Week 1 Preview Capsules: Greenville County

5A No. 2 Gaffney (0-0) at 5A No. 6 J.L. Mann (1-0)

Series record: Gaffney leads 1-0 thanks to a 42-7 win in the 2022 Class 5A playoffs.

Last week: Mann won at Midland Valley 56-0; Gaffney went 9-4 last season.

Radio/TV/Internet: Gaffney – WZZQ 104.3 FM/1500 AM

Location: Slaton Field, 158 Ridge Rd, Greenville

Who to watch for Mann: RB LaDainnian Martin, DB Ramani Bruton, LB Wyatt Ward

Who to watch for Gaffney: RB Jaiden McDowell, WR Jamarcus Smith, QB Jayvon Gilmore

What to know: Gaffney was scheduled to open the season at home last Friday against Crest (N.C.), but that game was canceled. Crest chose not to make the return trip after beating the Indians at home in a 44-38 thriller to open last season.

Gaffney and Mann nearly met in the playoffs for the second consecutive season last year, but both were eliminated by Class 5A state champion Dutch Fork. The Indians lost in round three and a week later the Patriots fell in the Upper State championship. Gaffney has lost three games in Greenville County since 1976: at Wade Hampton in 2012, at Greenville in 2007 and at Carolina in 1986.

---

3A No. 1 Belton-Honea Path (1-0) at Greer (0-1)

Series record: BHP leads 6-5, but Greer won the last meeting 24-14 in 2021.

Last week: Belton-Honea Path defeated Broome 45-14; Greer lost at Boiling Springs 43-0  

Radio/TV/Internet: Greer – WGYT 92.1 FM, yellowjacketsports.net; BHP – WHQA 103.1 FM, thelife1031.com

Location: Dooley Field, 301 Chandler Rd, Greer

Who to watch for BHP: RB Marquise Henderson; ATH Justin Lathon; LB Tye Kelley

Who to watch for Greer: DE Paden Armstrong; DE Aiden Jones; WR Brock Diggins

What to know: While things got out of hand last Friday for Greer’s defense, it did limit Boiling Springs to just 57 yards rushing.

The Yellow Jackets’ strong defensive line could face their biggest test of the season in Henderson, who’s arguably the best running back in the state. Last Friday, the Clemson commitment had three carries for 86 yards and two touchdowns, four receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown, and a 78-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

---

3A No. 6 Mountain View Prep (1-0) at Southside Christian (0-1)

Series record: This is the first meeting between the schools

Last week: MVP beat Atlantic Collegiate 69-0; Southside Christian lost to Abbeville 41-7

Location: Southside Christian School, 2211 Woodruff Rd., Simpsonville

Who to watch for MVP: RB Jaylen McGill, WR KD Hainsworth, DL Allen Edmondson

Who to watch for Southside Christian: DT Shy Moore, DT Jeremiah Jackson

What to know: MVP couldn’t have asked for much better of a start last week. They scored on their first-ever offensive play, had a tackle for loss on their first-ever defensive play, and thoroughly dominated Atlantic Collegiate Academy in the first-ever contest for each team.

Southside Christian ran into a buzzsaw in perennial power Abbeville, now making a mark in 1A.

---

3A No. 7 Woodruff (1-0) at Fountain Inn (1-0)

Series record: Woodruff has won both previous meetings between the teams.

Last week: Woodruff beat Clinton 40-36; Fountain Inn beat Liberty 42-34

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

Location: Fountain Inn Stadium 644 Quillen Ave., Fountain Inn

Who to watch for Woodruff: QB T.J. Morris, WR Kori Moates, RB Aiden Gibson

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

What to know: Both the Fury and the Wolverines got into shootouts last week, and both came out on the good end of the scoreboard. Woodruff’s huge win over rival Clinton was marked by strong play by Morris and Gibson. Fountain Inn got another good performance by Holliday, one of the best dual-threat sophomore QBs in the state.

---

St. Joseph’s (1-0) at 3A No. 9 Chapman (0-1)

Series record: This is the first meeting between the programs.

Last year:  Chapman lost to Daniel 41-21; St. Joseph’s beat Cardinal Newman 40-30.

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net – Chapman

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

Who to watch for St. Joseph’s: K/LB/RB Williams Gillespie

Who to watch for Chapman: RB/LB Chanson Mickles, DE/TE Khamari Turner

What to know: There might not be a more ambitious pre-region schedule than Chapman’s, and the Panthers continue this week against last year’s 1A Upper State finalists in the Knights. Chanson Mickles and Khamari Turner both showed their versatility with monster games on both sides of the ball last week, but across the field is Gillespie, who gave the word a new meaning. He made and recovered an onside kick to start the second half and spark a comeback, and he ended up with 190 yards, four touchdowns, and nine tackles.

