GAMES OF THE WEEK + WEEK ONE SCHEDULE

Photo by JOE L. HUGHES II

Offensive lineman Patrick DeStefano leads the way for running back Raymond Smith during Dorman's win last season over Greenwood. The two hope to plow past Gaffney Friday night.

After a week in which a select few schools hit the gridiron for their first contests of the 2011 season, the rest of the state join the fray this weekend. A few teams opened things with a bang week zero, particularly Gaffney, which throttled Boiling Springs 47-0. This week the Indians will get a much stiffer test, taking on rival Dorman.

— GAFFNEY (1-0) AT DORMAN (0-0)
Dorman Stadium, Roebuck; 8 p.m.
KEY PLAYERS: GAFFNEY — Quinshad Davis, WR; Savon Dukes, MLB; Joey Copeland QB. DORMAN — Raymond Smith, RB; Patrick DeStefano, OL; Trey Robinson, QB
Participating in each of the past two Class 4A "Big 16" title games and a notoriety for its tough brand of football, Dorman looks to continue its recent string of dominance over Gaffney. With their 21-12 defeat of the Indians last year, the Cavaliers extended their win streak to four over their rivals just across the line in Cherokee County. Raymond Smith was key in last year's game, rushing 19 times for 124 yards.
KEY MATCHUP: In last season's meeting at The Reservation, Dorman, playing much of the contest without star wide receiver Charone Peake, chose to pound away at Gaffney's defensive line, allowing it to obtain key first downs and dominate time of possession. Do not be surprised if the Cavaliers do the same this time, picking up yards behind Patrick DeStefano and other members of the team's mammoth offensive line. However, a much stronger, speedy Gaffney defensive unit awaits this season, one bent on not allowing Dorman to dictate play.
IMPACT PLAYER: Joey Copeland, Gaffney QB — All eyes will be on him after a dazzling performance to open the season against Boiling Springs. The difference in the past few meetings between Dorman and Gaffney has been quarterback play, the Cavaliers getting the upper hand each time. If able to limit turnovers and distribute the ball to the weapons he has at his disposal, Gaffney will be in good shape to come away with a victory.
PREDICTION: Gaffney 27, Dorman 21

— BLYTHEWOOD (1-0) AT FAIRFIELD CENTRAL (1-0)
E.K. McClendon Stadium, Winnsboro; 7:30 p.m.
KEY PLAYERS: BLYTHEWOOD — Demetric Gray, QB; Jerrod Davis, RB; Kyle Edwards, SS. FAIRFIELD CENTRAL —Davontre Parnell, CB; Jimmy Walker, RB; Ryan Raley, OL.
Toughness. Out of the many things taken away from last season's game between Blythewood, it is something Fairfield Central believed the Bengals lacked. Insert head coach Reggie Kennedy, the genius behind one of the Griffins' most successful seasons since the school repeated as Class 3A champions more than a decade ago, leaving for greener pastures across the Richland County line. Through one game, it seems his infusion has added quite the edge to Blythewood, becoming a team dedicated to pounding teams into submission through a smashmouth running game. It will receive quite the test this week, however, as Kennedy returns to Winnsboro to face his former team, which boasts a defensive unit intent on limiting the Bengals ground game.
KEY MATCHUP: As if we didn't give it away, it is the Blythewood offensive line doing its part to open holes for its running backs against a fast, athletic Fairfield Central defense. Blessed with an experienced defensive secondary in the likes of Davontre Parnell, Randall Adams and Shaferrell Jones, yards through the air will be hard to come by for the Bengals. That is unless it can be successful running at the Griffins early on through Jerrod Davis, who dazzled in the team's season opening victory over South Florence. If so, the play action game could open up for Blythewood, causing Fairfield Central to wonder what is coming next.
IMPACT PLAYER: Demetric Gray, Blythewood QB — All Kennedy asks of his veteran signal caller is consistency. Against an opportunistic defense, it is paramount that Gray limits turnovers and manage the game in a way that will best position his team for a victory. In other words, prepare for a lot of handing off to your stable of running backs, but also be ready to pass when your number is called.
PREDICTION: Blythewood 21, Fairfield Central 18

