The Fort Mill Yellow Jackets will look to continue their historic start to the season this Friday as they travel to face cross-town rival Catawba Ridge. Coming off a dominant 38-7 victory over the Lancaster Bruins, the Yellow Jackets boast a perfect 4-0 record, marking the program’s best start under sixth-year head coach Rob McNeely. Now, the Yellow Jackets will put their undefeated record on the line as they open 5A-D3 conference play on the Copperheads’ home turf.
It’s a highly anticipated rivalry matchup that’s expected to put the Yellow Jackets’ high-powered offense to the test against the Copperheads’ resilient defense.
Fort Mill (4-0) comes into the game with a perfect record and a dominant scoring differential, having outscored their opponents 120-27. The offense is led by quarterback Quinn Kelly, who averages 213 passing yards per game, and running back Broden Mitcheson, who adds a ground threat with 76.5 rushing yards per game. The receiving game is also strong, with Jameson Terrell leading the team with 89.5 receiving yards per game.
Catawba Ridge (3-1), while not undefeated, has shown strength on the defensive side of the ball, allowing just 54 points this season. The team is anchored by Tyler Gindoff, who leads the defense with six tackles per game. Offensively, the Copperheads are led by the dual-threat quarterback Bradey Compton, who has passed for 93.5 yards per game and rushed for 42 yards per game. The team also features key receivers Colten McCauley, who averages 82.0 yards per game, and Darius Sutton.
The game is expected to be a test of strength against strength. Fort Mill’s potent offense will look to continue its high-scoring ways, but they will be challenged by the Copperhead defense. Meanwhile, Catawba Ridge will need to rely on its key players to generate enough offense to keep pace with the Yellow Jackets.
