Upstate predictions for week 1 of the 2024 season

Here are the top 10 high school football games in the Upstate and the predictions for Week 1 of the 2024 schedule. All games are Friday at 7:30 p.m. The rankings come from the Super 25, a weekly list of the best teams in the region.

Game of the week

No. 3 Gaffney (0-0) at No. 2 JL Mann (1-0)

JL Mann and Gaffney are two of the best teams in the state and it would be no surprise to see them in the Class AAAAA Upper State championship. As hard as it is to believe, this is their first meeting.

Mann started the season impressively with a 56-0 win over Midland Valley, which even after that loss is ranked No. 21 in the state (all classifications) by MaxPreps. Gaffney, also loaded with talent on both sides of the ball, is playing its season opener. There is curiosity about new quarterback Jayvon Gilmore, who came over from Ben Lippen and has committed to Arkansas.

Forecast: JL Mann 31, Gaffney 28

UPSTATE SUPER 25 RANKINGS: Subscribers from Greenville | Spartanburg | Anderson

Dutch Fork (0-0) at No. 8 Spartanburg (1-0)

Two-time defending champion Dutch Fork is at dynasty level with seven titles in the last eight years. Spartanburg beat South Pointe 26-25 last week thanks to Will Love's four field goals, including the game-winning goal with six seconds left. The Vikings will have to get the ball in the end zone a few times this week to have a chance.

Forecast: Dutch Fork 24, Spartanburg 21

No. 17 Riverside (1-0) at No. 10 Greenville (0-1)

Greenville's offense was strong with new quarterback Banks Bouton, but the Red Raiders lost to Dorman 42-35. Riverside, which beat Mauldin 39-20, is also a strong offensive team with wide receiver Mikkel Skinner. Defense is the problem. Mauldin was 0-10 last season and scored more than 12 points only twice.

Forecast: Greenville 42, Riverside 35

No. 11 Byrnes (0-1) at Irmo (1-0)

Irmo is ranked No. 7 in the state according to MaxPreps and Byrnes is No. 9. The Rebels' defense, led by lineman Jaidyn Ferguson, will keep them in the game. Last week was a 19-16 loss to a strong TL Hanna team. Byrnes needs the return of running back Tre Segarra, who played limited snaps last week due to an injury.

Forecast: Irmo 16, Byrnes 14

No. 9 Dorman (1-0) at Grayson (Ga.) (1-1)

Grayson, ranked No. 9 in Georgia by MaxPreps, lost a 20-19 opening game to No. 7 Collins Hill. But then the Rams needed overtime for a 15-14 win over Thompson, which isn't even ranked in the state's top 200. Dorman, meanwhile, beat Greenville, and that could be a sign of a strong comeback season after an 8-3 loss.

Forecast: Dorman 28, Grayson 27

Clover (1-0) at No. 7 Hillcrest (1-0)

Clover is South Carolina's No. 20 team, according to MaxPreps, and Hillcrest is No. 19. The Rams' offense features some of Upstate's best playmakers, but the defense failed to score in the opening game and allowed just 135 yards to Laurens.

Forecast: Hillcrest 28, Clover 14

No. 5 Daniel (1-0) at Stratford (0-1)

Daniel has lost one game in the last four years and counting, including three Class AAA state championships, including 2023. The Lions are now in Class AAAA, and this road game at Class AAAAA Stratford could be a tough test. Stratford was competitive last week in a 28-14 loss to Summerville, ranked No. 16 in the state by MaxPreps. Daniel is ranked No. 8.

Forecast: Daniel 31, Stratford 21

No. 23 Wren (1-0) at No. 25 Easley (0-1)

Easley's offense really took off at the end of last season, averaging 33 points with then-quarterback Jay Stoker. The Green Wave scored 34 points in the middle two quarters against Pickens last week, but lost 47-41. Wren also has a strong quarterback in senior Colten Bagwell, but a better defense that shut out Palmetto 35-0.

