Can Fort Mill break rivalry trend? Spring Valley, Rock Hill region foes? A Week 1 capsule
Finally.
On Thursday night, the high school football season will begin in South Carolina.
And come the end of Friday night, so many storylines that have been put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic will have been put into motion: New coaches will begin their tenures at Indian Land and Great Falls. Nation Ford will go for its sixth straight win over rival Fort Mill. Catawba Ridge and Indian Land will be introduced to 4A football, and traditional powerhouses South Pointe and York will be the ones to break them in.
Northwestern will travel to a region foe in Columbia. Rock Hill will welcome a region foe into District Three Stadium from Columbia. And Clover will open its season against non-region opponent Wren — a team that earned hardware in Columbia after winning the 4A state title.
The Herald has profiled each high school football team in its coverage area this offseason. But just so you have it: Here’s a one-stop shop for everything you need to know ahead of our area teams’ first games of 2020.
What to watch for as regions shift in 2020
Nearly all of the area’s teams open their seasons against a region opponent, heeding a suggestion from the South Carolina High School League after its truncated season schedule was codified and approved.
After realignment in December 2019, several regions transformed. Here’s how:
Region 4-5A: Blythewood, Northwestern*, Ridge View*, Rock Hill*, Spring Valley
What to watch: Over half of this region turns over from last year’s iteration. The two Rock Hill schools pair up with holdovers Blythewood and Spring Valley. Ridge View moves up to 5A after a 9-5 (4-1) season last year in Region 3-4A in which the Blazers fell to eventual 4A champion Wren in the state semifinal.
Region 3-5A: Boiling Springs*, Clover, Fort Mill, Gaffney*, Nation Ford
What to watch: The Clover Blue Eagles return to defend last year’s region championship, greeted by their first-round playoff opponent (Boiling Springs). The Bulldogs join Gaffney in heading over from the eight-team Region 2-5A.
Region 3-4A: Catawba Ridge*, Indian Land*, Lancaster, South Pointe, York
What to watch: The Columbia schools depart the region, replaced by Catawba Ridge and Indian Land. The Copperheads went 2-8 in their first season of varsity football while the Warriors continued their ascent up the SCHSL classification ladder. Indian Land finished third in Region 4-3A last season, then fell to Woodruff in the first round of the playoffs.
Region 4-3A: Chester, Fairfield Central, Keenan, Lower Richland*, Mid-Carolina*
What to watch: Last year’s region champion, Camden, sets sail for Region 6-3A in the Lower State. The heated rivalry between county neighbors Chester and Fairfield Central stands to again possibly decide the champion from the region. Lower Richland may have a word or two to say about that, though. The Hornets went 8-5 (5-0) in a stout Region 4-4A last year before a second-round playoff loss at Airport.
Region 4-2A: Andrew Jackson, Buford, Cheraw*, Chesterfield, North Central, Pageland Central
What to watch: Lewisville and Lee Central depart the region, replaced by a familiar foe in Cheraw. The Braves played Cheraw and Pageland Central last year and frequently face AJ in jamboree play.
Region 2-2A: Blacksburg*, Chesnee*, Landrum*, Legion Collegiate*, St. Joseph’s*
What to watch: The scheduling woes that plagued the Lancers in their first season of varsity play last year are no more. Legion will play all of its games on the road this season, visiting schools that mostly composed Region 1-2A in 2019. Chesnee slides back to 2A off a 6-7 (2-2) 2019 campaign in Region 2-3A.
Region 2-A: C.A. Johnson*, Great Falls*, Lamar, Lewisville, McBee
What to watch: Lewisville returns to Region 2-1A following two years in 4-2A. The Lions went 19-7 there in 2016-18, including two deep playoff runs. Will Mitchell’s club will also look to snap a two-game losing skid to county rival Great Falls, with both hoping the game will decide the region crown.
Friday’s full football schedule in York, Chester, Lancaster counties
All kickoffs are scheduled for Friday nights at 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Chester, Lewisville and Great Falls elected to play on Thursday night to avoid complications with the weather.
