Week 10 high school football preview (video)

No. 1 Northwestern (8-1, 4-0 Region 3-4A) at Rock Hill (2-7, 1-3)

Last week: Northwestern beat Nation Ford 48-25; Rock Hill was idle

Last meeting: Northwestern won 29-20 (2014)

Key players: NHS - Sr. OL Demontre Buckson, Jr. RB Jerry Howard, Sr. DB D.J. Williams, Soph. WR Jordan Starkes. RHHS - Sr. LB Donavon Perryman, Sr. DB Delik King, Sr. RB Tim Sherer, Sr. WR John McCullough.

Need to know: Northwestern has taken eight out of nine in this series, including the last five. The Trojans held on for a nine-point win last season in a rain-delayed contest, but the 2014 Northwestern team was pretty one-dimensional on offense. The 2015 version is not, which will likely make for a long night for the home team Bearcats, rain or shine. Rock Hill’s defense has stood up all season, allowing the second fewest points in the region, behind their rivals from the west side of town. But the Bearcat offense hasn’t held up its end of the deal nearly as often - averaging just 16 points per game - and will again struggle to do so against one of the most complete defenses in the state.

Great Falls (1-8, 1-2 Region 3-A) at Lewisville (2-7, 1-2)

Last week: Great Falls lost to Lamar 53-6; Lewisville beat C.A. Johnson 48-20

Last meeting: Lewisville won 13-9 (2014)

Key players: GFHS - Sr. TE Shadarius Brown, Sr. OL Mylek Hoover, Sr. ATH Adrian Glover. LHS - Sr. RB D.J. Robinson, Jr. OL Jaylen McFadden, Jr. LB Keilan Renegar, Jr. DE Najaylin Sanders.

Need to know: Great Falls is down to 22 healthy players, a fact that will likely be the biggest determining factor on the game’s outcome. Lewisville is getting players back healthy that were injured earlier in the season, but will have two out suspended and another two key players questionable with injuries; that may even the playing field a bit depth-wise. Still, Lewisville should be able to handle this one if the Lions can avoid offensive turnovers.

Clover (1-8, 0-4 Region 3-4A) at Nation Ford (5-4, 2-2)

Last week: Nation Ford lost 48-25 to Northwestern; Clover lost 50-15 to Gaffney

Last meeting: Clover won 34-30 (2014)

Key players: NFHS - Soph. DB Ben Tuipulotu, Sr. QB Cole Martin, Sr. WR Colby Ridge, Sr. DB Greg Wilson, Jr. LB Corbin Tesimale. CHS - Sr. WB Tenchi Her, Sr. WB Cody Payne, Jr. TE Jackson Parrish, Jr. OL Jackson McDowell.

Need to know: Clover held on for a win against the Falcons last season but given the efficacy of Nation Ford’s offense this fall, it’s hard to see that happening again. It’s no surprise what the Falcons try to do with the ball - hit Hank Tuipulotu, Jordan Helms and Alex Stennett in the defense’s underbelly, while Josh Shade stretches the field - and yet they’re so good at it that it’s still tough to stop; Nation Ford has only been held below 340 yards passing once this season. Look for a big reaction from Michael Allen’s group, which will be disappointed after its late-game collapse against Northwestern last week.

Gaffney (5-4, 3-1 Region 3-4A) at Fort Mill (6-4, 2-3)

Last week: Gaffney beat Clover 50-15; Fort Mill lost to York 42-28

Last meeting: Fort Mill won 21-14 (2014)

Key players: GHS - Sr. LB Matthew Archie, Sr. LB LoLo Dawkins, Jr. QB Bryson Ward, Sr. RB Ikeem Posey. FMHS - Sr. LB Evan Stankovits, Jr. LB Noah Wetzel, Jr. ATH Ronnie Hughes, Sr. OL Matt Neill.

Need to know: Fort Mill’s win at Gaffney last season was the Yellow Jackets’ first ever. Getting a second straight will be very tough with the Indians in the midst of their usual late season bloom. Clover and Gaffney were tied at 15 early in the third quarter last week before the Indians zoomed away with 35 unanswered points. Dan Jones’ defense held Clover to 3.6 yards per play last week and is giving up less than 100 yards rushing per game to opponents. That spells a potentially tough night for run-first Fort Mill, playing its final game of the regular season.

