Spartanburg Scoreboard: Week 8 Roundup

There were big games all over Spartanburg and Cherokee counties on Friday, and at the same time one of the most condensed schedules of the year. Once or twice a season, late into the region slate, the schedule typically lines up to the point that it seems everybody local is playing somebody else local.

With a couple of those matchups, plus Spartanburg and Broome with bye weeks, it allows us the rare opportunity to check in on every game from Friday.

Here. We. Go.

Byrnes 28, Dorman 26

In a game filled with big plays that felt more like haymakers, Dorman very nearly landed the last one.

This game, normally a showcase game in Region II-5A, was anything but normal. The Cavaliers’ Owen Hendricks returned an interception for a touchdown on the game’s first play. Kentavion Anderson did the same in the second quarter, taking his pick 100 yards, flipping what was about to be a touchdown deficit into a 14-7 Dorman lead.

That lasted for 13 seconds on the clock, the amount of time it took for Chamarryus Bomar to return the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a score and the tie.

Byrnes seemed to take control with about six minutes left in the contest. Zy Landrum rushed for a 37 yard score to put the Rebels up 21-14. Dorman fumbled the ensuing kickoff, Byrnes recovered, and Tre Segarra was standing in the end zone one play later with a 28-yard TD run. Byrnes led 28-14, and it was surely over, right?

Not yet. Dorman’s offense came to life in their hurry-up set, and Brice O’Neal found K.D. Hainsworth for 27 yards and a score with 1:43 left. Dorman couldn’t convert the extra point, leaving them down 28-20.

Mitchell Powell executed a perfect onside kick, the Cavaliers grabbed it, and two plays later O’Neal found Hainsworth yet again for a 52-yard score to pull Dorman to within a conversion. The Cavaliers didn’t make it, and Byrnes ran out the clock.

Just another normal night in Region II-5A.

Gaffney 17, Boiling Springs 7

Across the Region, Gaffney pulled even with Byrnes at 2-0 in the region with a tooth-and-nail battle against the Bulldogs. Jaiden McDowell scored both of the Indians’ touchdowns and had 166 yards of total offense, and the Gaffney defense looked dominant at times, holding Boiling Springs to 178 total yards and forcing two turnovers. But a late Lincoln Huskey touchdown had things very much in doubt late. Here’s a look at James McBee’s story from the Boiling Springs Sports Journal.

Clinton 36, Woodruff 20

In Region IV-3A, Woodruff struck first and battled, but couldn’t turn away rival Clinton.

The Wolverines drove right down the field and took a 7-0 lead on a 28-yard TD strike from TJ Morris to Kam Taylor. The Red Devils struck right back, though, returning the kickoff to the Woodruff 37, and Zay Johnson turned a short pass on Clinton’s first play of the game into a touchdown and a tie ballgame.

Clinton never trailed again. Johnson set up another first-half score with a 46-yard grab. Kaydon Crawford rushed for two of Clinton’s four touchdowns on the night, Johnson had three of the Red Devils’ five receptions on the night, and Clinton was content to grind out yards and clock in a rainy second half.

Morris threw for a pair of TDs, the opener to Tucker and another to Aiden Gibson. Josh Ruiz booted a pair of field goals for the Wolverines, knocking in 31- and 24-yarders.

Chapman 56, Travelers Rest 0

The Panthers roared into Homecoming week after a bye, and showed no signs of the layoff against the Devildogs. Mathai Scott rushed for 158 yards and three touchdowns, Coleman Gray threw two TDs, and Shamon Black returned a kick for a score in the blowout.

You can read Justin Mathis’ account for the Boiling Springs Sports Journal here.

Chesnee 54, Blacksburg 13

Chesnee took a step toward securing playoff positioning, blowing out Blacksburg.

Kaylob Blanton and Austin Bigford each rushed for 100 yards, with Blanton notching two total TDs and Bigford scoring once. Adonis Burgess notched a touchdown on 84 total yards, KJay Proctor threw for two, and Jayden Williams rushed for a pair.

Read Andrew Eison’s story for the Boiling Springs Sports Journal here.

Abbeville 56, Landrum 0

The Panthers rolled up more than 500 yards of offense under the offensive direction of QB Demarcus Leach, who took the reins of the offense two weeks ago. Abbeville’s offense held Landrum to just three first downs and 56 total yards for the game.

Spartanburg Christian 42, Thomas Sumter 13

The Warriors completely dominated Thomas Sumter behind another big night on the ground from Asante Jenkins.

Jenkins rushed for 218 yards and four TDs, averaging more than 10 yards per carry on the night as the Warriors racked up 440 yards of total offense and 350 yards on the ground.

Noah Caffell threw for 90 yards and a 25-yard score to Cameron Bright. Bright added a four-yard run to round out the scoring for the Warriors.