The 2025 high school football season officially gets underway this week, with Week 0 matchups setting the stage for another fall of Friday night lights across South Carolina. From new-look rosters to seasoned coaches entering pivotal years, storylines are already taking shape as teams aim to build momentum out of the gate. Before I get to my weekly picks, let's highlight a few of tonight's biggest games in the area.
Northwestern at Spartanburg: Spartanburg opens the 2025 season with a tough test, hosting defending state champion Northwestern on Friday night. The Trojans graduated quarterback Finley Polk, but Northwestern doesn't rebuild — it reloads. Reports this week indicate Spartanburg quarterback Trey Burke has been battling a lower-body injury, and his status for the opener remains uncertain. The Vikings' offense will hinge on Burke and running back Trenton Lynch, but if Burke can't go, the challenge becomes even greater. Few matchups in Week 0 are bigger than Mark Hodge versus Page Wofford.
Daniel at Chapman: This matchup brings plenty of intrigue in Week Zero. Chapman, coming off a 3-8 season, is desperate for a rebound year after injuries derailed 2024. Daniel enters as the favorite on paper, though questions linger after a turbulent summer that saw head coach Chris Stone reinstated just weeks ago. The Panthers bring back valuable experience, but the Lions' strength up front should give them a clear edge in Friday's opener.
Pendleton at Chesnee: Pendleton opens the 2025 season at Chesnee against Brett Chappell's Eagles, now in his second year leading the program. Chesnee impressed in the preseason with a 21-0 win over Union County at the D2 Jamboree, and Chappell has quickly made his mark. Pendleton, however, brings plenty of firepower. The Bulldogs rolled past Chesnee 47-21 in last year's opener, and head coach Grayson Howell once again has a tough, disciplined group. Expect Chesnee to be scrappy, but Pendleton still holds the edge — though the margin should be slimmer this time.
Clinton at Woodruff: This may be the game of the week. Clinton, led by head coach Corey Fountain and fresh off a state championship, presents a tough opening test for Woodruff. The Wolverines edged Clinton 40-36 in last year's opener, and this year's matchup has the makings of another thriller. Turnovers and penalties will be critical, as Woodruff enters 2025 with high expectations while Clinton carries them every season. Woodruff's Aiden Gibson could be the difference for the Wolverines, but they'll need to limit Clinton's possessions against the Red Devils' ground-heavy attack. This one has all the ingredients to come down to the final possession.
T.L. Hanna at Byrnes: T.L. Hanna at Byrnes. Here we go. Get the popcorn ready. Byrnes opens its brand-new Nixon Field tonight, and the Yellow Jackets are the first opponent. Hanna has had the upper hand in recent years, with Byrnes last beating them in 2015. Head coach Reggie Shaw is still searching for his first win over Hanna, while Jason Tone's Wing-T attack makes the Yellow Jackets one of the toughest outs in the state every year. The Rebels will look to make a statement in their new home, leaning on running back Tre Segerra while trying to control the game on the offensive side of the ball. DC Fred Cross will need his group disciplined and opportunistic against a grind-it-out offense. Last season, Byrnes was plagued by self-inflicted penalties in this matchup — mistakes they can't afford to repeat. The energy and hype around this game is undeniable, but once kickoff comes, it will come down to execution. With the new stadium shining under the lights, this one has all the makings of a tight opener.
WEEK ZERO PICKS:
Pickens at Easley: PICKENS
Dorman at Greenville: DORMAN
Laurens at Hillcrest: HILLCREST
Midland Valley at J.L. Mann: JL MANN
Maudlin at Riverside: RIVERSIDE
T.L. Hanna at Byrnes: BYRNES
Boiling Springs at Greer: BOILING SPRINGS
Southside at Eastside: EASTSIDE
Independence at Gaffney: GAFFNEY
Northwestern at Spartanburg: NORTHWESTERN
Travelers Rest at Wade Hampton: WADE HAMPTON
Fountain Inn at Liberty: FOUNTAIN INN
Wren at Palmetto: WREN
Ninety Six at Emerald: EMERALD
Westside at Vestavia Hills: VESTAVIA HILLS
Daniel at Chapman: DANIEL
Seneca at Powdersville: POWDERSVILLE
BHP at Broome: BHP
Crescent at Saluda: SALUDA
Pendleton at Chesnee: PENDLETON
Landrum at Walhalla: WALHALLA
Hammond at Christ Church: HAMMOND
Abbeville at Southside Christian: ABBEVILLE
St. Joseph's at Cardinal Newman: ST. JOE'S
Newberry at Union County: NEWBERRY
Clinton at Woodruff: WOODRUFF
Blacksburg at Ware Shoals: WARE SHOALS
Listen to T.L. Hanna at Byrnes beginning at 7pm tonight on The Fan Upstate. For a full recap of these games, tune into The Saturday Scramble tomorrow morning 8-10am on The Fan Upstate.
