friday. The bounced back with a big win over region rival Landrum on Monday, but will now face powerhouse Abbeville on a short week.

About Abbeville: The Panthers aren’t standard-issue Abbeville, but they’re still plenty good. They dropped an early game to Westside and survived two games in which they converted late two-point conversions for one-point wins. But the running game is still what it’s always been out of the A-Bone, and they’re stingy on defense.

Landrum (4-2, 0-1) at Ninety Six (5-1, 1-0)

Series Record: Ninety Six leads the all-time series 6-2, but Landrum won 45-30 last season.

Last week: Landrum lost to Chesnee 40-21; Ninety Six beat Blacksburg 33-20.

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net

Location: 640 S Cambridge St., Ninety Six

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

Who to watch for Ninety Six: RB  Zay King, RB Briant Witherspoon, RB Gabe Hackett

About the Cardinals: Landrum spreads it out offensively, but does most of their damage on the ground. Link is both a physical runner and a big-play threat, and he does both very effectively. Mashtare is a matchup nightmare in space.

About the Wildcats: Ninety Six is a run-first offense, no question, but the Wildcats could get a boost from the return of starting QB Braden Mitchell from an injury. Carver Davis has played well at QB in his absence.

Broome (6-1, 1-0) at Blue Ridge (0-6, 0-0)

Series record: Broome won the first meeting between the teams, 49-28, last year in Spartanburg.

Last week: Broome defeated Travelers Rest 46-7; Blue Ridge was off after a 74-34 loss at Landrum in Week 5

Radio/TV/Internet: Broome – coxsportsbroadcasting.com; Blue Ridge – upstateprepcast.net/blue-ridge

Location: Jim Howard Stadium, 2151 Fews Chapel Rd, Greer

Who to watch for Broome: QB Kamajay Brackett-Brannon, RB Jaylin McGill, WR/S Tre Suber

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

About the Centurions: A Broome offense averaging more than 55 points per game over the past four games will look to keep cooking with gas against a Blue Ridge team allowing 49 points per game. Brackett-Brannon has completed 71.6 percent of his passes for 961 yards with nine touchdowns and no interceptions, and rushed 95 times for 821 yards and 11 touchdowns. Those rushing totals are only second on the team though. McGill, a sophomore running back, has 1,061 yards and 16 touchdowns on 125 carries. Meanwhile, Broome defense has 17 sacks and 13 interceptions. Suber, who averages 18.3 yards per catch on offense, has a team-high six picks. Defensive tackle Chance Williams has a team-best eight sacks.

About the Tigers: Despite Blue Ridge’s struggles this year, Henderson has not been slowed down. The junior has rushed for 703 yards and 10 touchdowns. Stokes has caught 475 yards worth of the Tigers’ 607 yards passing and hauled in all three of their scoring throws. Smith has 63 tackles, including seven tackles-for-loss, to lead the defense.