High school football preview capsules for Week One

Rock Hill (0-1) at No. 2 South Pointe (1-0)

Last week: Rock Hill lost to Blythewood 27-13; South Pointe beat Nation Ford 30-7

Last meeting: South Pointe won 28-20 (2013)

Key players: RHHS – Sr. DE Alan Salgado, Sr. WR John McCullough, DB Myles Pearson, DB Delik King; SPHS – Soph. DE Eli Adams, Sr. LB Nick Yearwood, Sr. LB Shavares Crockett, Sr. OL Lamon Bryant, Sr. QB Greg Ruff.

Big question: Rock Hill gave up a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown and a fake punt that led to a touchdown last week. The Bearcats defense was solid against Blythewood but special teams will have to be better against an even more dangerous open-field team in South Pointe. Can Rock Hill play a sound special teams game and turn its offensive drives into points? If so, the Bearcats might be in business.

Irmo (0-0) at No. 9 York (1-0)

Last week: Irmo was idle; York beat Sumter 35-9

Last meeting: York won 27-6 (2013)

Key players: IHS – Sr. QB/ATH Ronnie Jamison, Jr. ATH Jeff Tharp, Sr. OL Nick Evans, Jr. OL Calvin McFadden. YCHS – Sr. DE Deivonne Chalk, Sr. RB Brandon Garvin, Jr. RB Paul Moore, DL Tareef Bey.

Big question: Can York’s defense, which was stout against Sumter, hold up against Irmo’s giant offensive line? The Cougars’ front of Deivonne Chalk, Joe Gill, Tareef Bey and company will need to win some battles up front to free up York linebackers to make tackles.

Woodside (Va.) (0-0) at No. 7 Northwestern (0-1)

Last week: Woodside beat York (Va.) 12-7 in a scrimmage; Northwestern lost to Byrnes 40-31

Last meeting: never played

Key players: WHS – Sr. WR Jacari Lee, Jr. LB Dominique Sumter, Jr. QB Tyher Tyler, Jr. RB Tamir Walker; NHS – Sr. DT Jamah Mitchell, Sr. DB Davion Blake, Jr. RB Jerry Howard, Sr. WR Grant Kirk.

Big question: Can Northwestern find some offensive consistency? Their defense will be tested by the Wolverines’ wing-T attack, but with the defensive line the strongest part of the Trojans defense at the moment, they should be able to handle that challenge.

Fort Mill (1-0) at Lugoff-Elgin (0-1)

Last week: Fort Mill beat White Knoll 33-28; Lugoff-Elgin lost to Camden 35-14

Last meeting: Fort Mill won 41-0 (2013)

Key players: FMHS – Sr. OL Austin Randolph, Sr. OG Matt Neill, Sr. QB Rogan Wells, Sr. RB/DE Brett Ferguson, Sr. DE Levardis Pinckney. LEHS – TE Elliott Campbell, DB Lorenzo Portee, WR Aldrecio Wells.

Big question: The Yellow Jackets haven’t lost to Lugoff-Elgin since 1989. Will the confidence gained from a comeback Week Zero win help Fort Mill put the pedal to the metal early and knock out the Demons?

Boiling Springs (0-0) at Nation Ford (0-1)

Last week: Boiling Springs was idle; Nation Ford lost to South Pointe 30-7

Last meeting: Boiling Springs won 62-27 (2013)

Key players: BSHS – Sr. RB Brendon Robinson, Sr. QB Drew Johnson. NFHS – Sr. RB/DE Rayquwan Taylor, Sr. WR Josh Shade, Jr. ATH Alex Stennett, Sr. WR Hank Tuipulotu.

Big question: Nation Ford hosts Boiling Springs looking to get its offense on track. The Falcons – winless in three tries against the Bulldogs – labored to move the ball last week against South Pointe; can they find an early groove against a Boiling Springs team playing its first game of the season?

Forestview (N.C.) (1-0) at Clover (0-1)

Last week: Forestview beat Providence Day (N.C) 28-14; Clover lost to Westside 40-0

Last meeting: Forestview won 42-22 (2013)

Key players: FHS – Sr. RB Moe Neal, Jr. WR Jared Carter, Jr. DE Rhett Jenkins, Sr. DE/LB Daryl McNeill; CHS – Jr. DE A.J. Pennington, Sr. WB/DB Tenchi Her, Sr. DB Xavier Wesley.

