Week Zero high school football capsules

No. 5 Northwestern at No. 7 Byrnes

Last meeting: Byrnes won 37-36 in overtime, second round of the Big 16 playoffs (2013)

Key players: NHS - Jr. RB Jerry Howard, Sr. DE Trae’von Hinton, Jr. DE/TE Logan Rudolph, Sr. WR Grant Kirk, Sr. DT Jamah Mitchell, Sr. C Damontre Buckson; BHS - Sr. QB Micah Young, Sr. WR Chavis Dawkins, Soph. WR Demarcus Gregory, Sr. DE Devin Dexter, Sr. Re’jon Scott, Sr. DB/WR Jaylan Foster.

Big question: Can the Northwestern quarterbacks handle the pressured environment of Nixon Field? If so, the Trojans should be able to handle a solid - but not great, at least yet - Rebels team.

No. 2 South Pointe at Nation Ford

Last meeting: South Pointe won 63-3 (2013)

Key players: SPHS - Sr. DB/WR Nick McCloud, Sr. DB/WR Chris Smith, Sr. WR Quay Brown, Sr. QB Greg Ruff, Sr. OL Lamon Bryant; NFHS - Sr. QB Cole Martin, Sr. WR Hank Tuipulotu, Sr. OT Chandler Smith, Jr. WR/DB Alex Stennett, Sr. WR Jordan Helms, Sr. RB Tyree Chaplin.

Big question: Will the line of scrimmage become a factor in this game? Or will it be a glorified 7-on-7 game? If one team’s offensive or defensive line can establish a run game or pressure the opposing passer, it could tilt what looks like a pretty closely matched pair of skill position groups.

Blythewood at Rock Hill

Last meeting: Rock Hill won 40-6 (2013)

Key players: BHS - Sr. QB David Isreal, Sr. DB Khris Pam, Sr. RB Osei Thomas, Soph. DB Jaydon Brunson; RHHS - Sr. LB Donavon Perryman, Jr. DB Nick Truesdale, Sr. WR John McCullough, Sr. ATH Thailand Adams, Sr. DE Alan Salgado, Sr. DE Antwain Johnson.

Big question: Rock Hill’s defense is pretty strong again, but the question in this game and for the whole 2015 season is can the Bearcats turn offensive possessions into points? They’ll need to all season, but especially in Week Zero against a fired-up Blythewood squad.

Westside at Clover

Last meeting: Westside won 44-26 (2013)

Key players: WHS - Sr. WR Matthew Martin, Jr. QB Jackson Williamson, Sr. TE Antonio Lomax, Sr. S Quin Baldwin, Sr. OL/DL Israel Robinson; CHS - Sr. WB Cody Payne, Soph. OL Preston Vang, Jr. OL Jackson McDowell, Sr. QB Noah Lindsay, Sr. DE Elijah Plummer, Sr. WB/DB Tenchi Her.

Big question: Can Clover get the couple of stops it needs to hold off Westside at home? Last season’s road game got away from the Blue Eagles when they got off script.

No. 9 York at Sumter

Last meeting: York won 42-34 (2013)

Key players: YCHS - Jr. ATH Wally Wilmore, Sr. LB Nick Sturgill, Sr. DE Deivonne Chalk, Sr. OL Ryan Enniss, WR Shandon Cobb, Jr. RB Tyquan McCray; SHS - Sr. RB Russell Jenkins, Jr. RB Rodney Pitts, Sr. WR Xzavian Burson, Sr. LB Tyrell Ceasar.

Big question: Can York move the ball down the field consistently? That will be the question with quarterback Deshaw Andrews graduated, and Sumter no doubt fired up to open the season at home under new coach Mark Barnes.

No. 10 Lewisville at Chester

Last meeting: Chester won 34-8 (2013)

Key players: LHS - Jr. QB Trey Keels, Jr. ATH Mike Hill, Sr. RB/DB D.J. Robinson, Jr. LB Jene Thompson, Jr. LB Daryl Manning; CHS - Jr. QB Malik Williams, Fr. RB Pha’leak Brown, Sr. RB Quay Strong, Jr. RB Jalyn Reid, Soph. C Anthony Foster.

Big question: Neither depth nor experience are in Chester’s favor this year; can Lewisville pull off an upset against a Cyclones team that may take a while to get going under new coach Victor Floyd?

Blacksburg at Great Falls

Last meeting: Great Falls won 13-7 (2013)

Key players: BHS - Sr. DE Clarence Riggs, Sr. OL/DL Joseph Linder; GFHS - Sr. TE Raheem Bowers, Sr. RB Deandre Perry, Jr. WB Deandre Green, Sr. WB Zy White, Sr. OL Tyrek Hoover, Sr. OL Mylek Hoover.

Big question: The Red Devils pulled off an impressive season-opening win last season; can Great Falls’ lack of depth hold up against a strong Blacksburg run game?

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 7:09 PM with the headline "Week Zero high school football capsules."