Spring Valley at Rock Hill: The last time the Bearcats played Spring Valley was in October 2009 — so these region foes have some acquainting to do. The Bearcats, despite losing several senior leaders on defense and the offensive line, have plenty of weapons returning on offense from 2019, including their starting quarterback and their Alabama-bound tight end.
Listen: FM 100.1/AM 1340
Catawba Ridge at South Pointe: In different but legitimate ways, South Pointe and Catawba Ridge are justified in their high expectations: Catawba Ridge didn’t graduate any of its players in 2019, and only added talent, including a ninth-grade quarterback with SEC offers. And South Pointe… well, is South Pointe. The Stallions — who went undefeated in the regular season last year and have won four state championships since 2013 — boast a defensive backfield packed with talent, return an everything-player in USC commitment O’Mega Blake and add a new quarterback of their own from North Carolina to their roster.
Listen: FM 104.1
Nation Ford at Fort Mill: The Nation Ford football team has won the Milltown Showdown in each of the past five seasons. Can Fort Mill break that run this year? The Yellow Jackets had a nice showing against Lancaster in a preseason scrimmage last weekend, and the Falcons are looking to replace their kicker, starting safety/wide receiver, quarterback and Shrine Bowl running back from 2019. Friday should be a good night to be in Fort Mill.
Listen: FM. 94.3
Northwestern at Ridge View: Ridge View gave Northwestern one of its two wins in 2019 — a year defined by a tough schedule and tight region losses for the Trojans. This particular matchup might produce an exciting, light-up-the-scoreboard affair, so long as the weather permits the coach Page Wofford-led Northwestern offense to throw the ball all over the field.
Listen: FM 107.1
Wren at Clover: Clover and Wren will face off in a rare season-opening non-region game on Friday night. The Blue Eagles, after a record-setting 2019, showed signs of youth in a preseason that had them face off against two of the better 5A teams in the state, Northwestern and Dorman. And life likely won’t get easier against Wren, the 2019 4A state champions who’ve reclassified to 3A in December.
Listen: Comporium Channel 103
Watch: Search “Clover High School” at NFHSNetwork.com
Indian Land at York: York defeated Indian Land last year, but the Warriors have a new, proven coach in Adam Hastings, who brought a coaching staff across the Carolinas border with him to help guide a team of returning playmakers. York has progressed since 2019, too, and will be led by its skill position group, which includes senior wide receiver and App State commit DaShawn Brown.
Listen: WRHI.com
Mid-Carolina at Chester (Thursday at 7 p.m.): Chester only reloaded after a 2019 season that saw only three losses — one of which being without its starting quarterback, who is now entering his junior year with two years of starting experience and a few FBS offers under his proverbial belt.
Listen: WRBK FM 90.3
Legion at Chesnee: Legion, which won’t play in front of a home crowd but is finally in a region in 2020, will have its first test against an experienced, solid region foe in Chesnee. The Lancers are entering their second year in 2020.
CA Johnson at Lewisville (Thursday at 7:30 p.m.): There’s no doubt Lewisville lost a gifted quarterback/receiver/defensive back/kick returner/punt returner after last season in Demetric Hardin, who is now playing football at Middle Tennessee State. But the Lions proved they could win without him in select games last year — and now that they’re in 1A, they won’t have to consistently do it when they’re outnumbered two players to one. The team’s matchup with CA Johnson is a region contest.
Lamar at Great Falls (Thursday at 7:30 p.m.): Great Falls hasn’t defeated Lamar, a 1A football juggernaut, in over 15 years. The 2020 season opener also marks the beginning of DeMarcus Simons’ head coaching career.
Andrew Jackson at Central: Andrew Jackson opens its season against region rival Central. The Volunteers bid farewell to one of the largest, most successful senior classes in recent school history at the end of last season — a group that the 2020 team will look to replace.
This story was originally published September 24, 2020 at 8:34 AM.
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