Region football predictions: Very (un)educated guesses

Region 3-4A

1. Northwestern: The Trojans have won (or at least shared) the Region 3-4A title the last three years. Regardless of the circumstances, Kyle Richardson’s program has finished atop the heap and this year will likely be no different. There are new faces and plenty to choose from, but Northwestern will get it sorted out and win the region again.

2. York: The Cougars have question marks in the secondary and at quarterback, but are overall strong enough to contend for the region title. The QB situation will have a big say on what happens for Bobby Carroll’s team, and it still hasn’t gotten over the Northwestern hump yet, failing to beat the Trojans since 2006, and only twice in the last 29 years.

3. Nation Ford: Let’s get this out of the way: my picks on the next four finishers in Region 3-4A will be incorrect. Nation Ford can seemingly score at will and returns its top three receivers and quarterback from last season. But the Falcons will only jump into the region’s playoff positions if they tighten up on defense.

4. Rock Hill: The Bearcats, who are talented and returning nine starters, could legitimately finish at any spot in the region standings. In 2014 Rock Hill lost four games by eight points or less, which led to an offseason focused on finishing the job. If Bubba Pittman’s team can do that more often, they should rack up the school’s first winning record since 2009.

5. Clover: The Blue Eagles appear more comfortable than ever with Chad Smith’s offensive system and should be able to turn that into better offensive production this fall, particularly more explosive plays. Clover’s season will hinge on whether its defense can stand up to a region schedule that features some of the most explosive athletes/offenses in the state. Clover is close; this could be the year that the Blue Eagles break through.

6. Gaffney: There doesn’t seem to be a good vibe in Gaffney. The Indians struggled last season, starting 0-5 before rebounding to win four of the last seven games. Needless to say, that won’t cut it for coach Dan Jones with a demanding fanbase in the land of the Peachoid.

7. Fort Mill: The Yellow Jackets lost a number of contributors on both sides of the ball to graduation. Returning quarterback Rogan Wells is the key piece to the Fort Mill offensive attack, which relies on the QB’s decision-making. If coach Ed Susi, who is one of the better offensive schemers around, can find some playmakers on the offensive side, Fort Mill may not drop off too much.

Region 3-3A

1. South Pointe: The Stallions have never lost a region game at the 3A level. So even with zero offensive line starters returning, it’s hard to see South Pointe not winning the region again. If South Pointe can fill some of the holes on both lines, they should not only win the region, but go 5-0.

2. Union County: The Yellow Jackets have serious FBS talent, especially at wide receiver with Shi Smith and Roscoe Johnson, giving Steve Taneyhill’s offense one of the best equipped passing arsenals in 3A. Should be a bounce-back year for a team that’s won just six games the last two seasons.

3. Broome: Broome is always tough because of Jet Turner’s offensive system. The Centurions have middle linebacker/fullback D’Marco Jackson returning, a player that while maybe not quite the offensive stud graduated senior Desmond Anderson was, is capable of turning a game on both sides of the ball.

4. Lancaster: Lancaster is recovering from the loss of nearly 30 seniors and this season will be a foundational year for what coach Bobby Collins hopes is success in the coming seasons. The Bruins’ defense is inexperienced and will need to grow in confidence and savvy each week if Lancaster is to return to the postseason for the second year running.

5. Clinton: First-year coach Andrew Webb says he plans to spread out the Clinton offense, a big change for a program that’s traditionally run two-back, two-tight end sets. The Red Devils return nine defensive starters, including Tay Cook and Donaven Blackmon, seniors that should thrive in a new offense. Clinton’s season will depend on how that transition goes.

6. Chester: Is in a rebuild mode with first-year coach Victor Floyd back at the helm. The Cyclones appear to have a solid QB prospect in Malik Williams and some underclassmen showing potential. Most everything else about Chester is a bit of a mystery at this point, especially the intangibles like grit and desire that could see Floyd’s team overachieve in Year One.

Region 4-2A

1. Chesterfield: Senior quarterback Danzel Rivers returns after chucking 31 TD passes last year, along with the Rams’ top-four receivers. Basically, everyone’s back for Chesterfield, which lost just seven players to graduation. Expect Chris Arnoult’s team to pile up points en route to a region title.

2. Central: The Eagles return just seven total starting players and no offensive linemen. Craig Hatcher’s team will have 1,000-yard rusher Dedric Robinson back. If the offensive line can gel, Central’s reloading project may only take one or two months.

3. Cheraw: The loss of quarterback Baylen English will hurt the Braves, who turn to Tristen Campbell to run the offense. The Braves, notoriously slow starters due to tough non-region scheduling (6-14 last four non-region slates), return just six total starters and Johnny White’s program will face a tall task to go undefeated in Region 4-2A for the third straight year.

4. Indian Land: Depth is increasing at Indian Land, and though the Warriors aren’t the most athletic team in the conference, they have a pretty tough run game that can control contests. Michael Mayer’s team needs to avoid offensive shootouts, turnovers, and kicking game mistakes and they should be in good shape to make the playoffs.

5. Buford: The Yellow Jackets have produced two winning seasons out of the last nine. Returning senior quarterback Scotti Moser will try and help Buford and second-year coach Tripp Wells improve on that record this season. Buford will need to beat the teams in the bottom half of the standings to have a shot at the postseason.

6. North Central: Louis Clyburn’s team lost its quarterback, and leading receiver and rusher to graduation. Junior defensive back Zack Jones will lead the Knights’ defense after recording 14 tackles-for-loss last season. North Central will have to really scrap to make the playoffs from a tough region.

7. Andrew Jackson: New coach C.J. Frye has his work cut out. Frye said in the preseason that his team will focus on running the ball, but it will take a big overhaul to turn a team that went 0-10 last season into a postseason contender in one year.

Region 3-A

1. McBee: Charlie Poole’s Panthers scored well over 500 points last season en route to an 11-2 record and the third round of the 1A state playoffs. McBee’s insatiable running attack will again be spear-tipped by Jordan Fair and Dashonnell Wright, two of the 16 starters returning. McBee, which beat Lamar in 2014 for the first time since 1978, should tighten its grip on Region 3-A.

2. Lamar: The Silver Foxes lost a standout running back but the cupboard isn’t empty with rising senior Trey Ceasar, and 12 other starters back. Second-year coach Corey Fountain shifted starting receiver Cobie Durant to quarterback, but this should again be a team the contends for the region title, as usual.

3. Lewisville: Will Mitchell’s Lions are young, but many of their cubs had to play last season as underclassmen. Lewisville’s record may not make a huge improvement this season due to a difficult schedule, but the Lions will make the postseason and could spring a playoff surprise.

4. C.A. Johnson: The Hornets have a new coach, Demond Logan, who can count on athletic quarterback JaQuan Perry and brick house-like athlete Shaquan Murphy to make plays and cause other teams in the region some problems.

5. Great Falls: Replacing the college-level talent that graduated will be tough for the Red Devils. Great Falls should have talent this year, it just won’t be the three and four-year starters that departed in the summer. Great Falls’ season will depend on how well its next-up guys fill in the voids.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 8:03 AM with the headline "Region football predictions: Very (un)educated guesses."