Week 9 Preview - High School Football
With only two weeks remaining in the regular season, many GCS seniors will be playing their last regular season home game of their high school career. Senior Night is a special night to recognize athletes who have often been part of the program from middle school on. As players take the field for possibly the home regular season game, there is still plenty left to fight for. Playoff seeding, home field games, rivalry battles and region crowns are all on the line in these closing weeks. Woodmont wraps up there regular season at home vs Easley in a Region 1-AAAAA showdown. The Wildcats may not have as many W's as they would've liked in head coach Jet Turner's first season, but Woodmont currently holds one of the four playoff spots from their region and can lock up the #3 seed with a win against the Green Wave. Big game Friday night as the Wildcats take a Week 10 bye to prepare for the playoffs.
In Region II-AAAA, Greer can guarantee itself a share of the region crown as they host fellow Yellow Jackets Union County. Union, a traditional Upstate power, secured their first win of the season last week and hopes to remain in the hunt for a region crown. Seniors Quavian White, Bradley Campbell (both Shrine Bowlers), Richie Sadler and the rest of the Class of 2018 will want to take it to their longtime rival in their final regular season home game. A win on Friday guarantees a home playoff game at Dooley Field.
Eastside (6-1,2-1) also remains in the hunt in Region II-AAAA, but they will need some help after a head to head loss to Greer. The Eagles high powered offense got back on track last week lighting up Travelers Rest for 63 points. On Thursday night, Eastside will travel to Blue Ridge (3-5,1-1). The Tigers currently sit amongst the top four teams in region and now must jockey for seeding these last two weeks.
Travelers Rest (1-7, 0-3) steps out of region to face Pickens (1-7,0-3) for Senior Night at Chico Bolin Field. Travelers Rest has not yet been eliminated from playoff consideration, and they hope to use a win over the Blue Flame to give them some momentum heading into Week 10 where a win would open the possibility of a playoff berth depending on how the tie-breakers come into play.
JL Mann (2-6,0-2) is also hoping to steal a region win and see how the cards lie afterwards. The Patriots face a daunting task in Week 9 as they host region co-leader TL Hanna on Senior Night. The Jackets are 8-0 and tied with Westside atop Region I-AAAAA. Mann will have to find a way to slow down the Hanna option attack if they hope to pull the upset.
In Region II-AAA, Berea currently sits on the outside looking in. The Bulldogs (2-6,1-2) need to steal a win at defending region champion Powdersville (5-3,2-1) and may need to win their last two to get in. Travis Hagood and the Bulldog ground game will need to be special these last two weeks if they hope to pull the upset and keep their hopes alive.
Southside (4-4,1-2) currently holds the tie-breaker after their head-to-head win over Berea. The Tigers could really solidify their playoff standing if they could steal a win on the road at region leader Emerald (5-3,3-0).
Carolina (0-8,0-3) will hold its Senior Night as Trojan seniors play in their final home game of their high school careers. Carolina hosts a tough Palmetto (5-3,2-1) team that is jockeying for its own playoff position. The Trojans hope to send their seniors out with a win.
In Region II-AAAAA, Hillcrest (6-2,3-0) is coming off a thriller where they threw a flea-flicker for the go ahead touchdown with 3.3 seconds remaining in the game to knock off Greenwood on the road. QB Will Watts threw 7 TDs, including the game winner, as the Rams seized control of the region. The Rams are again on the road at Wade Hampton and look to lock up at least a share of the region crown with a win on Thursday. Wade Hampton hopes to spoil the Rams party and snag their first Region II-AAAAA win in two seasons as they celebrate Senior Night.
Mauldin (5-3,2-1) squeaked out a win at Wade Hampton last Friday. The Mavericks defense shutdown the Generals ground attack en route to victory. Mauldin will need another great run D effort as they host defending region champion Lauren on Thursday night. Penalties and turnovers have been costly for the Mavs all season. As they celebrate their seniors at Freeman Field, the Mavs hope to clean up their miscues and stay in the hunt for a share of the region crown.
Riverside (1-7,0-3) closes the season with two straight home games. The first is a tall order as they host a Greenwood (5-2,2-1) team coming off a tough loss, but still in the hunt for a #1 seed. Despite a tough campaign, the Warriors have not yet been eliminated from the playoffs and an upset over Greenwood followed by a win vs Wade Hampton in week 10 (they defeated WHHS last season) might just sneak them into the playoffs. First things first, pull the major upset at home on Thursday night!
Greenville is coming off its first loss of 2017. The good news is it was a non-region loss, so the Red Raiders (7-1,2-0) continue to be tied atop Region 1-AAAA with BHP. Greenville has 26 seniors who will play their final regular season game at historic Sirrine Stadium as they host Daniel on Friday night. A Greenville win and a Bears win would setup a showdown for the region championship at BHP next Friday night.
Posted: 10/18/2017 | Author: Jeff Hoffman
