... - Sports - Columns - Barry Byers

Friday, Oct. 03, 2008

More big games on tap tonight

One big game is out of the way, and it's time to get down to business with eight more on tonight's high school football schedule.

While it's too early to call it make-or-break time, tonight's match-ups offer interesting scenarios.

Start off with Clover at Westside of Anderson. The Blue Eagles are the defending Class AAAA Division II state champions, but have lost two straight since starting 3-0.

In Anderson, Clover faces a long road trip against a team that's been up and down, so maybe its good that the Rams were sky high last week.

The Blue Eagles were off last week and have had ample time to rest and heal. Fullback Ricky Moore is expected back after being sidelined three weeks ago with a concussion.

Rock Hill is home against dangerous York, a team that plays the Bearcats close most years. The Bearcats are 4-1 and looking similar to their teams of the past. To get there, they have to become more consistent on offense.

Nation Ford travels to Lancaster in a key game for both. The Bruins want to get back on the winning side after losing their first game last week, 27-7 to Northwestern. Don't expect any trick defenses.

Against Northwestern, one of the best passing teams in the state, Lancaster dropped all 11 defenders into pass coverage. What they accomplished was holding the Trojans to their second-lowest point output this season.

Fort Mill is in an 0-5 tailspin, not a good time for much improved Boiling Springs to come visiting. Fort Mill has lost its last two games 76-0 and 50-0. Boiling Springs (4-1) has scored 210 points, Fort Mill 10.

Tonight is a good opportunity for Chester to make a turn in the right direction. The Cyclones were picked as one of the favorites to get back to the Class AAA state championship, but have lost three games.

Fairfield Central has replaced Chester in that group and comes to town tonight. Both teams are wide open on offense, but Chester will throw more than the Griffins.

They played twice last year, with the Cyclones winning in the regular season and playoffs. First-year coach Maurice Flowers will be the first to remind you that last year doesn't matter. His team needs to start playing for this year in their Region 4-AAA opener.

In Class A, Great Falls seems to have recovered from its early-season woes and has turned it around. The Red Devils are 2-0 in Region 3-A, again shaping up to be a race between them, Chesterfield and Lewisville.

Great Falls hosts Buford tonight and the Red Devils are a lot stronger, bigger and faster than the Yellow Jackets.

Indian Land has the unenviable task of hosting Chesterfield, which won the state title last season. The Rams will be smarting after last week's 21-20 loss, their first of the season, to Class AA powerhouse Pageland Central.

The game was tied 14-14 at the end of regulation and went into overtime. Chesterfield scored and went for two, but didn't make it. Pageland Central scored and made the kick.

Westminster Catawba is 0-6, but has its first good chance to break the string tonight. The Indians host the 1-3 Northside Christian Knights.

The Indians were coached by former Carolina Panthers player Mike Scurlock last season. He stepped down after several years of rebuilding the program and was replaced by Ben McGarity.

Northside Christian is coached by former Panthers' player Brentson Buckner, who played at Clemson.