By Thomas Grant Jr.
There’s only one remaining undefeated team in the Northeast region.
Richland Northeast continued its best start in 19 years by improving to 5-0. The Cavaliers opened Region 3-4A play with a 26-15 road win over Camden.
North Carolina State quarterback commit Will Wilson was the offensive sparkplug once again. He accounted for all four touchdowns, with two touchdown passes to Malichi Farmer and Blake Betette and scoring runs of 64 and 20-plus yards.
“The confidence is a statement,” Wilson said after the game. “A lot of people counted us out. I saw The State paper prediction and it was Camden, so a lot of people counted us out. But we came and showed out.”
The win puts Richland Northeast on the first path towards accomplishing a goal of more than just a region title.
“Our goal is to have a playoff game to the house,” head coach Walt Wilson said. “That’s our goal. See what I mean. We’re one step closer.”
Westwood wins ‘Battle of the Axe’
For the first time in five years, the axe-shaped Jeannie Schmidt Memorial Trophy will reside at Westwood High School.
An inspired defensive effort lifted the Redhawks to a 7-0 victory over previously undefeated Blythewood Friday night at home.
In addition to property rights, both teams were playing their Region 5-5A opener.
“Our defense, the whole week, we felt like we had a good matchup,” Westwood head coach Robert O’Connell said. “We did play good defense. We weren’t really helping them out much offensively. I know we only scored seven, but we still moved the ball the whole game and I felt like we had a good opportunity coming in.”
It was a 0-0 first half as a Blythewood team which entered the game averaging 31 points was held scoreless in three visits into Westwood territory. The Bengals also had three touchdowns called back due to penalties and had two costly turnovers.
Westwood opened the second half with an 8-play, 80-yard drive. Consecutive personal foul penalties put the Redhawks in position to capitalize with the game’s first points.
With the ball at the 9-yard line, Westwood quarterback Carrington Carter hit tight end Urian Lofton near the back of the endzone.
“I just trusted my guys,” Carter said. “Uriah’s a young dude, but he’s a dog.”
The Redhawks’ defense ensured the lead would hold. Defensive lineman D.J. Jones had two sacks and the secondary held its own against the Bengals’ speedy receivers like Carter Coleman, who had two touchdowns on a kick return and receiving called back for penalties, Ben Hendrix, and Kanye
Blythewood (4-1, 0-1) put together a final drive to tie the game. With 1:20 left, the Bengals’ hopes ended when Collins was intercepted in the endzone by Justin Washington.
Westwood (3-2, 1-0) ran out the clock on its third straight victory. The celebration then ensued as the team was presented the honorary Axe.
“I’m so proud of these kids,” O’Connell said. “They just continue to fight. It’s been a rough past couple of years, but they just continue to fight. Theres no quit in these guys. They just continue to fight.”
Setbacks for Spring Valley, CN
The Vikings opened Region 5-5A with a 56-7 loss to Sumter. It was the 18th consecutive loss for Spring Valley (0-5, 0-1).
In SCISA play, Cardinal Newman could not hold the lead in a 21-17 loss to Heathwood Hall.
The Highlanders scored a touchdown with 29 seconds left for the win.
Caleb Ford and Jason Horton both rushed for touchdowns for the Cardinals (2-3).
MAXPREPS.COM RPI RATINGS
(For the first time, the S.C. High School League will utilize the Maxpreps.com RPI rankings to determine playoff seeding in Class 5A Division I and II and Class 4A. The points is based on 50% of a team’s winning percentage, 40% on their opponents’ winning percentage and 10% on your opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage. The complete rankings can be found at the South Carolina Administrators Association website.)
(Class 5A)
*1. Dutch Fork, 4-0 0.80781
#2. Northwestern, 4-0 0.77029
#3. Gaffney, 4-0, 0.76740
*-4. Summerville, 4-0, 0.75948
*-5. Dorman, 3-1, 0.71677
*6. Spartanburg, 3-1, 0.71188
*7. Sumter, 5-0, 0.69317
#8. Greenwood, 3-1, 0.67490
*9. River Bluff, 5-0, 0.67183
#10. Chapin, 4-1, 0.66525
#11. Irmo, 5-0, 0.64383
*12. JL Mann, 3-1, 0.63333
#13. Hillcrest, 4-0, 0.62813
#14. White Knoll, 3-1, 0.62771
*15. Lexington 3-1, 0.61750
#16. TL Hanna, 2-2, 0.61250
*17. Boiling Springs, 3-1, 0.60188
*18. Ridge View, 1-3, 0.59813
#19. Westwood, 3-2, 0.59542
#20. West Florence, 4-1, 0.59092
*21. Fort Dorchester, 3-1, 0.58969
*22. Blythewood, 4-1, 0.58242
*23. Ashley Ridge, 4-1, 0.57692
24. Riverside, 3-1, 0.57240
25. Catawba Ridge, 4-1, 0.56025
* – Division I, # – Division II
(Class 4A)
1. Westside, 4-0, 0.77208
2. South Florence, 3-2, 0.70950
3. Richland Northeast, 5-0, 0.70200
4. Seneca, 4-0, 0.67323
5. Camden, 3-2, 0.64117
6. North Augusta, 4-1, 0.64015
7. May River, 7-0, 0.62906
8. Fountain Inn, 4-1, 0.61917
9. Gray Collegiate, 2-2, 0.60219
10. Hartsville, 2-1-1, 0.59875
11. South Pointe, 3-2, 0.59333
12. Daniel, 3-1, 0.59000
13. Bishop England, 3-1, 0.57521
14. Dreher, 2-2, 0.57500
15. Wren, 3-1, 0.57104
16. Crestwood, 2-3, 0.57075
17. A.C. Flora, 3-2, 0.55125
18. South Aiken, 2-3, 0.53850
19. Hilton Head Island, 4-1, 0.53767
20. Brookland-Cayce, 1-3, 0.52885
21. Lakewood, 2-3, 0.52075
22. Bluffton, 3-2, 0.51815
23. Pickens, 3-2, 0.51500
24. Greer, 2-3, 0.51208
25. Gilbert, 1-3, 0.48667
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(All Games Start at 7:30 p.m.)
Cardinal Newman at Augusta Christian
Spring Valley at Blythewood
Lancaster at Richland Northeast
Ridge View at Westwood
Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.
