Ask any coach and they’ll tell you that every game matters.
That may be true, but the most important games are region games. They determine who goes to the playoffs, how many home games you get in the playoffs, and who will have the inside track to the state championship in November and December.
This week marks the beginning of region play for every high school football team in the Rock Hill region. From the powerhouses to the underdogs looking for a chance, every program will give their best over the next few weeks.
Here’s this week schedule for Rock Hill region schools. All games are scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m:
Spring Valley (0-4) at Rock Hill (2-3)
The Bearcats start region play with a visit from the winless Spring Valley Vikings. Spring Valley is coming off its best offensive showing of the season, putting up 27 of its 41 points in a loss to Richland Northeast. Rock Hill is looking to end a two-game skid after last week’s loss to Northwestern.
Listen: Comporium Channel 103
Northwestern (4-1) at Lancaster (0-5)
The Trojans face a Lancaster team still looking for its first win of the season. Northwestern haven’t lost to Lancaster since 2011.
Listen: FM 107.1
South Pointe (3-2) at Catawba Ridge (1-4)
Both teams are coming into this game off a bye. South Pointe is looking to get things back on track after a 22-19 loss to South Florence, while Catawba Ridge is aiming to end a four-game losing streak, the most recent of which was a 30-17 loss to Chester.
Listen: FM 100.1/AM 1340
York (4-1) at Indian Land (4-1)
Both teams are coming into the game on a strong stretch of recent play. Indian Land has won four straight after a one-point loss to Nation Ford to open the season, while York’s offense has been firing on all cylinders, scoring 30-plus points in all four of its wins this season.
Listen: FM 104.1
Clover (3-2) at Nation Ford (2-3)
Clover and Nation Ford are trending in opposite directions. Clover has won its last three games, the last of which being a 36-21 road win over Boiling Springs. Nation Ford, however, has lost its last two games, the last of which a heartbreaking 41-38 defeat to Richland Northeast.
Listen: FM 94.3
Blythewood (2-3) at Fort Mill (1-4)
Fort Mill welcomes Blythewood as the Yellow Jackets aim to win its first region game since 2017. Fort Mill won its first game since 2021 two weeks ago with its 25-15 win over Lugoff-Elgin but is coming off a 34-point shutout loss to York. Blythewood comes into the game on a two-game losing streak, the last of which was a 31-28 loss to Goose Creek.
Listen: WRHI.com
Chester (5-1) at Woodruff (2-4)
Chester heads into its region schedule on a two-game winning streak and will look to extend it to three against a Woodruff team that has lost three of its last four games. Chester won last year’s matchup 41-34.
Andrew Jackson (2-3) at Cheraw (1-4)
Andrew Jackson will look to move past its 43-point shutout loss to Lewisville as it starts its region title defense against a Cheraw team that is currently on a three-game losing streak.
Central (1-4) at Buford (1-4)
Buford is coming off a 24-point shutout loss to Cross. Central is currently on a three-game losing streak, the last of which was a 48-21 loss to Anson County, N.C.
Lewisville (5-1) at C.A. Johnson (4-2)
Lewisville starts its region title defense headed to Columbia to play C.A. Johnson. Lewisville is on a streak of five shutout wins where they posted 40-plus points. C.A. Johnson is riding a two-game win streak including a 52-point shutout win of its own last week.
Great Falls (2-4) at Whitmire (3-2)
Great Falls is coming off its first non-forfeit win of the season with a 56-0 win over Thornwell. The Red Devils begin its region schedule against a Whitmire team that just saw its three-game win streak snapped with a 41-22 loss to Carolina Academy.
September 29, 2023 | Herald, The (Rock Hill, SC)
Author/Byline: Michael Burgess; Staff Writer | Page: 1B | Section: Sports