— GREENVILLE (0-0) AT WOODRUFF (0-0)
W.L. Varner Stadium, Woodruff; 7:30 p.m.
KEY PLAYERS: GREENVILLE — Glenn Baston, QB; Jake Smith, DE; Gray Tollison, LB. WOODRUFF — Ryan Perkins, QB; Caleb Smith, OL; Shun Tribble, RB.
Two of the Upstate’s most prolific offenses match wits in an early season showdown. Last season, Greenville put the clamps on the Woodruff offense, yielding only a touchdown in a 21-7 win. Confident after a deep run in the Class 2A playoffs, the Wolverines hope not to duplicate another 0-2 start to their season.
KEY MATCHUP: In order to accomplish the balance which Woodruff hopes to have on offense, the Wolverines must first get their backfield tandem of Shun Tribble and Hermundre Rutledge going. In other words, the team’s offensive line must dominate the line of scrimmage, taking advantage of an inexperienced Greenville defensive line. Caleb Smith and Javarius Leamon lead a set of big offensive linemen more than capable of doing so, thus dominating time of possession and keeping the multidimensional Glenn Baston off the field — whose matchup with the Woodruff defense is equally intriguing.
IMPACT PLAYER: Glenn Baston, Greenville QB — An accurate passer and equally dangerous when outside the pocket, the Greenville signalman last season brought an explosive dimension to the Red Raiders offense. No doubt, if given ample time to survey the defense or given a lane to run, Baston will make life difficult for the Woodruff defense.
PREDICTION: Woodruff 31, Greenville 27

WEEK ONE SCHEDULE
A.C. Flora at Columbia
AFC Rangers NC at Southside
Academic Magnet at Fox Creek, 7:30 pm
Allendale-Fairfax at Wade Hampton (H)
Andrews at Mullins
Anson HS at Central , 7:30 pm
Aynor at Creek Bridge, 7:30 pm
Barnwell at Williston-Elko
Berkeley at Stratford
Blacksburg at McBee, 7:30 pm
Blue Ridge at Wade Hampton (G), 7:30 pm
Blythewood at Fairfield Central, 8:00 pm
Brookland-Cayce at Airport, 7:30 pm
Burke at Marion, 7:30 pm
C.A. Johnson at Eau Claire, 7:30 pm
C.E. Murray at Cross, 7:30 pm
Calhoun County at Lake Marion, 7:30 pm
Cane Bay at Ashley Ridge, 7:30 pm
Carolina at Berea, 7:30 pm
Carolina Forest at Myrtle Beach
Carver's Bay at Georgetown, 7:00 pm
Chapin at Dutch Fork, 7:30 pm
Chase HS at Chesnee, 7:30 pm
Cheraw at Marlboro County
Christ Church at Liberty
Colleton County at Lakewood, 7:30 pm
Dillon at Lake View, 8:00 pm
Easley at D.W.Daniel, 7:30 pm
East Clarendon at Latta , 7:30 pm
Edisto at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Estill at Battery Creek, 7:30 pm
Forestview HS, NC at Clover, 7:30 pm
Fort Dorchester at Woodland, 7:30 pm
Fort Mill at Lugoff-Elgin, 7:30 pm
Gaffney at Dorman, 8:00 pm
Garrett Academy at Lincoln, 7:30 pm
Goose Creek at Irmo
Greenwood at Boiling Springs, 7:30 pm
Hannah-Pamplico at Johnsonville
Hillcrest at Mauldin
Hilton Head at Beaufort, 7:30 pm
Hunter-Kinard-Tyler at Whale Branch
Indian Land at Buford, 7:30 pm
Keenan at Blackville-Hilda
Kingstree at Hemingway
Lake City at Lee Central
Lamar at Hartsville
Lancaster at Andrew Jackson, 7:30 pm
Landrum at Traveler's Rest
Laurens District 55 at Belton-Honea Path, 7:30 pm
Lewisville at Chester
Lexington at Batesburg-Leesville, 7:30 pm
Nation Ford at Great Falls, 7:30 pm
Newberry at Clinton, 7:30 pm
Ninety Six at Emerald, 7:30 pm
North at Bowman, 7:30 pm
North Augusta at Midland Valley
North Central at Green Sea-Floyds
North Charleston at Military Magnet
North Myrtle Beach at Loris
Northwestern at South Pointe
Palmetto at Wren
Pelion at White Knoll
Pendleton at Pickens
R.B. Stall at Baptist Hill
Ridgeland at Bluffton
Riverside at Eastside, 7:30 pm
Rock Hill at Greer
Saluda at Ridge Spring-Monetta
Scott's Branch at Manning
Seneca at Chapman, 7:30 pm
Silver Bluff at Aiken, 7:30 pm
South Aiken at Richland Northeast
Southside Christian at St. Joseph's
Spartanburg at Union County
Spring Valley at Lower Richland
St. Johns at James Island
Summerville at Conway
Sumter at Crestwood
TBA at Calhoun Falls
Timberland at Hanahan
Timmonsville at Chesterfield, 7:30 pm
Waccamaw at St. James
Wagener-Salley at Swansea
Wando at Ridge View
Ware Shoals at Camden
West Brunswick at Socastee
West Florence at South Florence
West-Oak at Walhalla
Westside at Hanna
Whitmire at Mid-Carolina
Woodmont at J.L. Mann, 7:30 pm
Greenville at Woodruff, 7:30 pm
York Comprehensive at Broome, 7:30 pm