Week 7 of high school football is here! I went 12-3 last week on my picks and sit at 61-22 on the season.
Where I went wrong:
1) Spartanburg defeated Byrnes (picked Byrnes)
2) Southside defeated Berea (picked Berea)
3) Hillcrest defeated Mauldin (picked Mauldin)
I have 18 games to pick this week, so let's get started.
Christ Church at West-Oak:
West-Oak comes into this game 0-5 on the season while Christ Church comes in with a 4-1 record. The Cavaliers are the more talented team on paper as well as on the field. Christ Church should have no issues winning this game on Friday.
Cole's Pick: Christ Church 45, West-Oak 10
Southside Christian at Dixie:
The Sabres are undefeated on the season as Dixie comes into this game 5-1. The only loss for Dixie this season was to Crescent. The Hornets are on a 4 game tear, but this will be too much of a test for Dixie. The Sabre defense continues to dominate.
Cole's Pick: Southside Christian 38, Dixie 7
Southside at Carolina:
This game features two teams who have had rough starts to their 2021 season. Southside comes into this game 1-5 while Carolina comes into this game 0-5. Southside's only win was over Berea last Friday, but I think the success continues for Southside.
Cole's Pick: Southside 35, Carolina 14
Greenwood at Eastside:
Greenwood comes into this game 4-1 on the season with a loss to Dutch Fork, but did not play last week vs Laurens as that game was called on Friday due to Covid. Eastside comes into this game 1-5 with a win over Wade Hampton. Greenwood is averaging 25.8 points per game while giving 21.4 points per game. However, that defensive statistic is somewhat skewed as the Eagles gave up 56 to Dutch Fork on the 17th of September. Greenwood is the more complete team here as Eastside will have trouble stopping this Greenwood offense.
Cole's Pick: Greenwood 42, Eastside 14
Palmetto at Blue Ridge:
Both of these teams come into this game 1-4 as neither team has much of an identity on offense. Both teams also have allowed over 200 points a piece on the defensive side of the ball but something has to give Friday night. However, I think Blue Ridge wins in a close one on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: Blue Ridge 21, Palmetto 14
Westside at Travelers Rest:
The Westside Rams come into this game 2-4 on the season while sitting at 1-0 in region play. Travelers Rest comes in 3-2 with wins over Blue Ridge, Berea, & Eastside. The Rams have wins over Byrnes & Easley. Westside has the more potent offense here led by Peter Zamora & the Devildogs will have a tough time stopping this offense. I like Westside to win comfortably.
Cole's Pick: Westside 40, Travelers Rest 20
J.L. Mann at Woodmont:
This matchup features two teams that are 4-2. Woodmont is on a 2 game losing streak to Easley & TL Hanna while J.L. Mann is on a 2 game winning streak over Pickens & Wade Hampton. Woodmont will present more of a test than those 2 teams, but it will still be JL Mann who comes out on top.
Cole's Pick: J.L. Mann 30, Woodmont 21
Mauldin at T.L. Hanna:
T.L. Hanna is 6-0 on the season while the defense has been the storyline for this Yellow Jacket football team only giving up 14 points per game. Mauldin is coming off of a loss to Hillcrest and will have to have a stellar defensive performance to stop this complicated Jacket offense. Even though Mauldin has won 3 of their last 4, I like T.L. Hanna to take care of business at home on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: T.L. Hanna 30, Mauldin 14
Blacksburg at Landrum:
Landrum won this game on a 4th down stop last season in what was one of the Cardinals biggest wins of the season and this is always a good game. Blacksburg missed a crucial PAT in last year's matchup and this one should be very competitive as well. This year however, Landrum has a little bit more of an identity on offense and can put together long drives while keeping the ball on the ground. Landrum has scored 132 points while allowing 82 points this season; 35 of those to the Broome Centurions. Blacksburg (1-4) also likes to keep the ball on the ground as this game could be finished before the Hare & the Hound closes, but I like the Cardinals to sneak out a win at home on Friday.
Cole's Pick: Landrum 28, Blacksburg 20
Chesnee at St. Joseph’s: Chesnee comes into this road game with a 1-5 record while St. Joseph's comes in 5-1. The Knights are only allowing 11 points per game while Chesnee has been able to score, but have not been able to put together 4 full quarters of play. Clay Lewis & the Eagles have averaged just over 26 points per game on the offensive side of the ball but have given up almost 38 points per game. The Knights are the more well-rounded team here and will have no issue at home on Friday.
Cole's Pick: St. Joseph's 42, Chesnee 21
Woodruff at Union County:
Woodruff comes into this game with a 1-4 record on the season while Union County is looking for their first win of the season. Neither one of these teams have found much confidence in 2021, but someone has to win on Friday. Woodruff comes off of a tough loss to Chapman on Friday but I think Carson Tucker and the Wolverines bounce back on the road.
Cole's Pick: Woodruff 30, Union County 24
Emerald at Chapman:
Emerald comes into this game 2-4 on the season while Chapman comes off of a 54-35 win over Woodruff in a game where DJ Black went nuts. DJ had 12 catches for 270 yards and 5 touchdowns and a rushing TD as well. Emerald is 1-0 in region play with a win over Broome back on the 17th of September. Chapman is also 1-0 in region play. Chapman has averaged 40.6 points per game while giving up 30.6 points per game. Emerald will be able to score on Friday night, but will not be able to keep up score for score with a potent Chapman offense led by Drew Settle & DJ Black.
