Everything you need to know ahead of Aug. 25 HS football games

Dorman (0-1) at Northwestern (0-1)

Last week: Dorman lost to Fort Dorchester 35-14; Northwestern lost to South Pointe 39-7

Last meeting: Northwestern won 42-28 (2016)

Key players: DHS - Sr. LB Tavist Ferguson, Jr. WR Jacoby Pinckney, Sr. QB Ben Batson; NHS - Sr. LB Trey McCullough, Jr. DB D’Arthur Ratchford, Sr. WR Jordan Starkes.

Need to know: Northwestern matched South Pointe’s skill players last week; the gap between the Trojans and the Stallions was in the trenches, a Trojan weakness that Dorman will test again Friday. The Cavaliers have a dual-threat QB and a couple of solid running backs to go with a typically-huge offensive line led by Virginia Tech commit Jordan McFadden. Dorman had the ball seven more minutes than Fort Dorchester but only got in the red zone twice, while Northwestern was 1-of-3 on red zone visits in its loss. Got to make those trips count Friday.

South Pointe (1-0) at Nation Ford (0-1)

Last week: South Pointe beat Northwestern 39-7; Nation Ford lost to Irmo 28-16

Last meeting: South Pointe won 24-10 (2016)

Key players: SPHS - Sr. LB Deangelo Huskey, Jr. RB Joe Ervin, Sr. WR Steven Gilmore Jr.; NFHS - Sr. K/P Skyler DeLong, Sr. DB Eric Stroud, Sr. DB Tim Smith.

Need to know: Last year’s game was the closest between these two schools, but the Falcons still are winless against South Pointe in seven attempts. It’ll remain that way if Nation Ford struggles to hold on to the ball again like it did last week. Five turnovers cost Michael Allen’s team against Irmo, and they’ll have no room for error against a South Pointe team that hummed offensively against Northwestern.

Rock Hill (0-1) at York (0-0)

Last week: Rock Hill lost to Blythewood 33-14; York scrimmaged Laurens

Last meeting: Rock Hill won 49-34 (2016)

Key players: RHHS - Sr. WR Raphael Wright, Jr. LB Narii Gaither, Soph. WR Antonio Barber; YCHS - Sr. LB J.T. Sanders, Sr. RB Joe Wade, Jr. OL Lane Towery.

Need to know: Bubba Pittman is hoping Rock Hill got an offensive turnover binge out of its system last week after four fumbles cost the Bearcats against Blythewood. Rock Hill should be the sharper team having already played a game that counts, with York’s season-opener Friday. York’s offense is still a work in progress but the Cougars should be stronger up front than Rock Hill, on both sides of the ball. Unclear if QB Logan McFadden will be available for the Bearcats after leaving last week’s game with an injury.

Forestview (1-0) at Clover (1-0)

Last week: Forestview beat East Lincoln 7-6; Clover beat Ashbrook (N.C.) 56-26

Last meeting: Clover won 19-13 (2016)

Key players: FHS - Jr. QB Jake Lee, Sr. LB Cameron Jackson, Sr. DB Xavier Worthy; CHS - Sr. DT Kenshu Her, Soph. LB Hayden Johnson, Fr. DB Josh Marr.

Need to know: How did Forestview - with barely over 100 yards of offense - beat East Lincoln last week? The Jaguars’ defense forced six turnovers. Clover had its own successful season-opener by not turning the ball over and the Blue Eagles showed the big-play knack that most Brian Lane teams have traditionally had. The Blue Eagles lost 100-yard receiver Zion Robbins to a leg injury - he’ll be out two months or so - but can use the junior’s absence to further augment the team’s receiving depth.

West Florence (0-1) at Fort Mill (0-1)

Last week: West Florence lost to Lexington 20-14; Fort Mill lost to Spring Valley 41-7

Last meeting: Fort Mill won 40-27 (2016)

Key players: WFHS - Jr. QB Cooper Wallace, Jr. RB Ailym Ford, Sr. LB Stephon Alexander; FMHS - Sr. WR Shayne Boyle, Sr. ATH Grant Stevens, Sr. LB Jake Ajemian.

