Tonight’s key high school football games

Cane Bay (5-1, 0-0) at Stratford (6-0, 1-0)
Last year:Did not play.

Coaches:Russell Zehr, Cane Bay;

Ray Stackley, Stratford.

Notable:Region 7-AAAA play begins tonight and this is the marquee game on the conference schedule. Stratford is off to its best start since 2002 and is coming off an impressive 41-17 victory over Summerville. Cane Bay has won three straight games, including one of the best comebacks of the year. Colleton County led 21-0 last weekend, but the Cobras scored the final 26 points of the game.

Keep an eye on: Stratford running back Jordan Johnson. He carried four times last week for 129 yards.

Did you know: This is the first game between the two schools.

Beaufort (3-3, 0-0) at Bluffton (6-0, 0-0)
Last year:Did not play

Coaches: Mark Clifford, Beaufort, Ken Cribb, Bluffton.

Notable: Bluffton begins Region 8-AAAA play on a roll. The Bobcats are averaging 56 points a game while allowing only 5.4 points per game. The Bobcats have won 20 of their last 21 games. Beaufort, meanwhile, has lost two of its last three games and has surrendered 121 points in the stretch. The Eagles are trying to avoid their second straight losing season.

Keep an eye on:Bluffton quarterback C.J. Frazier. He passed for 1,189 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Did you know: This is Bluffton’s first year in Class AAAA. Last year, the Bobcats lost to South Pointe in the Class AAA state championship.

Hanahan (5-1, 1-0) at Berkeley (1-5, 0-1)
Last year:Hanahan won, 24-21.

Coaches:Charlie Patterson, Hanahan; Jeff Cruce, Berkeley.

Notable:The transition from Class AA to AAA has been smooth for Hanahan. Berkeley, meanwhile, has been one of the state’s most underachieving teams in the state. The Stags returned 15 starters from last year’s team, but have had troubles on both sides of the ball. The Stags have won just five times in their last 17 games.

Keep an eye on:Hanahan wide receiver Sammy Richardson. He caught two TD passes last week.

Did you know:Cruce coached at Hanahan for 11 years. He led the Hawks to 112 victories and 10 straight region titles after going winless his first year.

Philip M. Bowman