Week 0 Previews: Spartanburg Area

CLASS 5A

Independence (NC) at No. 3 Gaffney

The Donnie Littlejohn era begins Friday as Gaffney’s former offensive coordinator was promoted to head coach following the retirement of Dan Jones, who guided the Indians to two state championships over the past 15 years and a 10-2 record last year. Gaffney features a 1-2 punch in quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, who’s committed to Arkansas, and running back Jaiden McDowell. Added in that backfield mix this season is running back Josiah Hill, a transfer from Kings Mountain (NC) who scored 26 touchdowns last season. Hill’s presence could see McDowell move into more of a receiver role. Banks Bouton, a dual-threat quarterback who transferred from Greenville, could also contribute somewhere on offense for the Indians. Linebackers Kendaris Bailey and Zyon Ratchford should lead what should be a typically stout Gaffney defense, along with sophomore defensive back Zion Dawkins.

Independence, which won seven consecutive North Carolina state titles at the turn of the century, is coming off a 10-2 season last year.

No. 4 Northwestern at No. 6 Spartanburg

This series has produced some absolute classic games, including a 24-21 Spartanburg victory in the 2001 state championship. Friday’s meeting could well be another. The Vikings have quite a 1-2 punch of their own in the offensive backfield. An injury last season opened the door for senior Trey Burke to take over at quarterback and he’s made the most of his opportunity as he’s committed to East Carolina. His backfield mate is running back Trenton Lynch, who rushed for more than 1,400 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. Spartanburg also has a special weapon on special teams in Will Love, who’s committed to Virginia Tech. Last season, Love had nearly 90 percent of his kickoffs go for touchbacks – an underrated, but huge advantage in high school football. He also shattered the school record for longest field goal with a 54-yard effort.

Northwestern is coming off a perfect 14-0 record last season, which ended with its sixth state title in school history. Wide receiver Kameron Vance is back for the Trojans after catching 72 passes for 1,126 yards and 16 touchdowns last year.

No. 9 TL Hanna at No. 10 Byrnes

At long last, Byrnes returns to the friendly confines of Nixon Field Friday after spending all of last season on the road as the stadium was overhauled. The Rebels are coming off a 5-6 season that was unusual in more ways than just loading the bus every Friday night. In half of those six losses, Byrnes allowed just 19, 18 and 15 points, respectively. A fully healthy Tre Segarra should provide a big boost to the Rebels’ offense this year. Injuries limited the junior to just 48 carries last season and he was still third on the team in rushing. Speedy receiver Chanin Harris could be a difference maker in the passing game. Much of the Rebels’ tough defense returns including linemen Justice Hopkins and Jackson Delaney, linebacker Jonathan Montgomery and defensive back Emerson James, who started as a freshman last season.

TL Hanna, which went 9-3 last season, must replace the biggest home run hitter in its Wing-T offense in KD Patterson, as well as quarterback Brandon Cunningham. Walker Kelley, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound Wofford commitment, provides a big target offensively at tight end and has been a monster defensively at linebacker.

Dorman at Greenville

The 90th season of football at historic Sirrine Stadium kicks off with a matchup of traditional powers looking to regain that form. Greenville seeks to bounce back from a 2-9 record last season under new coach Scoot Watson. A pair of sophomores to watch for the Red Raiders offensively are quarterback Tristan Bryant and receivers Hamp Renfrow (Hunter’s cousin). Junior JaQwon Haygood could also be a big-play receiver. Senior Franklin Whitley, a 6-foot-7, 268-pound defensive end who powered Greenville to a state title in basketball in March, decided to play football for the first time this year. He already has a scholarship offer from Georgia.

Dorman is looking to build off last season’s 6-4 mark after going 3-8 in 2023. The Cavaliers return many starters, especially on what could be a stingy defense. That side of the ball is led by senior safety Kentavion Anderson, who’s committed to Clemson, and a tackling machine in senior Jordan Darby at linebacker. Offensively, Nick Means is back at running back after totaling nearly 900 all-purpose yards as a sophomore last season. The Cavaliers have a new quarterback in transfer Meek Slydell, who threw for more than 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in eight games at Asheville High last season.

