By Thomas Grant Jr.
Football bragging rights in Lexington School District Two still remain at Brookland-Cayce High School.
The Bearcats defeated Airport 40-28 for their ninth consecutive win in the series. Running back Avery King rushed for a career-best 307 yards and five touchdowns and Isiah Daniels returned a kickoff 74 yards for a core to help snap a 2-game skid.
Unlike the previous meetings, the Eagles made it a competitive contest. Quarterback Rico Crawford threw three touchdown passes to Ameire Lynch to help rally from a 20-0 deficit.
Trailing 33-28 with 2:54 left, Airport had the football at its own 23. A fumble during the handoff was recovered and returned by Deleon Gore to the 7-yard line.
It was Airport’s fourth turnover of the game and set up a 9-yard touchdown run by King to clinch the win.
Playoff berths at stake
After the rivalry win, the Bearcats (3-6, 1-2) have an even more important contest Friday at Doug Bennett Stadium to close out the season. They face Swansea in a game with playoff implications.
The latest Maxpreps.com RPI ratings had the Bearcats trailing Swansea by .011 for the 12th and final Lower State playoff berth. A win would give Brookland-Cayce sole possession of third place in Region 4-3A and help its playoff positioning.
Airport (2-7) is ranked 17th and closes out its regular season against Region 4-3A champion Camden.
In Class 5A, Gray Collegiate Academy ended its regular season with a 57-28 loss at Ridge View. The victory clinched the Region 5-5A title for the Blazers, while the War Eagles finished the season with a 4-6 record.
Gray Collegiate Academy is currently an at-large seventh seed in the Lower State. It will play host to Ashley Ridge in the opening round Nov. 6.
In the Upper State, River Bluff is currently ranked fifth in the RPI ratings and has an automatic berth. The Gators solidified their position with the 49-6 win over White Knoll.
Davis Taylor threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns and Ashton Boyd rushed for 73 yards and two scores for the Gators (7-2, 2-1). They close out the regular season with a rivalry showdown at Lexington.
Crusaders suffer first loss of season
Northside Christian Academy needed a win at home last Friday against Florence Christian School to continue its unbeaten season and set up a winner-take-all for the region title Friday at Wilson Hall.
B.J. Suits scored two touchdowns and had 119 total yards and Conner Howell threw a touchdown for the Crusaders (8-1, 3-1).
Northside Christian Academy can still find itself in the mix for first place in the region. A win over the Barons and a Florence Christian School loss to Thomas Sumter Academy gives it the region title.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA WEEK 9 POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (8), 2. Northwestern (8), 3. James Island, 4. Dorman, 5. Berkeley, 6. Byrnes, 7. Fort Mill, 8. Boiling Springs, 9. Ridge View, 10. River Bluff
Others receiving votes: Rock Hill; Carolina Forest; Lexington; Summerville
FRIDAY’S WEEK 10 SCHEDULE
Camden at Airport
Brookland-Cayce at Swansea
Northside Christian Academy at Wilson Hall
River Bluff at Lexington
