By Thomas Grant Jr.
Rivalries, region titles and playoff positioning will make for an intriguing conclusion to the S.C. High School football season in the Lake Murray area.
Many eyes will be on the town of Newberry both live and on television. The matchup between undefeated Mid-Carolina and the host team Bulldogs is not only for the Region 3-2A title, but it’s the final WACH 57 Whataburger Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week.
The visiting Rebels (9-0, 4-0) are seeking their first undefeated regular season and first region title since 1991. They are coming off a 37-28 victory over Keenan in which the defense allowed just six second-half points and Wyatt Mazza and Ryker Woolstenhulme each had two touchdowns.
Newberry (4-5, 3-1) kept its region title hopes by rallying from a 14-0 deficit to defeat Chester 28-23. Sincere Glymph accounted for all four touchdowns, three rushing.
The Rebels are currently the number one seed in the Class 2A Upper State Maxpreps.com RPI ratings, while the Bulldogs are sixth. A Newberry win would make it one of the four region champion seeds who will have a first-round bye.
Region titles secured
Last week saw both Saluda and Batesburg-Leesville win its respective region titles.
In the case of the Tigers, the 31-27 win over defending Class 2A champion Strom Thurmond came in dramatic fashion. With 45 seconds left, Quarterback Avery Coyle threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Darryl Hill to put Saluda ahead and win the Region 4-2A title.
Ironically, the duo opened the game with a 78-yard touchdown pass play. After Zy Rouse rushed for two straight touchdowns to put the Rebels ahead, Levi Berry hit a 27-yard field goal to bring Saluda to within 14-10 at the half.
Hill opened the second half with an 84-yard kickoff return TD to regain the lead for the Tigers. The lead then changed four times in the fourth quarter before Saluda (6-2, 4-0) came away with the win.
The loss ended the Rebels’ 18-game winning streak. Dutch Fork now has the Palmetto State’s longest active winning streak at 17.
Over in Batesburg-Leesville, the Panthers erased a 6-0 deficit to Whitmire by scoring on nine consecutive drives in the 63-6 rout to clinch the Region 2-A title.
Terrance Cook accounted for six touchdowns, four rushing to go with 165 yards on the ground and two passing on 3-6 for 119 yards. Mario Waters rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Graham Pierce had all of the Panthers’ receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns in the air.
Both Pelion and American Leadership Academy will close out its respective seasons Friday against each other.
Playoff positioning
There are two other games in Lexington County that could affect the Class 3A playoff seeding.
In the case of Swansea, Friday’s matchup with Brookland-Cayce could determine its postseason status. The Class 3A ratings has the Tigers holding the 12th and final Lower State playoff berth by percentage points over the Bearcats.
A win by Brookland-Cayce could erase the .01107 margin advantage of Swansea.
Gilbert enters Friday’s home matchup with Lower Richland with an automatic playoff berth as a sixth seed. It trails fifth seed Loris by .00630 points.
WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
American Leadership Academy at Pelion
Ridge Spring-Monetta at Batesburg-Leesville
Lower Richland at Gilbert
River Bluff at Lexington
Mid-Carolina at Newberry
Silver Bluff at Saluda
Brookland-Cayce at Swansea
Photo by Mid-Carolina H.S.
