By Thomas Grant Jr.
Region 4-5A has the distinction of having all six teams finish with a .500 or better record and make the playoffs.
While Dutch Fork and Irmo are idle, the four other Lake Murray-based teams will be in action.
River Bluff is coming off a 24-10 victory over archrival Lexington as Hayden Myers rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns. The victory snapped a 3-game losing streak in the rivalry to the Wildcats (5-5).
The Mavericks defeated Easley and Greenville in back-to-back weeks to earn a playoff berth. The contest marks a return to River Bluff for Mauldin head coach Andre Cook, who served as a defensive coordinator at the school before spending a season at Airport.
Lexington also opens the playoffs in Division I. It heads to J.F. Byrnes (4-5) looking to snap a three-game losing streak. It’s 0-2 all-time against the Rebels with the last meeting in 2013.
Over in Division II, White Knoll (5-5) begins its quest for a second straight state championship appearance. It plays host to Lugoff-Elgin (4-6), which snapped a five-game losing streak with a 41-10 win over Spring Valley.
The Timberwolves are coming off a 35-34 road loss to Chapin. They had a 21-7 lead and had a chance to tie the game on a kickoff return TD by Devon Geronomi.
A missed PAT and a fourth down conversion by Chapin ended White Knoll’s hopes.
In Class 4A, Gilbert (6-4) will play host to former Region 5-3A rival Lower Richland. The Indians ended the season with a 52-7 win over Aiken has Kmari Brown scored on a fumble return and blocked kick.
The winner faces either Bishop England or South Aiken in the second round.
Swansea is the lone region playoff team in Class 3A. The Tigers head to the Grand Strand to face Waccamaw (5-4) with the winner facing either Oceanside Collegiate or Fox Creek in the second round.
B-L, NEWBERRY WIN REGIONS
For the first time since 2000, the Batesburg-Leesville football team posted an undefeated regular season.
The Panthers (10-0) rallied to defeat Strom Thurmond 8-7 to win the Region 2-2A title.
They trailed 7-0 in the fourth quarter when the Rebels were stopped on a fake field goal. Amadre Wooden scored on a 9-yard touchdown run and 2-point conversion to take the lead.
Strom Thurmond had a chance at a game-winning field goal but missed in the final seconds.
The win also clinched second place in the region for Saluda.
Batesburg-Leesville plays host to Columbia in the opening round, while the Tigers will meet Mid-Carolina.
Another Lake Murray team to win a region title last Friday was Newberry. The Bulldogs defeated Newberry 33-21 to claim the Region 4-3A title.
Kenton Caldwell threw two of his three touchdowns to former starting quarterback Bryce Satterwhite and Ty White rushed for a score. It was the fourth straight win for the Bulldogs (6-3), who play host to Georgetown (3-6) Friday.
The winner faces either Dillon or Battery Creek in the second round.
FINAL S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (17) (9-0)
2. Northwestern (1) (10-0)
3. Summerville (10-0)
4. Sumter (10-0)
5. Irmo (9-1)
6. Gaffney (8-1)
7. Spartanburg (7-2)
8. JL Mann (8-2)
9. TL Hanna (8-2)
10. Greenwood (8-2)
Others receiving votes: River Bluff, Dorman, Clover
Class 3A
1. Belton-Honea Path (13) (9-1)
2. Mountain View Prep (5) (9-0)
3. Loris (9-1)
4. Dillon (8-2)
5. Woodruff (8-1)
6. Oceanside Collegiate (6-3)
7. Powdersville (7-3)
8. Newberry (6-3)
9. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (7-3)
10. Swansea (7-3)
Others receiving votes: Christ Church, Waccamaw, Keenan, Crescent
Class 2A
1. Batesburg-Leesville (18) (10-0)
2. Barnwell (9-1)
3. Fairfield Central (9-1)
4. Clinton (8-2)
5. Saluda (8-1)
6. Manning (9-1)
7. Philip Simmons (8-2)
8. Hampton County (7-2)
9. (tie) Strom Thurmond (6-3)
9. (tie) Central (8-2)
Others receiving votes: Cheraw, Timberland
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
Columbia at Batesburg-Leesville
Lower Richland at Gilbert
Lexington at J.F. Byrnes
Mid-Carolina at Saluda
Georgetown at Newberry
Mauldin at River Bluff
Lugoff-Elgin at White Knoll
Photos by GoFlashWin.com