Boiling Springs at Greer

Defense could rule the day in this matchup, considering some of the standouts on that side of the ball. Greer returns nine defensive starters off a team that fought through injuries to go 7-5 last season, including its first win over rival Byrnes since 2000. The Yellow Jackets are led by a trio of seniors on the defensive front in Aiden Jones, Paden Armstrong and Lewis Bussey. Jones piled up 76 tackles last season, an absurd total for a defensive lineman. Equally stunning is that 27 of those were tackles-for-loss. Jones also had seven sacks and 26 hurries.

Boiling Springs is coming off a 7-4 season, its most wins since going 13-2 in 2016. The Bulldogs have much to replace off that team though as it had 34 seniors. Boiling Springs’ senior leader this season is undoubtedly defensive back Jeremiah Favorite. Favorite, who’s committed to Michigan State, is one of the fastest players in the state. Last season, Favorite had four kickoff returns, five punt returns and four interceptions. He returned one of each for a touchdown. Offensively, Boiling Springs must replace standout quarterback Lincoln Huskey and leading rusher Javen Chimm. Senior receivers Tre Suber and Grayson Crowe should be playmakers, while 6-foot-3, 200-pound Jaiden Grate could be a secret weapon at tight end.

CLASS 3A

Class 2A No. 1 Clinton at No. 4 Woodruff

For a team that graduated its quarterback and five of its top six offensive lineman, expectations are sky high at Woodruff and there’s multiple reasons for that. The Wolverines, who went 9-2 last year, have home run hitters all over on offense. Junior Aiden Gibson rushed for 1,555 yards and 24 touchdowns – including a 98-yarder – last season. He also had 309 yards receiving and three touchdowns – including an 80-yarder. Kam Taylor, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end who’s committed to Liberty, is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He led Woodruff with eight touchdown catches last year. Kori Moates had 49 receptions for 762 yards and six touchdowns – including a 73-yarder. The Wolverines’ defense, which is led by linebackers Shaun Graybil and Jordan Hood. Graybill had 123 tackles, including 22 tackles-for-loss, while Hood had 96 stops, including 12 tackles-for-loss, in 2024.

Clinton enters 2025 as the top-ranked team in Class 2A after going 12-2 last year, capped by the ninth state championship in school history. Javen Cook, a 5-foot-5, 155-pound senior running back, returns as the leading rusher on a team that piled up more than 4,700 yards on the ground last season. One of the best offensive linemen in the state, Tre Aiken, paves the way up front for the Red Devils.

No. 3 Belton-Honea Path at Broome

The gauntlet of highly-ranked teams invading Spartanburg County Friday continues as Broome hosts the reigning Class 3A Upper State champions. The Centurions are looking to rebound from a 3-8 record last fall and certainly have the offensive firepower to do so. Broome returns quarterback Jameson Dearybury, who threw for 2,041 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. Also returning – but in a new position – is Tyqwon Booker. After rushing for more than 1,300 yards and eight touchdowns last year, Booker has moved to receiver this season. The Centurions also return leading receiver Brayden Simpson, who had 719 yards on 58 receptions and five touchdowns. One of those scores was a 95-yard effort.

After waiting his turn behind a running back that rewrote the record book, it’s MJ Earl’s time to shine for BHP. Playing behind Marquise Henderson last season, Earl still had more than 550 yards rushing on 85 carries and scored eight touchdowns as the Bears went 13-2.

Class 4A No. 6 Daniel at Chapman

Chapman gets to host a Daniel team coming off its losingest season since 2018 … at 11-2. The Panthers are looking to bounce back from an injury-riddled 2024 season in which they went 3-8, their most losses since 2011. One of those youngsters that was pressed into duty and responded in a big way last season was Teagan Cantrell. The sophomore is back after lining up at linebacker, safety and receiver last season. He will be a big target for senior Bryson Cothran, who saw a lot of action at quarterback last season. Another target will be junior Taylor Rogers, who’s settled in at receiver after also playing quarterback and running back last year. Khamari Turner, a 6-foot-5, 225-pound senior defensive end, leads Chapman’s defense.

