Football Game Preview: James F. Byrnes Rebels vs. Eastside Eagles + How To Watch

The James F. Byrnes Rebels will face off against the Eastside Eagles at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Given that the two teams suffered a loss in their last games, they both have a little extra motivation heading into this matchup.

James F. Byrnes is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of South Carolina's top teams: Gaffney, who was ranked 13th at the time (James F. Byrnes was ranked 16th). The Rebels took a 28-16 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Indians on Friday. The contest marked the Rebels' lowest-scoring game so far this season.

The loss doesn't tell the whole story though, as several players had good games. One of the most active was Tre Segarra, who rushed for 209 yards. Another pass catcher making a difference was Chanin Harris, who picked up 97 receiving yards and one score.

Most of the squad's points came courtesy of special teams, who contributed ten in total. All came from Zach Reinert: he went 3-for-3 kicking field goals for nine points and added another on an extra point kick.

Meanwhile, Eastside was not able to break out of their rough patch on Friday as the team picked up their fourth straight loss. They fell 43-30 to Riverside.

Even if they lost, Eastside's defensive line still kept up the pressure with five sacks. That dominant display was truly a team effort as five different players picked up one apiece.

James F. Byrnes' defeat dropped their record down to 4-3. As for Eastside, they now have a losing record of 3-4.

Friday's matchup might be decided on the ground. James F. Byrnes has been excellent on the ground this season, having averaged 185.9 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Eastside struggles in that department as they've been averaging 332.6 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.

James F. Byrnes strolled past Eastside in their previous matchup back in October of 2024 by a score of 28-9. Do the Rebels have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Eagles turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.