High School Preview Week 3
Lakeside (1-0-1) at Effingham County (1-1)
7:30
LAST WEEK: The Panthers edged Westside 28-26 in a triple overtime thriller at home. Effingham County fell 25-7 to rival South Effingham.
KEY PLAYERS: Lakeside-Senior QB Jimmy Johnson, senior LB Reggie Porter, senior OL Donovan Lowe.
Effingham Co.-Sophomore RB Antwan Wright.
KEY MATCHUP: Lakeside defense against the Rebels' Wing-T offense.
OUTLOOK: Effingham was ranked in the top 10 before a loss last week. Effingham will still probably be the best team the Panthers have seen thus far. The ante is upped because this is both teams first region contest. Lakeside hopes to return RB Carl Burrow, who missed last week's contest with a hand injury.
Evans (1-1) at Laney (2-0)
7:30 ARC Stadium
LAST WEEK: Evans lost 32-20 to Jefferson County in a non-region contest. Laney knocked off Hephzibah.
KEY PLAYERS: Evans-Senior RB Cheng Ho, senior QB Brad Freeman, senior WR Ryan Crislip.
Laney-Senior WR/CB Robert Dunn, senior LB Curtis Sapp, senior QB Dominique Walker.
KEY MATCHUP: Evans' Cheng Ho against Laney defense.
OUTLOOK: Ho was held to only 13 yards against Jefferson County last week. That won't cut it for the Knights if they hope to knock off area power Laney. The Wildcats are ranked in Class-AA's top 10 and figure to have a deep run in the playoffs this fall. Although they are two classes above the Wildcats, Evans will have to play one of their best games to win.
Greenbrier (0-1) at Westside (1-1)
7:30 The Battleground
LAST WEEK: Westside lost in a triple overtime game at Lakeside. Greenbrier fell to one of Class-AA's best teams, Morgan County.
KEY PLAYERS: Greenbrier-Senior OT Tanner Hayden, junior LB Reggie Rice, junior LB Erik Smith.
Westside-Junior RB Sergio Campbell, senior WR Eric Taylor, senior RB Tristan Jackson.
KEY MATCHUP: Greenbrier linebackers against Westside's backfield.
OUTLOOK:The Wolfpack will look to make a quick rebound after losing last week to a tough Morgan County squad. The Patriots are not as good as Morgan County, but gave Lakeside all they could handle last week and had numerous opportunities to walk away with a win.
Harlem (1-1) at Jefferson County (1-1)
7:30 Warrior Field
LAST WEEK: Harlem rebounded from a loss in their season opener against Evans to blank Hancock Central last week. The Warriors knocked off Evans.
KEY PLAYERS: Harlem-Junior RB Gabe Greer, senior RB Chris Newsome, senior WR Jeremy Larson.
Jefferson County-Senior OL Willie Thompson, senior OL Cameron Walker, senior RB Jeffery Walker.
KEY MATCHUP: Jeffrey Walker and the Warriors' offensive line against Harlem's defense.
OUTLOOK: Evans beat Harlem and Jefferson Co. beat Evans, so the Warriors will beat Harlem, right? Walker torched the Knights for 169 yards. Evans' Cheng Ho dominated the Bulldog defense for 145 yards. Walker might go crazy on a Harlem defense with little depth.
Calhoun (2-0) at Augusta Christian (2-0)
7:30 Pride Valley
LAST WEEK: The Lions blanked Richard Winn 27-0.
KEY PLAYERS: Augusta Christian- Junior QB Lee Banks, senior LB/TE Toby Brown, sophomore RB Kyle Meeks.
KEY MATCHUP: Lee Banks against the Calhoun defense.
OUTLOOK: The Lions have stormed the South Carolina Independent Schools Association, knocked off the state's top ranked team two weeks ago. Now that get a shot at another top 10 team in their home opener. Banks nabbed the SCISA Player of the Week award after week one and is quickly becoming one of the league's best quarterbacks.