Forecast: Wren 28, Easley 21

St. Joseph's (1-0) at No. 15 Chapman (0-1)

St. Joseph's got off to a good start under new coach Eric Nash, who is also athletic director, beating Cardinal-Newman 40-30 to overcome a 10-point deficit. The Knights, who moved up from Class A, will get a taste of what it will be like in Class AAA when they travel to Chapman, a strong playoff team the last eight years.

Forecast: Chapman 31, St. Joseph's 21

No. 16 Broome (0-1) at Chesnee (0-1)

Broome has pulled away in recent years to take the lead in this local rivalry. The Centurions have won six straight games and averaged more than 50 points in the last three meetings. Broome lost 45-14 to No. 6 Belton-Honea Path last week, but the offense should be a challenge for Chesnee, which allowed 47 points from Pendleton.

Forecast: Broome 35, Chesnee 24

Last week’s predictions: 9-1

RESULTS OF WEEK ZERO: South Carolina high school football results for Week 0 of the 2024 SCHSL season

Todd Shanesy is an award-winning senior writer who now covers high school athletics for the Greenville News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal and Anderson Independent Mail on the USA TODAY Network. Reach him via email at [email protected]. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, at @ToddShanesySHJ.

Invest in bold, progressive journalism

Pilar Victoriá (28) died suddenly – Nachrichten AG

“Reacher”: Prime Video’s hit series to get first spin-off

Upstate predictions for week 1 of the 2024 season

Game of the week

No. 3 Gaffney (0-0) at No. 2 JL Mann (1-0)

Dutch Fork (0-0) at No. 8 Spartanburg (1-0)

No. 17 Riverside (1-0) at No. 10 Greenville (0-1)

No. 11 Byrnes (0-1) at Irmo (1-0)

No. 9 Dorman (1-0) at Grayson (Ga.) (1-1)

Clover (1-0) at No. 7 Hillcrest (1-0)

No. 5 Daniel (1-0) at Stratford (0-1)

No. 23 Wren (1-0) at No. 25 Easley (0-1)

St. Joseph's (1-0) at No. 15 Chapman (0-1)

No. 16 Broome (0-1) at Chesnee (0-1)

Related posts:

By Hudson Brooklyn

You Missed

Catch up on episode 1 on RTL+, stream, concept, RTL+ subscription and more – information about DGHNDMBSR!

Shooting and SWAT deployment in Mandan in connection with apparent suicide

São Paulo Military Police uses Motorola Solutions body cameras to improve security

Nima Momeni killed Bob Lee in self-defense, lawyers claim

Upstate predictions for week 1 of the 2024 season

Game of the week

No. 3 Gaffney (0-0) at No. 2 JL Mann (1-0)

Dutch Fork (0-0) at No. 8 Spartanburg (1-0)

No. 17 Riverside (1-0) at No. 10 Greenville (0-1)

No. 11 Byrnes (0-1) at Irmo (1-0)

No. 9 Dorman (1-0) at Grayson (Ga.) (1-1)

Clover (1-0) at No. 7 Hillcrest (1-0)

No. 5 Daniel (1-0) at Stratford (0-1)

No. 23 Wren (1-0) at No. 25 Easley (0-1)

St. Joseph's (1-0) at No. 15 Chapman (0-1)

No. 16 Broome (0-1) at Chesnee (0-1)

Related posts:

By Hudson Brooklyn

Related Post

Catch up on episode 1 on RTL+, stream, concept, RTL+ subscription and more – information about DGHNDMBSR!

Shooting and SWAT deployment in Mandan in connection with apparent suicide

São Paulo Military Police uses Motorola Solutions body cameras to improve security

You Missed

Catch up on episode 1 on RTL+, stream, concept, RTL+ subscription and more – information about DGHNDMBSR!

Shooting and SWAT deployment in Mandan in connection with apparent suicide

São Paulo Military Police uses Motorola Solutions body cameras to improve security

Nima Momeni killed Bob Lee in self-defense, lawyers claim