Chester is on a four-game streak of home wins, while Batesburg-Leesville is on a four-game streak of away wins: one of those streaks is about to end. The Cyclones will welcome the Panthers at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Chester is on a roll after a high-stakes playoff matchup on Friday. They blew past Blacksburg, posting a 50-6 victory. The final result isn't all that surprising considering the Cyclones' considerable advantage in MaxPreps' South Carolina football rankings (they are ranked 97th, while the Wildcats are ranked 215th).
Chester got their win on the backs of several key players, but it was Darriyarn Baxley out in front who rushed for 88 yards and one score. Those 88 rushing yards gave Baxley a new career-high. Another back making a difference was Jakobe Starks-Wright, who rushed for 66 yards and one touchdown on only six carries.
They were just one part of a punishing run game: Chester was unstoppable on the ground and finished the game with 332 rushing yards. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now rushed for at least 202 rushing yards every time they've taken the field this season.
Meanwhile, Batesburg-Leesville got themselves on the board against Eau Claire on Friday, but Eau Claire never followed suit. They took their matchup with ease, bagging a 42-0 victory over the Shamrocks. The score at the end of the third wound up being the final score as the Panthers just coasted through the last quarter.
Batesburg-Leesville's win came from a few key players Chester will need to keep an eye on. One of the most notable was Kd Whitt, who picked up 40 receiving yards and three TDs, and also rushed for 70 yards and one score. Reese Boehnke was another key passer, throwing for 70 yards and three touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes.
Chester's win bumped their record up to 7-4. As for Batesburg-Leesville, their victory bumped their record up to 8-3.
Friday's contest might be decided on the ground. Chester has been unstoppable on the ground this season, having averaged 310.5 rushing yards per game. However, it's not like Batesburg-Leesville struggles in that department as they've been averaging 179 rushing yards. There's a good chance Friday's game turns into a tough fight on the ground.
Chester took their win against Batesburg-Leesville in their previous matchup back in September of 2023 by a conclusive 38-18 score. Do the Cyclones have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
