By Thomas Grant Jr.

Westwood’s Jayce and Angelo Rios hold the Jeannie Schmidt Memorial Trophy after last year’s win over Blythewood. Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.

Blythewood and Westwood have an “axe” to grind with each other Friday night.

Since 2019, the two teams have battled over the red and blue wooden hatchet or the Jean Schmidt Memorial Trophy. Named after the late wife of Westwood principal Ralph Schmidt, the axe has changed hands three times with both teams winning twice.

Last season, the Redhawks reclaimed the trophy for the first time since 2019 with a 7-0 victory. Quarterback Carrington Carter’s 9-yard touchdown pass to Uriah Lofton accounted for the game’s lone score.

With the game in Blythewood this year, Carter and the Redhawks are determined to keep the “axe” in The Castle another year.

“Last year, getting the axe back it felt great,” Carter said. “A good team victory. We just want to do the same thing this year, but this time, across the road.”

The Redhawks (3-1) are off to their best start since 2019 with three straight victories. They are coming off a 65-7 rout over Airport, the second most single-game points in school history.

Ironically, the previous mark was set in 2019 when Westwood scored 70 against Eastside in the opening round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Carter threw for 169 yard and four touchdowns and versatile back Angelo Rios rushed for two scores.

“It’s a day-to-day battle trying to change some things that we identified early,” First-year Westwood head coach Stephen Burris said. “Intensity was a big thing I wanted to see. We’re still working on that. Attention to detail, taking care of the little things day to day.

“We’re in the infancy of what we want to be. I think our kids are playing well. But we can play better. As soon as we can maintain our hunger and passion for what we’re doing, I think we’ll start to see some of the benefits of putting in that work on a daily basis.”

Blythewood (2-2) snapped a 2-game losing streak in last Friday’s 41-6 win over W.J. Keenan. Quarterback James Veasey threw for 148 yards and two touchdowns and running back Landyn Strong had 208 total yards, 186 on the ground, and a touchdown.

The Bengals also had three interceptions, two by Marlon Glover and one by Lamarius Chisholm.

For the second straight year, the game is also the Region 5-4A opener for both teams. The winner would get an important head start in a region with teams like Ridge View and Sumter that have been ranked this season.

Ridge View evens record

After back-to-back 7-point losses to defending Class 5A champions, the Blazers faced their fourth straight ranked opponent.

They put together their most complete game of the season in a 56-13 rout of Camden.

Quarterback Ashton Compton completed 7-10 passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns in his third career start. Spencer Bobian rushed for 123 yards and a touchdown and both Carter Coleman and Jourdin Mack had kick returns for touchdowns.

Defensive end Drew Madison returned a fumble 32 yards for a touchdown and linebacker Markeith Thomas had a 30-yard interception return for a score.

Ridge View (2-2) returns to action September 26 at Westwood.

Former Blazer shines for SCSU

Jordan Smith had a season-best effort at wide receiver for South Carolina State.

The Ridge View graduate had nine receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown in the 55-41 win over Bethune-Cookman last Saturday in Orangeburg.

Smith caught an 8-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Stubblefield with four seconds left in the third quarter. He also had a 69-yard reception.

For the season, Smith has 13 receptions for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Other northeast week 3 scores

Ben Lippen 44, Cardinal Newman 0

(Thursday’s Games)

Nation Fork 56, Richland Northeast 27

Catawba Ridge 24, Spring Valley 3

Friday’s Schedule

Westwood at Blythewood

Camden at Richland Northeast

Spring Valley at Sumter

S.C. Prep Football Media Week 4 Poll

Class 5A

1. Dutch Fork (20) (3-0), 2. Irmo (4-0), 3. Northwestern (3-1), 4. Greenwood (3-0), 5. Summerville (2-1), 6. James Island (3-0), 7. Byrnes (2-1), 8. Dorman (2-1), 9. Ridge View (2-2), 10. Gaffney (1-2)

Others receiving votes: White Knoll, Sumter, Fort Mill, Greenville, Indian Land, Stratford, Berkeley, Spartanburg, TL Hanna