Batesburg-Leesville @ Saluda

[KnowsBall]

Batesburg-Leesville comes in with an 8-0 record with their biggest win being against Abbeville in week 2. Other than that they haven't played a very tough schedule. Their offense is lead by #22 RB Savy Wooden and #16 QB Tanner Watkins, with 2 dynamic playmakers in #1 Jamerius Clark and #2 KD Whitt on the outside at receiver. Their defense is lead by #88 DE and North/South Selection John Sawyer and #11 Linebacker Christian Burkett.

They have scored points on everyone they have played except for Lower Richland, where they only scored 1 offensive touch down in a 21-7 victory. Their defense has also played extremely well except for that week 2 game against Abbeville, where they gave up 35 in their victory. Abbeville is not the same team as normal, as their defense has given up a good many points against their tougher opponents. They gave up 28 to a very mediocre 96 squad, which was a game in the 4th quarter, before Abbeville pulled away in their 42-28 victory.

Saluda comes in with a 7-0 record with their biggest win coming last week in a 35-25 win over Strom Thurmond. Saluda has played a little tougher schedule, with wins over Chester, Southside Christian, and Strom Thurmond. Their offense is lead by a 2 headed monster at RB in Junior #0 Brayden Williams and Sophomore #23 Tristan Daniels, along with their QB #12 Drew Arant, who missed 3 games due to a shoulder injury in their week 0 game against Crescent. On the outside at receiver they have 2 dynamic playmakers in #13 Vic Gaines and #6 Jaylir Foulks. Their defense is tops in AA, only giving up more than 14 points in 1 game, which was last week against Strom Thurmond. The defense is lead by #9 DL North/South Selection JT Lott( almost unblockable), #5 LB Akim Mills and #3 CB Jah Foulks. Their entire DL is nasty as well.

Saluda is hitting their stride offensively scoring 35 against a really good ST defense last week, while the defense gave up 25, that is somewhat skewed, due to an excessive amount of penalties against Saluda's D in the first half and ST totally abandoning their normal offense, in favor of a pass happy attack, in the second half.

This may be the biggest regular season game in both schools history, being that both are undefeated and 1 and 2 in the state this late in the season, with a region title on the line.

No prediction here, what say you?

[bigdog2003]

Thinking about making the trip over for this game. Already called to see if tickets are sold at the gate. I won't decide until Friday, but maybe I'll go.

[KnowsBall]

Thinking about making the trip over for this game. Already called to see if tickets are sold at the gate. I won't decide until Friday, but maybe I'll go.

I'd get there as early as possible. There has always been limited parking at the stadium, but it's even worse this year with construction going on. I went last week and had to park at Mig's restaurant, which is a ways away.

[TIM]

Good stuff. Should be an exciting football game and atmosphere. saluda played great last week, will be tough to beat.

[ballman864]

I think this is the biggest regular season game of the season, regardless of classification. Two old school style smash mouth football teams. Should be a good one, I am leaning BL. Should set up a good rematch in the Upper state championship, and it's hard to beat a team twice.

[bigdog2003]

Thinking about making the trip over for this game. Already called to see if tickets are sold at the gate. I won't decide until Friday, but maybe I'll go.

I'd get there as early as possible. There has always been limited parking at the stadium, but it's even worse this year with construction going on. I went last week and had to park at Mig's restaurant, which is a ways away.

Welp, not going there.

[96fanatic]

I would be at this game if 96 was not
playing . I have watched both teams
so i think it will come down to penalties
and turn overs. I am pulling for Saluda
but if both teams play with few mistakes
I give the edge to B-L because of
their Q.B. you can bet by 6:30 pm
the stadium will be packed. Can't wait
till one of these teams plays Clinton .

[bigdog2003]

I would be at this game if 96 was not
playing . I have watched both teams
so i think it will come down to penalties
and turn overs. I am pulling for Saluda
but if both teams play with few mistakes
I give the edge to B-L because of
their Q.B. you can bet by 6:30 pm
the stadium will be packed. Can't wait
till one of these teams plays Clinton .

Upper State 2A is a murderers row! Clinton, BL, Saluda, Fairfield among others. Imagine if Abbeville was also in there!

[*Topcat*]

I would be at this game if 96 was not
playing . I have watched both teams
so i think it will come down to penalties
and turn overs. I am pulling for Saluda
but if both teams play with few mistakes
I give the edge to B-L because of
their Q.B. you can bet by 6:30 pm
the stadium will be packed. Can't wait
till one of these teams plays Clinton .

Upper State 2A is a murderers row! Clinton, BL, Saluda, Fairfield among others. Imagine if Abbeville was also in there!

I wish we were Bigdog, Lordy how I wish we were. It's where we should be, where we belong. Unfortunately, some folks went and messed it all up for us. As a fixture at almost all games for many years, I can't even go watch these ridiculous, unwatchable games we are playing in Class A, this terrible region we are in. It's sad, but, I can't make myself go watch these 1 quarter games. To me it's a travesty for the football season. Would love to see the Saluda-BL game, should be a really good one.

[bigdog2003]

I would be at this game if 96 was not
playing . I have watched both teams
so i think it will come down to penalties
and turn overs. I am pulling for Saluda
but if both teams play with few mistakes
I give the edge to B-L because of
their Q.B. you can bet by 6:30 pm
the stadium will be packed. Can't wait
till one of these teams plays Clinton .

Upper State 2A is a murderers row! Clinton, BL, Saluda, Fairfield among others. Imagine if Abbeville was also in there!

I wish we were Bigdog, Lordy how I wish we were. It's where we should be, where we belong. Unfortunately, some folks went and messed it all up for us. As a fixture at almost all games for many years, I can't even go watch these ridiculous, unwatchable games we are playing in Class A, this terrible region we are in. It's sad, but, I can't make myself go watch these 1 quarter games. To me it's a travesty for the football season. Would love to see the Saluda-BL game, should be a really good one.

That’s how I was when Newberry was in the region with Mid Carolina, Columbia, Eau Claire, and Pelion that time. It was no chance those were going be be good games. It’s been like that in our 2 region games so far this year. Beat Fox Creek 47-0 and it wasn’t that close, and in a game people said would be tough beat Keenan 45-20. Scored on the 1st offensive snap and other than an early Keenan touchdown, it was never in doubt. No chance I’m going to the last 2 games. I’m not driving all the way to Swansea or Silver Bluff. Nothing against those 2 schools, but it just doesn’t scream big game. I miss when regions meant something. Where you had rivalry games in the region. We’ve never played Fox Creek or Swansea before this year, and haven’t played Silver Bluff in over 20 years, beating them both times(including ending their 30 game winning streak when I was a senior. Damn I’m getting old if that was over 20 years ago).

I miss when we had Clinton, Union, and Greer in a region. That 2002 Union game was magical. Bulldog Stadium was packed! Or that powerhouse region we had when we moved down to 2A with us, Batesburg, Emerald, and 96 all making deep playoff runs and us, batesburg, and emerald being 3 of the last 4 left in the upper state. I remember as a kid seeing Newberry have battles with Midland Valley or Strom Thurmond in the region year after year. Hearing about Peach Blossom 3A. What region even has a nickname now? It’s just random schools thrown together for 2 years because of geography.

Now we play region games and it’s like who the heck is that school. When Keenan is the biggest region rival you have, that’s a bad region. Heck, we jump between 2A and 3A so much these days that sometimes I forget what class we’re in.