Big question: Clover beat Forestview the first eight times the schools played, but the Jaguars have won the last three pretty handily. The Blue Eagles had 11 empty offensive possessions last week, something they can’t afford against Forestview, which got 266 yards rushing and four touchdowns from star running back – and Syracuse commit – Moe Neal last week. Can Clover impose its game plan on the Jaguars and limit Neal’s opportunities?

Chester (1-0) at No. 8 Fairfield Central (0-1)

Last week: Chester beat Lewisville 45-14; Fairfield Central lost to Brookland-Cayce 36-24

Last meeting: Fairfield Central won 29-0 (2013)

Key players: CHS – Soph. C Anthony Foster, Jr. WR Troy Minter, Jr. DL Ethan McGriff, Jr. DB Demetric Hardin; FCHS – Jr. QB Stanley McManus, Jr. OL Travius Williams, Jr. RB/DB Chad Sampson, Sr. RB/DB Josh Bell.

Big question: Chester hasn’t defeated its southern neighbor since 2008 but showed big-play offensive ability last week with junior QB Malik Williams and freshman tailback Pha’Leak Brown. Can the Cyclones pair some more of those big plays with some defensive stops against a typically high-powered Fairfield Central option offense?

Lancaster (0-0) at Andrew Jackson (0-0)

Last week: neither played

Last meeting: Lancaster won 41-6 (2013)

Key players: LHS – Soph. QB Jamias Shropshire, Jr. RB Ant Foster, Jr. Farrika Grier, Sr. OL Caleb Funderburk; AJHS – Jr. WR/DB Heath Gandy, Sr. OL/DL Dylan Baker, Sr. OL/DL Bradon Adams, Jr. ATH Dalton Haven.

Big question: Lancaster – 34-11 all-time against county rival Andrew Jackson - rolled over the Vols last year in the opener, and stands a good chance of doing that again this year. In likely doing so, can the young Bruins grow their confidence so they have some in store when region play and tougher opposition rolls around?

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

Last week: neither played

Last meeting: Buford won 23-21 (2013)

Key players: ILHS – Sr. FB Austin Gordon, Sr. LB Chris Blakeney, Sr. LB Trevor Martin; BHS – Sr. QB/LB Scotti Moser, Sr. RB/DL Caleb Parker, Sr. WR/LB D.J. Stradford.

Big question: Indian Land whipped Buford in the season-opener last year before the Yellow Jackets got revenge in the regular season. Will the Warriors – winners of six out of 10 against their neighbors – that dominated last year’s lid-lifter show up Friday? The ones that pound the football and the opponent into submission? Coach Michael Mayer would like that.

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

Last week: Lewisville lost to Chester 45-14; Blacksburg beat Great Falls 38-6.

Last meeting: Blacksburg won 46-36 (2013)

Key players: LHS – Jr. QB Trey Keels, Jr. ATH Mike Hill, Jr. S/FB Keilan Renegar, Sr. FB/DE Cristian Rodriguez; BHS – Jr. QB Jordan Rodgers, Jr. RB/LB Alonso Davis, Sr. OL/DL Joe Linder, Sr. RB/DL Bobby Riggs, Jr. WR/DB Frankie Mode, Jr.

Big question: Lewisville will be missing eight starters this week due to suspensions stemming from last Friday. Will the Lions have enough depth up front to counter a tough-looking Blacksburg running attack? An already difficult game is only more so now.

Great Falls (0-1) at Gray Collegiate (0-1)

Last week: Great Falls lost to Blacksburg 38-6; Gray Collegiate lost to Gilbert 28-14

Last meeting: Great Falls won 28-20 (2013)

Key players: GFHS – Zy White, Soph. QB Connor Henson; GCA – RB Erick Harris, QB Bryce Fields, WR Chylon Thomas, WR Brandon Carroway.

Big question: The Red Devils beat Gray Collegiate twice last season, but both wins came by single-digit margins. The difference in Gray Collegiate’s loss to Gilbert last week was three big plays, according to coach Adam Holmes. Can Great Falls pull off a sound a performance in all three phases, allowing a couple of big plays to change the game?

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 8:39 PM with the headline "High school football preview capsules for Week One."