Need to know: These two teams were a combined 20-for-52 passing last week so don’t expect an aerial shootout. Fort Mill needs better play from its quarterbacks - J.T. Marr and Drew Hartman took the field last week - and needs to keep the chains moving against West Florence (2-for-13 on third down in last week’s loss). More Ryan Heriot out of the backfield may be in order for Ed Susi’s Yellow Jackets.

Franklin Christian (0-1) at Chester (0-1)

Last week: Franklin Christian lost to Mountain Island Charter 48-6; Chester lost to Westwood 30-23

Last meeting: Chester won 54-0 (2016)

Key players: FC - QB Dee Hardin; CHS - Sr. DB/WR Quay Hardin, Fr. LB Jovonti Jackson, Jr. RB Pha’Leak Brown.

Need to know: Chester should get in the win column in a big way on Friday night, but needs to keep its mental focus against a Franklin Christian team sporting a few players that were not invited back to Chester’s program by coach Victor Floyd after last season. Friday’s game also gives Floyd a chance to check out some younger players as he tries to build quality depth, one of the Cyclones’ few obvious weaknesses headed into the year.

Indian Land (0-1) at Buford (0-0)

Last week: Indian Land lost to Lancaster 21-7; Buford was idle

Last meeting: Indian Land won 41-35 (2016)

Key players: ILHS - Sr. LB Nico Starcher, Jr. DB Alex Murphy, Sr. QB David Loughry; BHS - Sr. OL/DL Ryan Bailey, Sr. QB Ryan Moore, Sr. OL/DL Tray Macy.

Need to know: The Warriors have taken five of the last six against their county neighbors, Buford, and could add to that tally Friday if they produce a performance in the neighborhood of last week’s loss to Lancaster. The Warriors scrapped and Horatio Blades seemed relatively pleased with his team’s effort against a physically superior club. Indian Land moved the ball well through the air but needs to get its running game going after Jacob Carroll and Tyree Sistare were held in check by the Bruins.

Lewisville (1-0) at Blacksburg (0-0)

Last week: Lewisville beat Andrew Jackson 30-6; Blacksburg was idle

Last meeting: Lewisville won 24-22 (2016)

Key players: LHS - Sr. DB Chase Yoder, Sr. ATH Quentin Sanders, Sr. LB Carlito McGraw; BHS - Sr. DE/LB Kwame Sutton, Sr. ATH Elijah Rodgers, Jr. DE Jeremy Wright.

Need to know: This will be a tough one for Lewisville. Blacksburg, known for its size and strength each year, has an FCS-bound player in Elijah Rodgers (Indiana commit) and high expectations entering 2017. The Lions already have a game under their belt, which could be an advantage, and have their own likely FCS-bound player in Quentin Sanders. The senior ran for a TD, passed for one and caught one in last week’s win and it should be electric when he crosses paths with Rodgers Friday.

Great Falls (0-0) at Whitmire (0-1)

Last week: Great Falls scrimmaged York JV; Whitmire lost to Wagener-Salley 62-7

Last meeting: Whitmire won 26-0 (2016)

Key players: GFHS - Sr. RB/LB Gage Spinks, Sr. OL/DL Jamie Craig, Soph. WR Kelton Talford; WHS - Sr. DB Quentin Aughtry, Jr. RB/DB Jaylen Brown, Jr. RB/DB Kyle Brown.

Need to know: This should be a competitive game. Great Falls’ numbers have bounced back, because of a slew of young and still growing ninth graders. The Red Devils’ major advantage Friday, and probably much of the season, is their height on the offensive perimeter with 6-foot-4 Kelton Talford and 6-foot-3 Tommy Belk at receiver. A win Friday would give Great Falls its first victory since Oct. 1, 2015 and a huge morale boost for rookie head coach Scotty Steen.

This story was originally published August 24, 2017 at 3:47 PM with the headline "Everything you need to know ahead of Aug. 25 HS football games."