Cole's Pick: Chapman 49, Emerald 28
Clinton at Broome:
Game. Of. The. Week. Period. This one has all of the hype and hopefully will live up to expectations. Clinton is 6-0 on the year and has been beating teams pretty handily. Broome comes off of a win over Robbinsville (NC) where the Centurions put up 46 points but gave up 43 points. That has been the storyline so far for the Centurions in 2021. Score alot, but give up alot as well. Against a dominant Clinton team, they will have to find a way to "score-a-plenty" on Friday but also limit the Clinton possessions. Broome has averaged 36 points per game this season while giving up 38 points per game. This Friday, Broome will have to make the most out of their possessions. This Clinton team may be the hottest team in the state and has been very solid on the defensive side of the ball as well. Clinton has averaged 44 points per game on the offensive side of the ball while only giving up 15 points per game. Clinton may be the more well-rounded team here and their offense will be tough for Broome to stop on Friday night. I like the Red Devils to continue their tear that they have been on in 2021. This one should be one heck of a ball game on Friday night.
Cole's Pick: Clinton 50, Broome 45
Belton-Honea Path at Greer:
The Bears are 3-3 on the season while the Greer Yellow Jackets are also 3-3 on the season. The Bears have defeated Westside, Woodruff, & Pendleton and have losses to Abbeville, T.L. Hanna, & Powdersville. Greer has defeated Westside, Union County, & Woodruff. Greer has allowed 32 points per game while BHP has allowed 31 points per game. These two teams look to be very evenly matched on paper and this is one of the harder games for me to pick in Week 7. Talk about being even, Greer has averaged 25.6 points per game while Belton-Honea Path has averaged 25.8 points per game. I could see this one coming down to whoever has the ball last or a last second field goal; or one bad call by the officials even though we know officials don’t make bad calls. I like Will Young & the Yellow Jackets to sneak out of Dooley Field with a win on Friday.
Cole's Pick: Greer 31, Belton-Honea Path 28
Wade Hampton at Spartanburg:
Spartanburg is coming off of a 33-30 win over Byrnes on a last second field goal on Friday, but the Vikings shouldn’t have to worry about this one being close as Wade Hampton is still looking for their first win of the season. Raheim Jeter & the Viking offense will have a big night Friday going against a General defense that has given up 56 points per game. Wade Hampton shouldn’t be much of a threat to score on Friday against a solid Viking defense. This game will not be close.
Cole's Pick: Spartanburg 54, Wade Hampton 7
Byrnes at Riverside:
Byrnes tries to halt a 4-game losing skid on Friday as they travel to Greer to take on a solid Riverside football team who is 6-1 on the season. Riverside had their first loss on Friday to Dorman as the Cavaliers rolled 47-14 but it was a close game at halftime. Gabe Rogers has led this Byrnes offensive to a record setting season, but Riverside has also been a threat on the offensive side of the ball. Last year, Byrnes defeated Riverside 67-26. Riverside will have to try and tame a potent Byrnes offense that features Gabe Rogers, Thomas Gregory, Collin Imhoff, Knai Cook, and a host of Rebels that can get up and down the field. The Rebel’s defense has also improved over the last few weeks after not being able to stop much during the first few weeks of the season. Riverside will score on Friday, but I do not think they will be able to keep up step for step with a very good Byrnes offense. I like the Rebels to get back on track this Friday on the road, but the Warriors will keep it somewhat interesting.
Cole's Pick: Byrnes 54, Riverside 40
Boiling Springs at Nation Ford:
The Bulldogs of Boiling Springs are looking for their first win of the season while the Nation Ford Falcons sit at 3-3 on the year coming off of a 35-0 win over Fort Mill. Boiling Springs has yet to present any threat on the offensive side of the ball so I do not feel that this game will be close. Nation Ford may make some mistakes to keep it close in the first half, but I like the Falcons to pull away in the 2nd half.
Cole's Pick: Nation Ford 38, Boiling Springs 10
Gaffney at Dorman:
I hate living in a world where Gaffney & Dorman means nothing, but here we are. With this being a non-region game, I do not expect it to have the same atmosphere and intensity as it would if it were a region game or a playoff game. The Cavaliers have had the Indians number in the last few years during the post-season, but I think this one will come down to who can be more effective in all phases of the game, and for that reason, I am leaning Gaffney. When Dorman has the football, they will be going against a tough Gaffney defense. On the flip side, the Gaffney defense will see its toughest test in terms of size when they line up against the Cavalier offensive line. Dorman’s run game got going last Friday against Riverside and that will present challenges for the Gaffney defense, but I think the aggressiveness of the Indian defense will surprise the Cavaliers. When Gaffney has the football, Dorman will have to try to figure out how to limit the touches of Tyler Smith & Ken Littlejohn, the best RB duo in the state. If Dorman can somehow weather the running game storm, they will then have to answer for QB Grayson Loftis, who has been very efficient in 2021 for the Indians. In my opinion, Gaffney has the more balanced offense and for that reason, I like Gaffney to edge the Cavaliers in a close one on Friday.
Cole's Pick: Gaffney 35, Dorman 28
For a full recap of these games, listen to Cole Bryson & Jed Blackwell on the Saturday Morning Scramble this Saturday from 8-10am on ESPN Upstate.
