Central is 2-8 against Cheraw since October of 2015 but they'll have a chance to close the gap a little bit on Friday. The Eagles will be playing at home against the Braves at 6:30 p.m. Central is currently enjoying a perfect season and no doubt wants to keep things rolling.
Last Friday, Central blew past Blacksburg, posting a 40-6 victory. The result was nothing new for the Eagles, who have now won three matchups by 21 points or more so far this season.
Central's win was a true team effort, with many players turning in solid performances. Perhaps the best among them was Dwayne Louallen Jr, who threw for 180 yards and one touchdown while completing 80% of his passes, and also punched in one score on the ground. Aiden Short helped Louallen Jr out on the ground, rushing for 90 yards and one TD.
Central didn't go easy on the quarterback and picked off two passes before the game was over. The picks came courtesy of Tahir Wise and Aidan Welch. Welch got in on the action too, converting a pick into a touchdown.
Meanwhile, Cheraw suffered their biggest defeat since September 20, 2024 on Friday. They were dealt a 67-19 loss at the hands of River Bluff. While losing is never fun, the Braves can't take it too hard given the team's big disadvantage in MaxPreps' South Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 110th, while the Gators are ranked 34th).
Although Cheraw took the loss, they still got scores from Anthony Strong and Nick Gordon.
Central's victory bumped their record up to 4-0. As for Cheraw, their defeat dropped their record down to 3-2.
Friday's contest might be decided in the trenches. Central has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 268.5 rushing yards per game. It's a different story for Cheraw, though, as they've been averaging only 33.2 rushing yards. How will they fare against such a dominant running game?
Central lost to Cheraw at home by a decisive 30-13 margin in their previous matchup back in October of 2024. Thankfully for the Eagles, Cam McClendon (who rushed for 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns) won't be suiting up this time. Will that be enough to change the final result? There's only one way to find out.
