Previewing North Augusta vs South Aiken and many more of Friday night's key games

Chris Torres and Caree Collier will lead North Augusta into unfriendly territory Friday.

***For live highlights and updates from these three games, follow @AugBball on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and also @csraallstarbowl on Twitter.***

AugBball and the CSRA All Star Bowl will provide live highlights and updates from the following three games Friday night.

Richmond (6-1, 0-1) at #8 Burke County (5-2, 1-0)
Class 4A, Region 3

Grovetown (2-4, 1-0) at Greenbrier (1-5, 1-0)
Class 6A, Region 3
Game Preview

AugBball Game of the Night
North Augusta (5-2, 1-1) at South Aiken (4-2, 2-0)
South Carolina Class 4A, Region 5

Below is a preview for the Game of the Night between North Augusta and South Aiken, as well as a tour around the area games and stories that I'll be tracking this weekend.

When these rivals last met almost exactly 365 days ago, North Augusta prevailed 21-7 at home, and the experience was marred by a post game handshake line scuffle that led to player suspensions on both sides. So we know Friday’s edition of this rivalry at the Stomping Grounds in South Aiken will be filled with passion. What’s more is that the winner will hold at least a share of the top spot, or more, three games into a five game region slate.

Last year’s game wasn’t solely about a post game scuffle. It also featured a hat trick performance by then senior Dejuan Bell, who grabbed three interceptions to lead the Jackets to the win. Bell was last seen scoring his first collegiate touchdown for Furman University:

Dejuan Bell ties it for #Furman with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. @abc_columbia pic.twitter.com/9UtX94j7d4

— Mike Gillespie (@MikeABCColumbia) September 29, 2018

Bell has moved on, but current defenders like linebacker Caree Collier (89 tackles through 6 games), Chris Torres (77 through 6), and Derian Gibson (51.5 through 6), all seniors, have given North Augusta the reputation for having the best defense around.



On the other hand, South Aiken’s offense seems to have hit its stride after scoring 75 points combined in its two region wins over Aiken and Brookland-Cayce. That offense is led by the versatile 6’4” 200 pound junior quarterback Jesse Sanders. I call him versatile not only because last week he passed for 180 yards and ran for another 109 in last week’s 40-35 win over Brookland-Cayce. But because during last season’s game at North Augusta he made the most impressive reception I had caught on camera at the time, this sweet one-handed grab on a route down the middle of the Jacket defense:



So Sanders can run, throw, and catch. He and his teammates will have to use all the weapons at their disposal against the Jackets’ vaunted defense Friday night.

More notes from more of Friday's games

Burke County’s “Power Players”

Ja’Michael Dukes, Burke County’s 6-0, 280 pound nose guard and tight end was named the Power Player of the Game by the True Citizen (see above) after his team’s 41-7 win over Cross Creek last Friday. He deserved the recognition. And it reminds me that whether it be Dukes, or junior running back Leon Mcgee (3 rushing touchdowns last week), or junior quarterback Juanya Dove, or senior linebacker and all around the field playmaker Chadd Crumbley, or, last but not least, the most fierce offensive line in the area (with all due respect to Aquinas’s award winning bunch), which is led by 6'4" 355 pounder Samuel Hill, the Bears pack plenty of power into every punch they throw, especially in Waynesboro. That's where Richmond will need a win to after last week’s heart breaking overtime loss at home to Baldwin:

Speaking of Baldwin...

Baldwin (2-5, 1-0) at Thomson (2-4, 0-0)
Class 4A, Region 3

The Braves have the chance to get to 2-0 with, if they achieve part two Friday night, another impressive road win before hosting Burke County next week. One thing I wouldn’t do if I were Thomson is underestimate the Braves’ cornerback duo of Tray Traywick and Donte Justice, both Kent State commits. Baldwin’s first score in last week’s 28-21 win at Richmond was a Traywick pick six:

Friday’s games I wish I could find a way for AugBball to cover but can’t include the following:

Lakeside (3-2, 1-0) at Alcovy (2-4, 0-1)
Class 6A, Region 3

The Panthers get the chance to improve to 2-0 in league play, and junior quarterback Jaden Taylor is quietly having one of the best seasons of just about any area player.

Aiken (1-5,1-1) at Airport (4-3, 1-1)
South Carolina Class 4A, Region 5

The Hornets will get the chance to form their first winning streak in years, and in the process maybe take a spot at the top of the region standings. Korey Wallace (QB), Jeremiah Green (RB/WR), Charvis Jones (WR), and Stavon Porter (WR) may form the most potent offensive attack in the area.

Hancock Central (5-2, 3-1) at Aquinas (6-0, 3-0)
Class 1A, Region 7B

Aquinas will take its 6-0 record into Friday’s home game to start a 2 week stretch in which they face Hancock Central, who has only lost one region game, this Friday, and Greene County, who has yet to lose any, next week. The Irish are coming off of a dominant display of rushing in last Friday’s 47-7 win at Washington Wilkes. The Aquinas offensive line was recognized throughout the local media during the past week for their 491 yard, 7 touchdown running stats in the game. Here's my post game interview after last week's win with Ryan Colley, a guard on that line:

Heritage (2-4, 0-1) at Evans (0-6, 0-1)
Class 6A, Region 3

Finally, our first close look at Evans showed that the class 6A, region 3 race is at least 4 teams (Lakeside, Grovetown, Greenbrier, and Evans) deep. The Knights’ standout pair of cornerbacks/wide receivers Derrick Canteen and Deddrick Holmes put on a mini-show in last week’s 28-20 loss at Lakeside: