Week 6 Previews: Spartanburg Area

REGION II-5A

Boiling Springs (3-2, 1-1) at No. 6 Dorman (4-1, 2-0)

Dorman will look to keep the momentum going after a big 33-21 win at Byrnes last week. The Cavaliers had no turnovers and scored 17 points off the three they forced, including a 70-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ja’Bez Thomas that gave Dorman the lead for good midway through the second quarter. It was one of two interceptions for Thomas, who also scored the game-sealing touchdown on a two-yard run with 7:06 left following a forced fumble by Zay Meadows. A defensive front led by Shrine Bowl pick Christian Waring and Meadows, a North-South selection, held the Rebels’ powerful rushing attack to just 17 yards. Waring’s teammate in the secondary, Kentavion Anderson, was also a Shrine Bowl pick this week. After Nick Means’ 29-yard run on Dorman’s first offensive play was wiped out by a penalty last Friday, Means took the next snap 69 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 170 yards on 20 carries.

Boiling Springs also comes into Friday’s matchup with momentum after a 42-17 win over Eastside last week. Imri Logan completed 18-of-23 passes for 341 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions to lead the Bulldogs. Tre’Sean Suber caught six passes for 121 yards and one touchdown, while Jaiden Grate hauled in the other three scores and finished with 107 yards on five receptions. Kyron Tobler led Boiling Springs rushing attack with 73 yards on 11 carries. Bulldogs’ defensive back Jeremiah Favorite was another Shrine Bowl selection this week.

No. 9 Byrnes (3-2, 1-1) at Riverside (2-3, 1-1)

Byrnes has won each of its last 11 meetings in the series against Riverside and has scored at least 64 points in five of those victories. The Rebels were held to 167 yards of total offense, suffered three costly turnovers and didn’t force any in a 33-21 loss to Dorman last Friday. Chanin Harris had three catches for 78 yards and two touchdowns to lead Byrnes. Jacobi Fuller had an 84-yard kickoff return also for the Rebels. Byrnes defensive lineman Justice Hopkins was picked for the Shrine Bowl earlier this week.

Riverside goes for its first victory against Byrnes since recording all three of its wins in the series from 1988-90. The Warriors are coming off a 41-15 win over Wade Hampton last Friday. Quarterback Gideon Merhib had 202 yards passing, 94 rushing and accounted for all six touchdowns for Riverside. The defense was led by AJ Hertel, who had nine tackles, including four tackles-for-loss.

No. 10 Gaffney (3-2, 2-0) at Eastside (3-2, 0-2)

After last season’s scheduled game was cancelled due to Hurricane Helene, Eastside and Gaffney will meet for just the third time ever and first time since 1979. Gaffney will look to keep the momentum going after a 28-21 win over rival Spartanburg last Friday. The game was tied 7-7 at the half and 14-14 in the fourth quarter. Josiah Hill’s second touchdown of the game snapped the fourth quarter tie with 8:58 left and gave the Indians the lead for good. Hill finished with 97 yards rushing, while Banks Bouton rushed for 80, to lead Gaffney. Zyon Ratchford had 12 tackles and Ty McGill had two interceptions – including a pick-six – to lead the Indians’ defense. Earlier this week, Gaffney defensive lineman Scottland Dover was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl.

Last week, Eastside trailed at Boiling Springs 21-14 in the second quarter, but went on to a 42-17 loss. The Eagles allowed 489 yards of total offense, including 357 passing. Kelyn Durham rushed for 80 yards, while quarterback Peyton Schrader ran for 69 and a touchdown, to lead Eastside. Lucas Tankersley had a game-high 11 tackles also for the Eagles.

Spartanburg (2-3, 1-1) at Wade Hampton (0-5, 0-2)

Spartanburg is looking to rebound from a tough 28-21 loss to rival Gaffney last week. Standout running back Trenton Lynch ran 20 times for 146 yards and a touchdown in the loss. Keyvion Ferguson had five receptions for 46 yards and two touchdowns also for the Vikings. Spartanburg kicker Will Love, who’s committed to Virginia Tech, has been selected for the Shrine Bowl.

Tough times continued for Wade Hampton last Friday as the Generals’ losing streak hit 19 consecutive games in a 41-15 loss to Riverside. Coleman Batson ran for both of Wade Hampton’s touchdowns. Angel Gomez had 10 tackles, while Ayden Jacobs posted two sacks and forced a fumble for the Generals’ defense.

REGION III-3A

Union County (1-5, 0-0) at No. 4 Mountain View (5-0, 0-0)

Mountain View has won every game by a margin of at least 22 points and the Stars’ dominant season continued last week with a 51-6 win over the Anderson Cavaliers. Junior quarterback Mak Anderson had his lowest completion percentage in a game this season as he was 9-of-12 passing for 173 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. He also ran three times for 41 yards and two scores. For the season, Anderson has completed 81 percent of his passes for 1,091 yards with 11 touchdowns and one interception. He’s averaging 13.4 yards per carry in rushing for 601 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Union is coming off a 60-0 home loss to Clinton. Quarterback Qa Brannon led the Yellow Jackets with 68 yards rushing on 14 carries in the loss.

No. 6 Woodruff (4-1, 0-0) at Broome (3-3, 0-0)

Back-to-back wins has evened Broome’s overall record heading into region play. Last Friday, Tyqwon Booker rushed for 140 yards and three touchdowns as the Centurions defeated Blacksburg 40-7. Senior quarterback Jameson Dearybury completed 11-of-14 passes for 182 yards with three touchdowns and one interception also for Broome. Junior Brayden Simpson caught three of those passes for 108 yards including one touchdown. Cedric Fernanders led the defense with 14 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss.

Woodruff will try to get back on track after a bit of a stunning 35-7 loss at Wren last Friday. The Wolverines came into the game averaging 43.4 points per game, but after Connor Davis’ 11-yard touchdown pass to Skylar Barker in the first quarter Woodruff couldn’t find the end zone again the rest of the night. Aiden Gibson ran 14 times for 115 yards in the loss. Earlier this week, Wolverines’ tight end Kameron Taylor was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl.

REGION I-2A

Chesnee (3-2, 0-0) at Blacksburg (0-6, 0-0)

After a bye last Friday, Chesnee will look to bounce back from a 52-17 loss at Woodruff in Week 4. Taven Pesaro and Blake Cochran each ran for their first varsity touchdowns for the Eagles. Evan-Reece Lawter passed for 122 yards and had 87 yards receiving on six catches to lead Chesnee. During the bye week, it was announced that Chesnee wide receiver Braylon Blanton made the North all-star squad for the annual Touchstone Energy Bowl on Dec. 13 in Myrtle Beach.

Blacksburg is coming off a 40-7 loss to Broome last week as the Wildcats’ losing streak extended to nine consecutive games.