High school football previews for week 4

Sumter (3-1) at Rock Hill (1-3)

Last week: Sumter beat Lakewood 41-0; Rock Hill lost to Dorman 24-17

Last meeting: Rock Hill won 41-14 (2014)

Key players: SHS - Sr. RB Rodney Pitts, Sr. ATH Xzavian Burson, Sr. RB/LB Russell Jenkins, Jr. DL Richburg Canty, Jr. DL Kenzae Rose. RHHS - Sr. DE Stephen Chesney, Jr. WR Kenny Agurs, Jr. LB Kendrick Hicks, Jr. RB Kedarius Baxter, Sr. OL Tyrik Anderson.

Need to know: Sumter has pitched two straight shutouts and won three consecutive games since taking a beating from York in the season opener. Rock Hill played well against highly-ranked Dorman last week, but came up short. They will need that type of effort on Friday night.

Lower Richland (2-2) at Chester (1-3)

Last week: Lower Richland lost to Airport 30-0; Chester lost to York 28-20

Last meeting: Chester won 28-20 (2014)

Key players: LRHS - Soph. QB Tevaughn Higgins, Sr. WR Larry Collins, Sr. RB Fred Cunningham. CHS - Soph. WR John Erby, Sr. RB Quay Strong, Sr. OL Stanley Yarborough.

Need to know: Chester showed improvement in playing well against York last week, but came up short in the end. The Cyclones will need that type of effort Friday night if they are to win, but pairing every down consistency with the big plays they are capable of will be crucial. Lower Richland is improved overall from a year ago, but the defense is still struggling.

Camden (1-3) at Lancaster (3-0)

Last week: Camden was idle; Lancaster beat Central 35-21

Last meeting: Camden won 14-0 (2014)

Key players: CHS - Sr. LB Sterling Felder, Sr. OL Robert Warnock, Jr. QB Devin Beckley, Sr. DE Tyrone Kelly. LHS - Sr. QB Darius Robinson, Sr. WR James Killian, Jr. DB C’Darius Catoe, Jr. RB Desmond Ricks.

Need to know: Lancaster has run the ball very effectively in the first three games of the season, which has set up big plays in the passing game for quarterback Darius Robinson. Meanwhile, Camden comes in with losses to West Florence and Hartsville, but it was the Bulldogs last year who ended the Bruins’ unbeaten run up to this point.

Lewisville (0-4) at North Central (3-0)

Last week: Lewisville lost to Indian Land 27-14; North Central was idle

Last meeting: Lewisville won 41-28 (2011)

Key players: LHS - Jr. Daryl Maning, Jr. QB Trey Keels, Jr. ATH Mike Hill, Soph. DL Josh Belk. NCHS - Soph. QB Michael Williamson, Jr. RB/S Cedrick Cunningham.

Need to know: The Lions will have to get a consistent running game going if they are to have any success against North Central on Friday night. North Central has established itself early with a solid ground attack and a tough defense en route to an unblemished start, and Cedrick Cunningham is a college prospect to keep an eye on.

Blythewood (2-1) at Clover (1-3)

Last week: Blythewood was idle; Clover lost to White Knoll 41-13

Last meeting: Clover won 35-28 (2014)

Key players: BHS - Sr. QB David Isreal, Sr. DB Khris Pam, Sr. ATH Derambez Drinkard. CHS - Jr. RB/DB Sean Tyson, Jr. RB/DB Terion Hubert, Sr. OL Gavin Jenkins, Sr. DE Elijah Plummer.

Need to know: Blythewood already has a win over fellow Region 3-4A member Rock Hill, and the Bengals - coached by former Northwestern Trojan Dan Morgan - have been effective thus far with a balanced offensive attack led by senior quarterback David Isreal. Clover has struggled all season on offense and needs to create more explosive plays.

West Florence (1-2) at Fort Mill (3-1)

Last week: West Florence lost to Lugoff-Elgin 13-3; Fort Mill lost to River Bluff 35-14

Last meeting: Fort Mill won 21-17 (2014)

Key players: WFHS - Sr. RB Eron Darby, Jr. RB Mike Lowery, Sr. DE Niles Craig. FMHS - Sr. LB Evan Stankovits, Sr. P/K Taylor Sheets, Sr. DL Caleb Cisco, Jr. WR/DB Ryan Deluca.

Need to know: Fort Mill is in the same position they were a year ago, coming off a loss to River Bluff after winning three straight. The fact that the game is being played in Fort Mill should give them an advantge, but the Yellow Jackets’ offense has got to return to the form of the first three weeks. West Florence comes in after losing to Lugoff-Elgin, a team the Yellow Jackets handled earlier in the season.

Cheraw (0-3) at Indian Land (3-0)

Last week: Cheraw lost to Marlboro County 7-0; Indian Land beat Lewisville 27-14

Last meeting: Cheraw won 48-3 (2014)

Key players: CHS - Sr. RB Darien Roseau, Sr. RB Anfernee Jackson, Sr. WR Josh Burkett. ILHS - Sr. DB Richie Wilkerson, Jr. LB Ethan Burdette, Jr. RB Lee Massey, Sr. OL Jacob Williams.

Need to know: Indian Land has gotten off to great start thanks to good performances on both sides of the ball in addition to excellent special teams. Cheraw has not won this year, but the Braves have played a tough non-region schedule. The Warriors will need to control the ball and the clock and continue to avoid turnovers, a key to their 3-0 start.

Nation Ford (2-2) at Ridge View (2-1)

Last week: Nation Ford beat Greenville 55-0; Ridge View beat Irmo 47-41

Last meeting: Ridge View won 48-40 (2014)

Key players: NFHS - Sr. DE Charlie Newton, Soph. LB Vinny Caton, Sr. WR Josh Shade, Sr. WR Jordan Helms. RVHS - Sr. QB Jaylen Nelson, Sr. RB Shemar Hinron, Jr. WR Cameron Bulter, Jr. DB Dinichie Ashe, Jr. DL Edward Roe.

Need to know: Nation Ford has gotten new life after posting back-to-back shutouts. The Falcons can put up outstanding offensive numbers, but in order to reverse last year’s high-scoring loss, they will have to rely on another good effort by the defense. Ridge View has shown tremendous improvement in the early going compared to a year ago as they already have a pair of big wins, coming from behind to beat both Goose Creek and Irmo.

York (3-1) at Boiling Springs (1-2)

Last week: York beat Chester 28-20; Boiling Springs lost to Dutch Fork 54-34

Last meeting: York won 43-34 (2014)

Key players: YCHS - Sr. OL Ryan Enniss, Sr. DT Joe Gill, Jr. RB Paul Moroe, Sr. WR Preston Robinson, Sr. LB Jamar Griffin. BSHS - Sr. QB Drew Johnson, Sr. RB Brendon Robinson.

Need to know: York won its first two games in impressive fashion before losing in Week 3. Boiling Springs’ offense can generate some big numbers, but its defense has been suspect again this season, and there should be offensive opportunities for the Cougars. They’ll need to make sure they stay dialed in, which would be easier if they could avoid a third successive game with a lightning delay.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 3:33 PM with the headline "High school football previews for week 4."