Saturday Morning QB | Power shift in Region VI-AAAA starting to show itself

The power shift in Region VI-AAAA is starting to show itself.

Since 2010, either South Florence or West Florence has won at least a share of the region championship. For the most part, they’ve been two of the three most successful teams over that span, with only Sumter really challenging that distinction.

Conway and Carolina Forest have officially crashed the party.

With lopsided wins on Friday over West Florence and Socastee, and with Sumter’s five-touchdown victory over South Florence, the three teams vying for the title this year may not include either of the two Florence programs. Changing the top of the food chain would be welcomed by the other three.

But that doesn’t clear up much of anything for now.

For starters, the three teams that had the huge victories Friday don’t begin playing each other until Oct. 23, when Carolina Forest heads to Sumter. The Gamecocks will then play (at home, no less) the following week against Conway, with the two local programs rounding out the regular season the week after that.

If they are, in fact, the top three teams in the region when it’s all said and done, the final three weeks of the regular season are going to be monstrous.

AROUND THE AREA

▪ Conway’s offense rebounded from a 14-0 deficit against West Florence and put up a 60-28 win over the Knights. It was the first time Conway scored 60 points in a game since Aug. 26, 2005, when it beat St. James 77-7.

▪ In beating Socastee 55-6, Carolina Forest’s defense was slightly overshadowed by the video-game numbers its offense put up. However, it was the Panthers’ defense that forced five turnovers (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries) and continued to give the offense insane field position throughout the entire game. Jeff Mario Brown had a sack and at least three tackles for loss.

▪ After leading 8-6 at halftime, Aynor’s fumble problems cost it in the second half, as Marion went on to win 32-14. It was the Blue Jackets’ second straight loss to open Region VIII-AA play, with games against Waccmaw, Mullins and Loris remaining.

▪ Myrtle Beach held on to beat Lake City 38-32 to improve to 2-0 in Region VII-AAA.

▪ St. James routed Wilson 31-8 for its first Region VII-AAA win.

▪ Green Sea-Floyds heading to Carvers Bay on Tuesday. Waccamaw at Loris and North Myrtle Beach at Georgetown have yet to be rescheduled after county-wide school closures in Georgetown.

POWER RANKINGS (all classes)

1. Conway

2. Carolina Forest

3. Georgetown

4. Myrtle Beach

5. North Myrtle Beach

WEEK 6 GAME BALLS

Dyverse Simmons, RB, Carolina Forest: Simmons became the area’s first 1,000-yard back this year when he rushed for 181 yards on just 13 carries against Socastee.

Peyton Derrick, QB, Conway: Derrick’s career night ended with him going 14-of-22 for 458 yards and seven touchdowns in a 60-point effort against West Florence. It was his second 300-yard game of the season.

This story was originally published October 10, 2015 at 12:39 AM with the headline "Saturday Morning QB | Power shift in Region VI-AAAA starting to show itself."