---

Asheville (N.C.) School (1-0) at 3A No. 10 Christ Church (0-1)

Series record: Christ Church leads 11-5, including a 63-35 win in Asheville the last time the teams met in 2022.

Last week: Christ Church lost at Hammond 56-28; Asheville School won at Hayesville (N.C.) 49-7.

Location: Carson Stadium, 245 Cavalier Dr, Greenville

Who to watch for Asheville School: QB Ricky Tolbert, RB Marvyn Larozar

Who to watch for Christ Church: WR Jackson Repp, WR Jude Hall, QB Tucker Hendrix

What to know: After a tough opener last Friday at a powerful South Carolina independent program, Christ Church will face a North Carolina one this week. Asheville School has won the last two NCISAA Division II state championships.

---

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

Series record: Wade Hampton leads 14-9, including a 33-32 road victory last season.

Last week: Wade Hampton lost at Travelers Rest 14-7; Blue Ridge went 1-10 last year.

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

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

Who to watch for Wade Hampton: DB Mehki Hentz, WR Jamarion McKinney, RB James Coleman

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

What to know: Wade Hampton will try to bounce back after being held to one score and suffering three turnovers last week.

Henderson is coming off a season in which he rushed for 1,304 yards and 16 touchdowns for Blue Ridge. Stokes was a big play target in the Tigers’ passing game as he had 679 yards receiving, six touchdowns and averaged 20 yards per catch.

Mauldin (0-1) at Boiling Springs (0-1)

Series record: Boiling Springs leads the series 28-17.

Last week: Boiling Springs beat Greer 43-0; Mauldin lost to Riverside 39-20

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net (Boiling Springs)

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

Who to watch for Mauldin: RB Nemo Floyd, OL Trey Moon

Who to watch for Boiling Springs: QB Lincoln Huskey, DL Dennis Glenn, ATH Jeremiah Favorite

What to know: Huskey served notice that he might be the best QB in Region II-5A with a monster game against a good Greer defense last week.

The Mavericks showed some improvement offensively, with Floyd running for two touchdowns.

---

Carolina (0-0) at Eastside (1-0)

Series record: Eastside leads 3-1, including a 69-0 road win in the teams’ last meeting in 2017.

Last week: Eastside shut out Southside 41-0; Carolina went 2-8 last season.

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

Who to watch for Carolina: QB Ja’Sean Bowens, DE Brad Baker

Who to watch for Eastside: DE Jaquavious Dodd, RB Eli Foster, RB Maldravious Brown

What to know: Dodd started his senior season in a big way last Friday. The South Carolina commitment had seven tackles, four tackles-for-loss, two sacks, four hurries, three pass deflections, two caused fumbles and a fumble recovery. Meanwhile, Foster and Brown helped Eastside rush for 452 yards as a team.

Carolina lost nine transfers from last season, including 1,000-yard rusher Ki’moiray Holland (to Westside, Ga.) and leading tackler Josiah Fleming (to Patrick Henry, Va.). Bowens returns for his fourth season on varsity after throwing for 1,280 yards and 11 touchdowns and rushing for three scores last season. Bowens could line up at several spots this season.

---

Riverside (1-0) at Greenville (0-1)

Series record: Riverside leads 13-11 despite Greenville having won each of the last five games in the series. The teams last met in 2009, when the Red Raiders recorded a 35-0 win in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs.

Last week: Riverside defeated Mauldin 39-20; Greenville lost at Dorman 42-35.

Location: Sirrine Stadium, 100 Cleveland St, Greenville

Who to watch for Riverside: ATH Mikkel Skinner, WR Jaiden “Speedy” Taylor, CB Somad Eaddy

Who to watch for Greenville: QB Banks Bouton, DL Jair Simmons

What to know: In the first regular season matchup of these teams in 19 years, there will be plenty of talent on display including some emerging at quarterback for both teams.

Bouton, a junior, and Riverside sophomore Gideon Merhib each had impressive debuts in their first varsity starts last week. Bouton had 209 yards passing, 108 rushing and accounted for four touchdowns, while Merhib had 217 yards passing, 77 rushing and five touchdowns.

---

Clover (1-0) at Hillcrest (1-0)

Series record: Hillcrest leads 2-0 with both wins coming over the past two seasons. The Rams defeated the Blue Eagles 24-7 last year.