A familiar face is back to quarterback Daniel in Jace Grass, who was originally slated to attend Daniel before transferring to Pendleton last season. After throwing for nearly 2,000 yards as a freshman for the Bulldogs, Grass has returned to the Lions. One of his favorite targets should be fellow sophomore Trey Wimbley, who caught 28 passes for 583 yards (20.8 yards per catch) and eight touchdowns last season. The track standout already has offers from multiple Power Four programs, including SMU and Ole Miss.

No. 8 Newberry at Union County

Tough times lingered for Union County last season as the Yellow Jackets went 2-8, their fourth consecutive season with no more than two wins. Quarterback Qa Brannon had a bit of a breakout as a sophomore last year as he threw for 729 yards and five touchdowns. Senior lineman Jaylon Davis leads Union’s defense. The 6-foot, 280-pound nosetackle had 58 tackles, including 7.5 sacks, last season.

Newberry, which went 7-4 last season, is led by 6-foot-4, 235-pound receiver Jamel Howse, who’s committed to South Carolina.

CLASS 2A

Pendleton at Chesnee

While Chesnee will have to fill the big shoes of departed quarterback KJ Proctor, the Eagles could break through for their first winning season since 2020 after finishing 6-6 each of the past two seasons. Evan-Reece Lawter got quite a few snaps at quarterback last season and he shined there this preseason. Seniors Braylon Blanton and Jayden Burgess, along with sophomore Marquez Franklin should be favorite targets for Lawter. 

Pendleton is coming off a 4-6 season last year and has a standout at linebacker in Trent Garner. Garner had 126 tackles, 13 sacks and forced six fumbles last season.

Landrum at Walhalla

This matchup features a pair of new head coaches in Mike Reid at Landrum and Blake Dyar at Walhalla. Reid takes over a Cardinals program that went 5-5 last season, the fourth consecutive year in which Landrum won either five or six games. Reid is the third  head coach in the last four years for the Cardinals, but he’s got a quarterback who’s set for his third season as a starter in Ty Foster. Foster threw for 1,913 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, while rushing for 743 yards and seven scores. He averaged 8.7 yards per carry. Foster has a big weapon in AJ Lindsey, who was third on the team in receiving, fourth in rushing and scored six touchdowns. Lindsey is also the leader of the Cardinals’ defense as he led the team in tackles (103), tackles-for-loss (13) and pass breakups (six). He also had two interceptions, forced four fumbles and recovered two.

Walhalla went 6-6 last season and captured its first playoff win in 29 years. The Razorbacks had some big losses on offense, which could open a door for standout defensive back Kai Nathan to contribute there. Last season, Nathan had 97 tackles and 13 pass breakups. 

Blacksburg at Ware Shoals

Blacksburg opened last season with a 44-28 win in this matchup, but struggled the rest of the way to finish with a 3-7 record. With the graduation of prolific passer Josh Sims, the Wildcats’ offense will take on an entirely new look this season as a run-heavy attack. It puts Trevon Clark in a very unique position. As one of the top-ranked juniors in the state at defensive end, Clark was already Blacksburg’s top pass rusher. This season, he also looks to be its top passer as he is set to take over at quarterback. In addition to Clark, others leaders on the Wildcats’ new 3-4 defense will be linebackers Chanzell Bonner, Ryley Burton and Ethan Farris.

Ware Shoals is coming off a 4-6 season, but went 3-2 in Region I-1A for its first winning season in region play since 2013. Jayden Johnson is a dual-threat quarterback, who’s had back-to-back 1,000-yard passing seasons with nearly 800 yards rushing for the Hornets. Linebackers Elijah Brown and Ry’Keem Robinson lead Ware Shoals’ defense. Brown has had back-to-back seasons with at least 125 tackles, while Robinson had five interceptions last year, two of which he returned for touchdowns.