Football Friday preview capsules, game of the week, player to watch and more

Game of the Week

Conway (0-0) at Georgetown (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: After an impressive showing in the CNB Kickoff Classic last week, Conway fans are foaming at the mouth for this team to start turning things around. And after back-to-back 2-9 seasons, doing so won’t require all that much. For the Tigers, that means beating Georgetown for the first time since 2012. The Bulldogs have won two straight season openers against Chuck Jordan’s team with a stout defense. Conway failed to top 18 points in either of those last two meetings, allowing Georgetown quarterback Jarvis Brown to work his team to a win. Last year, Brown was forced out of the game in the third quarter, but he had pushed the Bulldogs to a big enough lead that it didn’t matter. Coach Bradley Adams already said he’s going to shield Brown some early in the season, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s one of the better dual-threat quarterbacks in the area. After all, he ran for 94 yards and threw for 122 in less than three quarters in that game last year.

On the air: WGTR-FM, 107.9; WGTN-AM, 1400

Last year: Georgetown 26, Conway 17

Favorite: Conway

Player to watch

Jah’Maine Martin

School: Conway

Class: Senior

Position: Running back

The scoop: Part of the issue in the past two seasons against Georgetown was that Conway entered the year without a clear-cut starting running back. That won’t be the case this time around. Martin has the ability to carry the load throughout a game, and he can wear down a Georgetown defense that has has had the upper hand against Conway of late.

Area football capsules

Carolina Forest (0-0) at Darlington (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: Carolina Forest is going to be starting the younger of its two quarterbacks when sophomore Matt Beale goes behind center. But while Beale wasn’t expected to be the starter, he’s taken nearly all the first-team snaps this summer following an off-field injury to senior Bryce Garrell. Beale made some nice throws during the CNB Kickoff Classic last week. Maybe more importantly, the Panthers are going to be a run-first team anyway. Relying on the likes of Dyverse Simmons should give either quarterback some leniency this year.

On the air: WSEA-FM, 100.3

Last year: Darlington 41-21

Favorite: Darlington

West Brunswick (0-0) at Socastee (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: Socastee scheduling West Brunswick in a non-region game each year has be beneficial. The Braves have won six straight in the series, a streak that began in 2009. However, three of those six Socastee wins have come by seven points or less. For whatever reason, the Braves haven’t owned the Trojans, a school significantly smaller and on its third new coach in three years. If West Brunswick is going to end that streak, this may be the year it happens.

On the air: WSYN-FM, 103.1

Last year: Socastee 48, West Brunswick 26

Favorite: Socastee

Dillon (0-0) at North Myrtle Beach (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: The Chiefs’ triple-option offense showed flashes of extreme effectiveness last week during the CNB. And it did much of the same toward the end of last year. However, one thing Blair Hardin’s team hasn’t figured out is how to avoid tripping over its own feet consistently. Five turnovers in a 20-minute scrimmage mirrored the same miscues it had in a playoff loss to Midland Valley last year. Against Dillon, maybe the most dominant team in South Carolina, anything less than perfect ball control won’t cut it.

On the air: WRNN-FM, 99.5; nmbchiefs.com

Last year: Dillon 56, North Myrtle Beach 16

Favorite: Dillon

Loris (0-0) at St. James (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: Since these teams started playing each other to open the season in 2010, they’ve provided some interestingly close games given the projection of each program. Be it early season rust or something else, last year’s 20-point Lions win was the anomaly in the series. Given that Loris is replacing so many of its top defensive and offensive weapons, and the fact that St. James is going to be slightly bigger, and this one could revert back to the close scores prevalent in the past.

On the air: WLSC-AM, 1240; HTC Channel 4; HTCConnect.com

Last year: Loris 27-7

Favorite: Loris

Andrews (0-0) at Waccamaw (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: Waccamaw fans worried about running back Kevin Gasque missing the CNB Kickoff Classic last week shouldn’t be too worried. The move, according to coach Tyronne Davis, was precautionary. If that pans out, it means Gasque, the talented senior who ran for 1,315 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2014, will be raring to go. With him in uniform, the Warriors stand more than a chance against most of their opponents.

Last year: Andrews 19, Waccamaw 7

Favorite: Andrews

Green Sea Floyds (0-0) at Hannah-Pamplico (0-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: The problem for Tony Sullivan and his Green Sea Floyds team a year ago was points. Basically, the Trojans didn’t put up anywhere near enough of them. Green Sea Floyds finished averaging nine per game en route to an 0-10 season. If the Trojans don’t change that in a hurry, it could be another winless record against the same relatively potent schedule Sullivan’s team faces this year.

Last year: Hannah-Pamplico 50, Green Sea-Floyds 18

Favorite: Hannah-Pamplico

Information on this page compiled by Ian Guerin, ian@ianguerin.com and @iguerin.

This story was originally published August 20, 2015 at 5:41 PM with the headline "Football Friday preview capsules, game of the week, player to watch and more."