By LowcoSports.com
Whale Branch (0-0) at North Charleston (1-0)
7 p.m. Thursday
After watching most of the state get started during Week “Zero,” the Warriors get their chance to hit someone in a different color shirt Thursday night with a trip to North Charleston. The Cougars clobbered Military Magnet, 33-6, last week, taking advantage of three takeaways, so Whale Branch will need sophomore quarterback Jermon Bowers to take care of the ball and let playmakers Darrell Cummings and KJ Chisholm take advantage of mismatches. The Warriors beat the Cougars, 19-8, last season in Seabrook, and their defense led by Bradford Thompson, Alonzo Allen, and Dayaun Brown, among others, should be the difference again. — Warriors by 14
Fort Dorchester (0-0) at Beaufort (0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
It doesn’t get any easier for the defending champs, who welcome the fifth-ranked team in Class 5A for opening night at home. Perhaps the pregame jersey retirement ceremony for Ron “Ghost” Parker at 7 p.m. will bring the crowd out early and give the Eagles a boost at home as they look at avenge a season-opening 21-6 loss at Fort Dorchester a year ago. Beaufort had to go to the air often in last week’s 29-10 loss at Cane Bay and had mixed results, but the Eagles have enough weapons to spread things out and let Samari Bonds take what the defense is giving. It will just take time for him to find a rhythm with his receivers, and the game doesn’t slow down until next week. — Fort D by 7
Ridgeland (1-0) at Battery Creek (0-1)
7:30 p.m. Friday
After being humbled at home by Hilton Head Island High on Friday, the Dolphins need a win on their home turf this week, but they’ll have to contend with a confident Jaguars team that has already matched last season’s win total. Battery Creek’s hard-nosed defensive front did a good job of containing running back Troy Timko last week but couldn’t stop Seahawks quarterback Jackson Bibee, who threw three touchdown passes. The secondary will have to be more sound against a Ridgeland team with a dynamic quarterback in Maurice Brown and a cadre of weapons, though the Jags’ prefer to keep it on the ground and had three players — Brown, Wenson Smith, and Xavier Plowdeniz — surpass 125 yards rushing in a 27-12 win over St. John’s. Dolphins quarterback Chase Olsen had a tough debut as the starter against a stout Seahawks defense but is eager to get back on the field and lead a Creek offense with plenty of big-play potential alongside Damien Freeman. Most turnovers loses. — Jags by 2
Hilton Head Prep (0-1) at Beaufort Academy (2-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
After winning two slugfests against teams from larger classifications, BA should find itself on the right side of a mismatch this week against a Hilton Head Prep team seeking its first win since 2021 and coming off a 50-7 home loss to Bethesda Academy. The Blazers averaged more than eight yards per carry against the Dolphins, and BA’s ground game is a force. Devonte Green and Jaxen Porter should be able to rack up big numbers on the ground in the first half and wear down a Hilton Head Prep team that stayed in the game for a half last week before a lack of depth became too much to overcome. The Eagles’ physicality will wear down a thin Dolphins roster. — BA by 35
John Paul II (1-0) at Bethesda Academy (1-0)
7:30 p.m. Friday
The Golden Warriors are riding high after beating rival Thomas Heyward for the first time in seven tries in coach Shayne Milligan’s debut, and they have a chance to come back from Savannah on Friday with another first — a 2-0 start. The Blazers have a veteran quarterback in Triston Randall, who got off to a strong start last week against Hilton Head Prep, but JPII will have the best quarterback — and player — on the field in Christian Tilton. The job JPII did to contain Tony O’Banner last week bodes well for limiting the damage from Bethesda running back Noah Jenkins, and the Golden Warriors’ secondary should be able to limit the big plays the Blazers feasted on last week. It would help if Tilton’s hand heals enough for him to be an effective passer, but it might not matter. — JPII by 6
