The Big Ticket: Pivotal region games dot Week 9 as push for playoffs hits fever pitch

★★★★★ | North Myrtle Beach (7-0, 1-0 Region 7-4A) at Wilson (5-2, 1-0 Region 7-4A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Radio/online: WRNN-FM 99.5; nmbchiefs.com

Series record: Wilson leads 6-4

Of note: North Myrtle Beach is ranked No. 2 in the latest Class 4A prep media poll. … Quarterback Cason McClendon is coming off his best game of the season, completing 12 of 15 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns. … Brothers Kwame and Marcelous Livingston have combined for 10.5 sacks. … Wilson downed Marlboro County a week ago, and is on cusp of its first winning season since 2011. … Future Shrine Bowl teammates will likely see a lot of time against each other, as Wilson’s Zion Keith and NMB’s Tyler Gore will match wits. Keith has caught 29 passes for 386 yards and two scores. Gore has four interceptions this season.

Favorite: North Myrtle Beach

★★★★ | Marlboro County (3-4, 0-1 Region 7-4A) at Myrtle Beach (4-4, 1-1 Region 7-4A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Radio/TV/online: WYNA-FM 104.9; HTC Channel 4,htcconnect.com

Series record: Myrtle Beach leads 3-2

Of note: Myrtle Beach has had this game circled on its calendar for months now. Last November, it was Marlboro County that spoiled the Seahawks’ undefeated season and kept them from claiming the Region 7-4A title. This game is important for both, though, as the loser sees its hope of a region crown go up in smoke. … Myrtle Beach quarterback Lawson Cribb has thrown for 1,492 yards and 10 touchdowns. … Seahawk wideouts Chunk Grissett and Daron Finkley have combined for 86 catches and 1,354 yards, with 11 touchdowns. … Marlboro County is in danger of having a losing record in consecutive seasons for the first time since 2003-04. … Elijah Blair leads the Bulldogs’ rushing attack with 530 yards and five touchdowns, while Iyon Williams has 25 catches for 610 yards and seven scores.

Favorite: Myrtle Beach

★★★ | Carolina Forest (5-2, 2-0 Region 6-5A) at Sumter (6-1, 2-0 Region 6-5A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Radio: WHSC-AM 1050/FM-101.9

Series record: Sumter leads 8-1

Of note: Two of the three undefeated teams left in Region 6-5A. The winner will clinch a playoff berth. … Carolina Forest has not beaten Sumter since a 27-11 victory in 2011 — its only win in the series. … Panthers quarterback Matt Beale has 1,485 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Running back Quasim Porter leads the team with 604 rushing yards and five touchdowns. … Sumter has scored 30 points or more in each of its past five games. Quarterback Zykiem Jackson and running back Jonathan Henry have each rushed for more than 500 yards and combined for eight touchdowns. … Defensive lineman Sterling McKenzie has nine sacks this season.

Favorite: Sumter

★★ | Socastee (4-3, 0-2 Region 6-5A) at West Florence (1-6, 0-2 Region 6-5A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Thursday

Radio: WSEA-FM 100.3

Series record: Socastee leads 14-9

Of note: Both sitting 0-2 in league play, the loser’s chances for a playoff berth will be dealt a significant blow. … Socastee’s scoring rate has slowed since starting region play, averaging 24 points per game, down from more than 40 points in non-region competition. … Hunter Illing leads all passers on the Grand Strand with 1,639 yards and 22 touchdowns. Receiver Devin Stamp also is having a whale of a season, catching 36 passes for 815 yards and 11 scores. … Running back Ailym Ford leads the West Florence attack. He has rushed for 964 yards and eight touchdowns this season. He should go for plenty more against a generous Socastee run defense.

Favorite: Socastee

★ | Loris (2-5, 0-2 Region 6-3A) at Georgetown (4-3, 2-0 Region 6-3A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Radio: WLSC-AM 1240 (Loris); WGTN-AM 1400 (Georgetown)

Series record: Georgetown leads 4-2

Of note: After starting 0-3, Georgetown has won four straight games. During its winning streak, the Bulldogs have scored 26 points or more in each contest. Bret Kirtley has thrown for 13 touchdown passes. … With a win, the Bulldogs can clinch a playoff berth. … Loris has lost three straight. … Wide receiver Jahrique Isaiah accounts for better than 70 percent of the Lions’ receiving yards. He leads the team with 389 yards and three touchdowns.

Favorite: Georgetown

Other games on the Grand Strand

Andrews (5-2, 2-1 Region 7-2A) at Marion (1-6, 0-3)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Of note: These two teams are currently on opposite ends of the spectrum. Andrews seems to have caught its stride, while Marion has lost four straight. Expect the Yellow Jackets to continue their recent roll.

Favorite: Andrews

Dillon (7-0, 2-0 Region 6-3A) at Aynor (5-2, 1-1 Region 6-3A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Of note: Aynor produced more than 500 yards in total offense last week in a win over Waccamaw. It’ll be much tougher against the Dillon defense, one that gave up 20 points in a game for the first time last week.

Favorite: Dillon

East Clarendon (0-7, 0-2 Region 6-A) at Green Sea Floyds (4-3, 1-1 Region 6-3A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Of note: The Trojans have a lot to play for these final three weeks of the season, starting with handling matters against winless East Clarendon. It will be their final tuneup before ending with Hemingway and Hannah-Pamplico.

Favorite: Green Sea Floyds

Lake City (2-5, 1-1 Region 6-3A) at Waccamaw (0-7, 0-2)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Of note: Despite falling to Aynor, the Waccamaw offense showed it had some punch, particularly through the air. It’ll need it, however, as the Warriors’ defense has given up more than 40 points in six of its seven previous games.

Favorite: Lake City

South Florence (1-6, 0-2 Region 6-5A) at Conway (6-1, 2-0 Region 6-5A)

Time: 7:30 p.m., Friday

Radio: WGTR-FM 107.9

Of note: South Florence has scored 14 points or less in four of previous games. That’s good news for a hungry Conway front, one that has been dominant all season long. Don’t expect the Tigers to get caught looking ahead to next week and their trip to Sumter.

Favorite: Conway

This story was originally published October 12, 2017 at 11:28 AM with the headline "The Big Ticket: Pivotal region games dot Week 9 as push for playoffs hits fever pitch."