Match Point

A rivalry game is always going to have flare. Players, students and fans alike are always going to be up for it.

But still, the hope — no matter who you’re pulling for Friday night — is that the game is a meaningful one for each team.

Well, we’ve got more than we could ask for.

Although I think I’ve pretty much already beaten the tread off the storyline tires in Thursday and Friday’s editions of the Island Packet, the game has too many implications not to mention them here. So before I get into the matchup, let’s break that down further.

The World Series begins tonight with Philadelphia traveling to New York in search of its second consecutive title. Now just hours before we get under way, the Beaufort Gazette/Island Packet sports staff will tell you which team will win it all and why.

Sam McDowell (Beat Reporter)
Phillies in 7; MVP — Ryan Howard

With two weeks left in the Region 8-AAA season, what's left is nothing short of a jumbled mess.

On the bright side — well, for me at least — it looks as if my prediction of North Charleston to win the region is still the best bet (although you can bet Bluffton will try to change that tonight). But anything beyond that is up for grabs.

After a Region 8-AAA win for both Bluffton and Hilton Head High last Friday night, things are setting up for an interesting final three games of the regular season.

In case you missed it — and how could you — the Bobcats won in overtime against Stall, 21-14, while the Seahawks knocked off Lake Marion, 31-22.

With the second week of Region 8-AAA play comes must-win games for Bluffton and Hilton Head High after each lost its conference opener last Friday night.

The pair of schools appeared to be heading in opposite directions in last week's defeats. Bluffton played what coach Jeremy West called his team's best game of the season in a 26-25 loss at Lake Marion. And, from the sounds of it, it doesn't seem the Bobcats caught many breaks in that one.

This is the week I’ve been looking forward to more than any other this high school football season. Region play begins tonight for Region 8-AAA teams — and thus it’s almost like the true season opener for Bluffton and Hilton Head High.

Sure, each of the teams has played five games. But with the way football is organized in this state, you might as well throw out those results. Tonight, as they say, it counts.

It’s a bit of a rarity for the matchpoint blog — for the first time this season, we’ve got the opportunity to talk about a pair of teams coming off important wins.

Bluffton and Hilton Head High each notched wins against Wade Hampton, with the Seahawks winning 57-6 last week and the Bobcats defeating the Red Devils 14-0 two weeks ago. Bluffton followed the victory with a bye week.

Both teams now stand at 1-3 and are entering their last tune-up before the important Region 8-AAA season begins. So let’s take a deeper look into each team’s matchup.

Well, things could get a bit more interesting this week, even though only one of my beat schools plays tonight. Bluffton, which undid the blog jinx I referenced last Friday, is on its bye week.

But tonight provides us with the first opportunity to compare rivals Bluffton and Hilton Head High, as the Seahawks host the same Wade Hampton team that Bluffton defeated 14-0 last week to end its 11-game losing streak.

I'm starting to think the conception of this weekly blog is a jinx. We're in Week 4 (or is it technically Week 3?) of the season, and still both my beat schools — Bluffton and Hilton Head High — are in search of their first win of the season.

Of course, since only Region 8-AAA standings matter for the playoffs, all of these games are technically irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. But I'm sure the Bobcats and Seahawks would enjoy getting a non-region win.

It won't come easy for either team tonight. Here's a little more info on each team's opponent.

JAMES ISLAND AT HILTON HEAD HIGH, 7:30 p.m.
Uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position.

It's a storyline that may follow Hilton Head High all season long. At the minimum, it continues for Week 2, as the Seahawks are scheduled to open the home half of their schedule with a game against James Island on Friday night at 7:30.

This week's episode will begin much the same as last week's — with Jeff Homad under center. But what happens from there takes anyone's best guess.