Union County (3-6, 2-2 Region 3-3A) at Chester (3-6, 1-3)

Last week: Union County lost to Lancaster 33-22; Chester lost to Clinton 22-17

Last meeting: Union County won 28-12

Key players: UCHS - Jr. DT A.J. Hunter, Sr. DT Deshawn Thompson, Jr. ATH Shi Smith, Sr. RB Ty Thomas. CHS - Sr. LB Dre Johnson, Jr. DL Jarez Hardin, Jr. TE Troy Minter, Sr. ATH Jalyn Reid.

Need to know: Huge game for both teams; their seasons are on the line. After slipping up against Clinton, Chester has to win Friday night to make the postseason. Union County could lose but would need the help of other results; a win for the Yellow Jackets and they’re in, and the Cyclones are out. Union County is coming off a solid defensive effort against Lancaster, having held the Bruins below 100 yards rushing, the only club to do that this season. But Steve Taneyhill’s squad fell apart in the fourth quarter with costly turnovers. Chester will have to be as opportunistic as Lancaster was last week to keep its season going.

Broome (3-6, 1-3 Region 3-3A) at No. 8 Lancaster (8-1, 3-1)

Last week: Broome lost to South Pointe 54-21; Lancaster beat Union County 33-22

Last meeting: Lancaster won 42-35 (2014)

Key players: GBHS - Jr. ATH D’Marco Jackson, Soph. RB Jarius Jeter, Jr. DE Zeke Stringer. LHS - Sr. OL Graham Banks, Sr. QB Darius Robinson, Jr. WR Cordarious Tinsley, Sr. WR Taron Heath.

Need to know: Remember back to last year’s regular season finale between these two and the Bruins scoring 28 straight points to overturn a 35-14 deficit to beat the Centurions and make the playoffs. No doubt Broome will remember that too. This time around, Broome again really needs a win, but Lancaster’s win over Union County - also a comeback - means the Bruins are home free and playing for momentum headed into the postseason.

Clinton (3-6, 1-3 Region 3-3A) at South Pointe (8-1, 4-0)

Last week: Clinton beat Chester 22-17; South Pointe beat Broome 54-21

Last meeting: South Pointe won 21-14 (2014)

Key players: CHS - Sr. QB Charlie Craven, Sr. ATH Donavan Blackmon. SPHS - Sr. QB Greg Ruff, Sr. DB Nick McCloud, Soph. ATH Derion Kendrick, Soph. DE Eli Adams, Sr. LB Nick Yearwood.

Need to know: South Pointe doesn’t have to put its foot on the gas in this game, which probably worries Stallion coaches. They can do Chester a huge favor by winning, but little else rides on the game because of the way the 3A bracket is set up. That said, Clinton will have a tough time matching up with South Pointe, which has had its way with the other two teams at the bottom of Region 3-3A, Chester and Broome.

Andrew Jackson (3-6, 1-4 Region 4-2A) at Indian Land (6-3, 3-2)

Last week: Andrew Jackson lost to Chesterfield 48-21; Indian Land beat Buford 48-21

Last meeting: Indian Land won 28-23 (2014)

Key players: AJHS - Jr. ATH Heath Gandy, Jr. DL Dalton McKittrick, Jr. DE Dalton Haven. ILHS - Sr. LB Logan Teeter, Jr. RB Lee Massey, Sr. OL Jacob Williams, Jr. ATH Dillon Howie.

Need to know: An even series the last five years, with Indian Land winning three. The Warriors have a chance to complete their best regular season since 2011, when they finished 7-3. Indian Land can also wrap up the No. 3 playoff seed from Region 4-2A with a win against the rivals from down U.S 521. Andrew Jackson has had a positive first season under first-year coach and former Gamecock C.J. Frye, and can end the year on a high note by upsetting the Warriors. The Vols will have to stop the run if they hope to do so.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Week 10 high school football preview (video)."