411 for Sept. 29 HS football games + vote on how you think local regions will finish

Fort Mill (3-2) at Northwestern (3-3)

Last week: Fort Mill was idle; Northwestern beat Gaffney 17-13

Last meeting: Northwestern won 41-0 (2016)

Key players: FMHS - Sr. RB/DB Ryan Heriot, Sr. LB Jake Ajemian, Jr. QB J.T. Marr. NHS - Jr. DB Fentrell Cypress, Sr. OL Josiah Ivey, Sr. RB Dequez Harris.

Need to know: Beating Gaffney - regardless of the fashion - was a huge lift for Northwestern after a tumultuous previous week. The Trojans turned to standout Jamario Holley, who delivered 175 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. He and several others will give Northwestern at least the best five players on the field against the Yellow Jackets, who have only beaten the Trojans two times since 1980. But superior talent won’t matter if James Martin’s team repeats some of its sloppy performances from earlier in the season.

Clover (3-2) at Nation Ford (2-3)

Last week: Clover lost to York 21-10; Nation Ford beat Indian Land 31-7

Last meeting: Nation Ford won 42-13 (2016)

Key players: CHS - Sr. DB Austin Gunnels, Sr. LB Ethan Boone, Sr. DL Kenshu Her. NFHS - Sr. DB Tim Smith, Soph. RB Nathan Mahaffey, Sr. OL Jack Snowberger.

Need to know: Key injuries are starting to mount for Clover, which lost standout center Garrett Lutz to an ACL tear recently. The Blue Eagles have lost four of their last five games against Nation Ford, allowing 98 points combined in the last two. That’s unlikely to happen Friday with Steven Peeler’s Clover defense much better than years past and the Falcons’ offense much more limited. Still, Ben Tuipulotu gives Nation Ford an athletic dimension at QB and if they can continue to cut down on the turnovers (just three turnovers in the last two games after 12 in the first three games), the Falcons could get their region schedule off to a good start Friday.

Rock Hill (1-4) at Gaffney (2-3)

Last week: Rock Hill was idle; Gaffney lost to Northwestern 17-13

Last meeting: Gaffney won 30-20 (2016)

Key players: RHHS - Jr. DB Nick Ervin, Sr. DL Molique Mitchell, Soph. OL Carson Murray. GHS - Sr. WR Dennis Smith, Sr. RB Cameron Rice, Sr. WR Myell White.

Need to know: Rock Hill starts Region 4-5A play a week later, meaning one more tough non-region tilt for the Bearcats. A week off hopefully did their spirits some good, but they unfortunately tangle with a Gaffney team that will be annoyed after slipping to defeat against Northwestern last week. The bye week should have helped Rock Hill QB Logan McFadden’s ribs to fully heal and he’ll look to reconnect with sophomore receiver Antonio Barber, who played well in the first couple of games.

How do you think Region 4-5A standings will finish?

Vote teams up or down by how you think they’ll finish the 2017 regular season (schools listed alphabetically initially):

York (4-1) at Richland Northeast (3-2)

Last week: York beat Clover 21-10; Richland Northeast beat Airport 23-20

Last meeting: York won 41-14 (2016)

Key players: YCHS - Sr. DE Shamari Williams, Sr. DE Kyle Ersek, Jr. RB Stephen Oglesby. RNEHS - Sr. QB Charles Simons, Jr. RB Twontae Wallace, Sr. OL Terrance Lokan.

Need to know: Under first-year head coach Bennett Weigle, RNE has won a couple of close games and a has a solid running back in Twontae Wallace. The teams that lost to the Cavaliers are a combined 2-13 thus far, so the three wins should be put in context. York is a few plays away from a 5-0 record and it should get that fifth win this week with a turnover-free game. The Cougar defense is humming after recording 17 tackles-for-loss against Clover last week. The group has given up more than 21 points in only one game so far.

