By Thomas Grant Jr.
Region 4-5A teams posted a combined record of 26-3 in non-region games.
Starting Friday, the second season begins as the six teams battle each other over the next month.
One of the three matchups is the revival of the Battle of the Dam. Longtime rivals Lexington and Irmo face each other for the first time since 2021.
The Yellow Jackets (5-0) have lost the last six meetings to the Wildcats. They have also won 16 consecutive regular-season games and are coming off a bye.
Senior quarterback A.J. Brand has thrown for 1,288 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for 490 yards and eight touchdowns. His primary target, wide receiver Donovan Murph (42 receptions, 600 yards, 3 touchdowns), announced his college choice.
The Wildcats (4-1) are coming off a 29-0 shutout win over Laurens. Senior Matthew McAuley rushed for three touchdowns and quarterback Brennon Carter threw a touchdown to Zareth Owens.
Over in The Swamp, White Knoll opens defense of the region title against River Bluff (5-0). The Timberwolves shut out 38-0 over Fort Dorchester as Sh’Quez Montgomery rushed for two touchdowns and Jordan Keitt added one in place of injured sophomore Tiyan Fanning.
Quarterback Landon Sharpe also accounted for two touchdowns, one to Caleb Geronomi who had nine catches for 153 yards.
Panthers still perfect
Batesburg-Leesville improved to 5-0 on the season after a 48-0 win over Mid-Carolina.
Tanner Watkins completed 6-7 passes for 184 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 90 yards and a score for the Panthers. It was their third shutout this season to improve their best start since 2015.
Amadre Wooten rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns and K.D. Whitt had 135 all-purpose yards and a score.
Saturday Games
Both Swansea and Pelion were victorious in their Week 5 games which were moved to Saturday.
The Tigers improved to 5-1 on the season after a 20-6 win over Columbia.
P.J. Larry, Tysean Charley and Donnell Goodwin also scored touchdowns for Swansea.
Olver at Keenan High School, the Panthers defeated Eau Claire 27-12 for their first win of the season.
The Panthers (1-4) scored two touchdowns off special teams by Colin Williams to take a 13-0 lead. Quarterback Alan Moore had a 45-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Adkins and Jamie Johns had a 90-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Johns finished with 111 rushing yards and Michael Cottrell had 28 carries for 182 yards.
“It’s been a tough week for everybody with the storm and everything,” Pelion head coach Dann Holland said. “It wasn’t’ our best today, but it was enough to get the win and really happy for our kids.”
College News
White Knoll graduate Nick Taiste was named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Player of the Week Monday.
Taiste recorded a 91 percent grade on his blocking assignments with four pancake blocks in route to leading the Bulldogs to 521 yards of total offense. He anchored the offensive line that contributed to six touchdowns in the win.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
(Poll from Sept. 24. Because of the postponements and cancellations, there was no Week Six poll.)
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (17) (4-0)
2. Gaffney (1) (4-0)
3. Northwestern (1) (5-0)
4. Summerville (4-0)
5. Irmo (5-0)
6. Sumter (5-0)
7. JL Mann (3-1)
8. Hillcrest (4-0)
9. White Knoll (3-1)
10. Boiling Springs (3-1)
Others receiving votes: Spartanburg, River Bluff, Greenwood, James Island, West Florence, Dorman
Class 3A
1. Belton Honea-Path (10) (4-1)
2. Mountain View Prep (5) (5-0)
3. Marlboro County (2) (4-0)
4. Dillon (2) (3-1)
5. Woodruff (5-0)
6. Loris (4-0)
7. Aynor (4-1)
8. Oceanside Collegiate (2-3)
9. Pendleton (2-2)
10. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (4-1)
Others receiving votes: receiving votes: Swansea, Powdersville, Newberry, Keenan, St. Joseph’s Broome, Fox Creek, North Charleston
Class 2A
1. Saluda (8) (4-0)
2. Batesburg-Leesville (5) (4-0)
3. Clinton (1) (3-2)
4. Hampton County (3) (4-1)
5. Fairfield Central (1) (4-1)
6. Barnwell (1) (4-1)
7. Strom Thurmond (3-1)
8. Chesterfield (5-0)
9. Andrews (4-0)
10. Woodland (4-0)
Others receiving votes: Mullins, Philip Simmons, Manning, Academic Magnet, Landrum, Liberty
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
Irmo at Lexington
White Knoll at River Bluff
American Leadership Academy at Saluda
Newberry at Silver Bluff
Fairfield Central at Mid-Carolina