Last week: Hillcrest shut out Laurens 16-0; Clover defeated Chambers (N.C.) 28-20

Radio/TV/Internet: Hillcrest – facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057301007626 (Facebook Live stream).

Location: Chandler Stadium, 3665 S Industrial Dr, Simpsonville

Who to watch for Clover: RB Landon Stone, TE Cameron James, DL Brady Rowan

Who to watch for Hillcrest: WR Weston Willis, DE D.J. Henderson, DB Christian Henderson

What to know: The big matchup in this one is Stone facing Hillcrest’s stout defensive line. Stone rushed for 2,107 yards and 19 touchdowns last season. In last week’s shutout win at Laurens, the Rams held the Raiders to 66 yards rushing and forced four turnovers.

---

Seneca (1-0) at Woodmont (0-0)

Series record: Seneca leads 11-2, including a thrilling 40-38 victory last season.

Last week: Seneca edged Powdersville 35-34; Woodmont went 5-6 last year.

Radio/TV/Internet: Seneca – WSNW 94.1 FM, wsnwradio.com/listen-live/

Location: Whitt Memorial Field, 2831 West Georgia Rd, Piedmont

Who to watch for Seneca: QB Gavin Thoma, RB Amari Verner, WR Jerb Hunter

Who to watch for Woodmont: RB Tavorice “T.J.” Williams, QB Jordan Sink, OL Kameron Wallace

What to know: Williams is coming off a 1,000-yard rushing season with seven touchdowns for Woodmont, while Sink threw for more than 1,800 yards and 16 touchdowns. They’re protected up front by Wallace, a Wofford commitment, who’s played both guard and both tackle spots over his career.

Seneca’s rolling into Piedmont this week off a wild comeback win last Friday. Thoma’s 11-yard touchdown pass to Hunter with 43 seconds left was the game-winner for the Bobcats, who trailed by nine entering the fourth quarter. Hunter, a freshman, had five catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns, while Verner ran for 176 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries. Verner also had a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

---

Travelers Rest (1-0) at Emerald (1-0)

Series record: Emerald leads 2-0, including a 32-15 victory in the teams’ last meeting in 2015.

Last week: Travelers Rest defeated Wade Hampton 14-7; Emerald beat Ninety Six 14-6.

Location: Frank Hill Stadium, 150 Bypass 225, Greenwood

Who to watch for Travelers Rest: RB David Hernandez, OL Brayden Everette, RB/CB Ji Wiggins

Who to watch for Emerald: QB Beau Hite, ATH Key Holloway, LB Christian Foster

What to know: Travelers Rest will look to build off an impressive defensive performance as the Devildogs had many sacks and forced three turnovers, including two fumbles in their red zone, last Friday. Hernandez is a freshman who ran for a touchdown last Friday and helped Travelers Rest’s new option-based offense put up 232 yards rushing as a team. Hite is a freshman who accounted for both of Emerald’s touchdowns last Friday.

Hite ran for a three-yard score and later hit Holloway – who was the Vikings quarterback last season – for a 14-yard touchdown as Emerald matched its win total from 2023. Foster had 22 tackles to lead the Vikings’ defense.

---

Landrum (0-1) at Berea (0-0)

Series record: Landrum leads the series 3-2.

Last week: Landrum lost to Walhalla 20-14; Berea went 2-8 last season.

Radio/TV/Internet: upstateprepcast.net – Landrum

Location: Bulldog Stadium, 201 Burdine Drive, Greenville

Who to watch for Landrum: ATH Titus Poore, QB Ty Foster

Who to watch for Walhalla: QB Amazay Robinson

What to know: The Cardinals showed a different look on offense with Foster at the controls and Poore running around making plays. They’ll benefit from having both on the field at the same time.

For the Bulldogs, Robinson begins the final year of a career that started with a 500-yard game as a freshman, and has seen him become a leader for the program.

---

Southside (0-1) at Liberty (0-1)

Series record: Southside leads 9-1. The teams have only met twice since 1991, with the Tigers winning the last matchup 36-12 in 2007.

Last week: Southside lost to Eastside 41-0; Liberty lost at Fountain Inn 42-34.

Location: Red Devil Stadium, 124 Red Devil Dr, Liberty

Who to watch for Southside: QB Chancler McClure, WR Tyrell Bailey, LB Gianni McMorris

Who to watch for Liberty: QB Logan Smith, WR Kendrick Jackson, LB Jamijae Karim

What to know: Southside will try to get its offense on track after being held to 73 total yards last Friday. McMorris did rack up a game-high 15 tackles, including 11 solo stops, to lead the Tigers’ defense.

In Liberty’s loss last week, Smith threw for 193 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for another.