Westwood (3-2) at Lancaster (2-3)

Last week: Westwood lost to Dutch Fork 67-7; Lancaster beat Lugoff-Elgin 27-24

Last meeting: Lancaster won 13-7 (2016)

Key players: WHS - Sr. LB Brian Horn, Sr. DL Nick Williams, Sr. QB Elijah Heatley. LHS - Jr. WR Zach Truesdale, Sr. DL Rodrick Johnson, Jr. OL Jalen Tatah.

Need to know: How will Westwood respond after getting mauled by Dutch Fork last week? These two teams produced a defensive-minded scrum of a game last year and that may be the kind of game that happens again Friday. Lancaster has struggled to move the ball aerially this fall but showed some guts to edge Lugoff-Elgin last week and QB Kemarkio Cloud is developing into a powerful and reliable runner. Bobby Collins’ Bruins are still looking for their first win on the new playing surface at Memorial Stadium.

How do you think Region 3-4A standings will finish?

Vote teams up or down by how you think they’ll finish the 2017 regular season (schools listed alphabetically initially):

Chester (5-1) at Indian Land (1-5)

Last week: Chester beat Carolina Pride 50-0; Indian Land lost to

Last meeting: Chester won 34-10 (2016)

Key players: CHS - Soph. ATH Jarel Hill, Sr. WR Jared Dixon, Sr. DE Daryl Lowry. ILHS - Sr. ATH John Gregory, Sr. LB Nico Starcher, Jr. RB Jacob Carroll.

Need to know: A huge challenge for Indian Land’s defense considering the Cyclones have been held below 40 points just once this season. Chester keeps up the pressure because it doesn’t turn the ball over; QB John Erby has thrown 14 TD passes and only one interception. Indian Land can’t say the same, but it can dominate the ball through running back Jacob Carroll if it decides to do so. How the Warriors end their offensive possessions will be critical because they can’t have empty trips against an opportunistic Chester squad.

How do you think Region 4-3A standings will finish?

Vote teams up or down by how you think they’ll finish the 2017 regular season (schools listed alphabetically initially):

McBee (0-5) at Lewisville (5-1)

Last week: McBee lost to Mullins 49-14; Lewisville beat C.A. Johnson 42-14

Last meeting: McBee won 44-16 (2016)

Key players: MHS - ATH Shane Hammonds, RB/WR Tyreece Wright. LHS - QB/LB Rhett Cox, Sr. DB Chase Yoder, Sr. OL D.J. McCullough.

Need to know: Three of McBee’s five losses came in a brutal stretch against Chesterfield, Cheraw and Central. The Panthers have owned Lewisville the last few years with four straight wins by an average 47-9 score. But graduation hit Charlie Poole’s club hard, much harder than it did Lewisville. It would be a huge boost if Clemson commit Josh Belk continued his recent hot streak; the senior defensive tackle has 13 tackles-for-loss in the last three games.

Great Falls (0-4) at Timmonsville (3-3)

Last week: Great Falls lost to North Central 47-0; Timmonsville beat Scott’s Branch 52-16

Last meeting: Timmonsville won 64-20 (2016)

Key players: GFHS - Sr. LB Zac Roberts, Sr. WR Tommy Belk, Sr. OL/DL Dustin Smith. THS - Sr. DE Deandre McFadden, Sr. LB/WR Rasheim Lyde, Jr. ATH Jamaric Morris.

Need to know: Timmonsville has been the “young team” the last few years, but not now. The Whirlwinds’ roster to start the season was all 11th and 12th graders, led by QB Jamaric Morris, and it feels like it’s time for them to start contending in Region 2-A. Great Falls’ stretch without a win is a few days shy of two years.

How do you think Region 2-A standings will finish?

Vote teams up or down by how you think they’ll finish the 2017 regular season (schools listed alphabetically initially):

This story was originally published September 28, 2017 at 3:42 PM with the headline "411 for Sept. 29 HS football games + vote on how you think local regions will finish."