Football Friday: Get all you need to know to be ready for Week 1 high school football action

Fort Dorchester (1-0) at Carolina Forest (1-0)

When: 7:30 p.m.

The game: It would be moronic to ignore the talent level about to show up at Carolina Forest on Friday. Ironically, the Patriots player with some of the biggest numbers from last week has “only” two college offers. Tailback Datron James put up seven touchdowns and 237 yards – we aren’t making that up – on 24 carries last week against South Florence, one of the Panthers’ Region VI-AAAA opponents. James rushed for 1,778 yards and 18 touchdowns last year as a junior, but it appears he’s stepped up his game a bit during his final year at Fort Dorchester. But James’ numbers go hand-in-hand with that of quarterback Dakereon Joyner (201 total yards last week, according to The Charleston Post and Courier) and an offensive line that includes multiple players headed to the college ranks very soon. Put all that together, and it’s easy to see why the Patriots are the second-ranked team in Class AAAA.

On the air: WSEA-FM, 100.3

Last year: Fort Dorchester 46, Carolina Forest 7

Favorite: Fort Dorchester

Player to watch

Matt Beale

School: Carolina Forest

Class: Sophomore

Position: Quarterback

The scoop: Carolina Forest coach Marc Morris has already made it clear that he doesn’t intend to turn into a pass-happy team, especially in games like this when the Panthers’ are likely facing a superior opponent and need to minimize possessions. However, he also knows a one-dimensional attack could lead to a similarly ugly scoreboard at the end of the night. Beale has looked good the last two weeks, completing some nice passes in the CNB Kickoff Classic before going for 142 yards and three against Darlington in a Week 0 win.Player to Watch

The games

7:30 p.m. unless noted

New Hanover (1-0) vs. Socastee (0-1)

When: 8 p.m.

Where: Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium

The game: Much like any offense struggling with a transition, Socastee didn’t do itself any favors in a Week 0 loss to West Brunswick when it three lost fumbles and an interception. Those four turnovers surely helped the Trojans to a two-to-one advantage in offensive yards. That type of ball control (or lack thereof) would likely doom the Braves again this week. New Hanover cruised to a 22-point victory in its opener.

On the air: WSYN-FM, 103.1

Last year: Did not play

Favorite: New Hanover

North Myrtle Beach (0-1) at Loris (0-1)

The game: The last two years of this series have been refreshingly even after a history of near-Loris domination. The Lions, after all, have won four out of every five games against North Myrtle Beach since 1970, according to SCFootballHistory.com. However, the last two years have seen scores of 14-7 (Loris’ win last year) and 17-14 (North Myrtle Beach’s victory two seasons ago). Each team has won on the others’ home field, giving the annual game between the nearby rivals even more zest.

On the air: WRNN-FM, 99.5; nmbchiefs.com; WLSC-AM, 1240; HTC Channel 4; HTCConnect.com

Last year: Loris 14, North Myrtle Beach 7

Favorite: Loris

Andrews (1-0) at St. James (1-0)

The game: Sharks coach Robby Brown is ready to pick up the tempo. “We didn’t go as fast as I wanted to,” Brown said of his team’s Week 0 win over Loris. “But we’re going to try to go fast.” While Brown said he’s not putting much stock in the class differential between the teams, the size on the rosters – and St. James’ impressive showing in this game a year ago – could help the coach get his wish. If so, it likely means the Sharks are wearing down Andrews.

Last year: St. James 23, Andrews 8

Favorite: St. James

Hannah-Pamplico (0-1) at Waccamaw (0-1)

The game: Even without running back Kevin Gasque – who is still recovering from a minor ankle injury – Waccamaw’s defense is strong enough to prevent smaller teams like Hannah-Pamplico from moving the ball at will. The Warriors held Andrews to a respectable 14 points in a Week 0 loss. The trick, though, will be getting some offense out of a unit so reliant upon its regular running back. It could equate to a possible breakout-type performance for quarterback Kelton Grant, who threw 12 passes and ran the ball 20 times (more than every other Waccamaw player combined) in the opener.

Last year: Waccamaw 42, Hannah-Pamplico 15

Favorite: Waccamaw

Aynor (0-0) at Creek Bridge (0-1)

The game: Aynor’s rise away from the depths of Class AA football can be measured by its productivity against Creek Bridge. After the Blue Jackets lost five of seven in the series between 2002-2008, Jody Jenerette’s team started to make the scores against their nearby neighbor from the smaller class are supposed to look. Aynor has rattled off six straight against Creek Bridge, with the average margin of victory of about three touchdowns.

On the air: WRXZ-FM, 107.1

Last year: Aynor 42, Creek Bridge 18

Favorite: Aynor

East Clarendon (0-0) at Green Sea Floyds (1-0)

The game: Few are going to start calling Green Sea Floyds a team of world beaters after taking down Hannah-Pamplico to open the year. But in the process of doing so, the Trojans proved they may have what it takes to upset an opponent or two along the way. Tony Sullivan’s team ran for 309 yards. Against an East Clarendon team that typically makes the playoffs, that sort of effort could lead to another victory.

Last year: East Clarendon 30, Green Sea-Floyds 12

Favorite: East Clarendon

Carvers Bay (0-0) at Johnsonville (0-1)

The game: The Bears start 2015 with hopes of proving that last year’s 3-7 record was a fluke. It was, in terms of victories, the fewest any of Nate Thompson’s teams had recorded in a single season. And like it did a year ago, Carvers Bay will have to kick things off against Johnsonville. The Flashes have won four of the last five in the series. However, the games have remained just as competitive in that stretch. None of the past five games between these two have been determined by more than a touchdown.

Last year: Johnsonville 21, Carvers Bay 14

Favorite: Johnsonville

This story was originally published August 27, 2015 at 9:27 PM with the headline "Football Friday: Get all you need to know to be ready for Week 1 high school football action."