(Photos by GoFlashwin.com)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
The all-important ‘second season’ has begun for most Lake Murray teams.
Both Lexington and River Bluff played its respective Region 4-5A openers at home.
The Wildcats had the formidable task of facing 4-time defending champion Dutch Fork. The Silver Foxes entered the game with a 49-2 record in region play since 2015 and winners of 12 straight against Lexington.
The host team stayed even with Dutch Fork in the first quarter. Lexington answered a score with a quick scoring drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by quarterback Easton Crocker.
The Silver Foxes scored 21 unanswered points the rest of the game for the 28-7 victory. It was their 16th consecutive overall win and 14th straight in the region.
Lexington (4-3, 0-1) next travels six miles on Highway 6 to Red Bank to face White Knoll. It’s the WACH 57 Whataburger Friday Night Rivals Games of the Week and can be seen on Channel 57.2 or 1250 on Spectrum Cable or streamed at www.wach.com.
The Timberwolves closed out non-region play with a 46-14 loss to Ridge View.
River Bluff did manage to open region play with a victory. It rallied four times against Chapin for the 34-25 victory to improve to 6-1 on the season.
It was a seesaw battle that saw River Bluff answer a Chapin score with a 98-yard touchdown kickoff return by Darius Carter.
Chapin reclaimed the lead at 9-7 following an errant snap out of the endzone to punter Liam Flynn. The Gators went ahead 14-9 with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Once again, it was Carter with the touchdown on a 71-yard pass reception from quarterback Davis Taylor.
A 33-yard field goal by Flynn to open the second quarter extended River Bluff’s lead to 17-9. Chapin answered with a 14-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown by Kingston Bowers to make it 17-15.
As time expired, the Eagles’ Beckham Diimmler hit a 27-yard field goal to put his team up 18-17 at halftime. Late in the third quarter, River Bluff pulled off a successful fake punt as Flynn threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Reece Huffstetler.
The PAT put the Gators ahead 24-18 with 1:25 left in the third quarter. Just 13 seconds later, Black connected with Conner Finney for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Eagles back on top 25-24 following the extra point.
Chapin reclaimed the lead at 9-7 following an errant snap out of the endzone to punter Liam Flynn.
The Gators went ahead 14-9 with 3:01 left in the first quarter. Once again, it was Carter with the touchdown on a 71-yard pass reception from quarterback Davis Taylor.
A 33-yard field goal by Flynn to open the second quarter extended River Bluff’s lead to 17-9. Chapin answered with a 14-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown by Kingston Bowers to make it 17-15.
As time expired, the Eagles’ Beckham Diimler hit a 27-yard field goal to put his team up 18-17 at halftime. Late in the third quarter, River Bluff pulled off a successful fake punt as Flynn threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Reece Huffstetler.
The PAT put the Gators ahead 24-18 with 1:25 left in the third quarter. Just 13 seconds later, Black connected with Conner Finney for an 80-yard touchdown to put the Eagles back on top 25-24 following the extra point.
River Bluff opened the fourth quarter with a 3-play, 46-yard scoring drive to take the lead for good. Brayden Moore found Brady Barrineau for a 30-yard touchdown to make it 31-25.
Flynn closed out the scoring with a 22-yard field goal with 1:34 left in the game.
Coming off an emotional win over Chapin, Gilbert opened Region 4-3A play at home against first-place Camden.
After falling behind 13-0 in the first quarter, the Indians outscored the Bulldogs 26-7 in the second quarter. Quarterback Kendall Wright had a passing and rushing touchdown and Army commit Gavin Elliott scored off a 4-yard run.
The second half belonged to Camden as it outscored Gilbert 28-7 for the 48-33 victory.
In other Region 4-3A action, Swansea pounded Airport 48-28. Deandre Caldwell rushed for 232 yards and three touchdowns and quarterback Tarez Jones had 266 combined yards and three touchdowns.
Cook makes history in Panthers’ victory
The momentum from last week’s 35-28 victory over ranked Clinton carried over for Batesburg-Leesville.
Led by quarterback Terrance Cook’s school-record six touchdown passes; the Panthers rolled past C.A. Johnson 56-18. It was the Region 2-A opener for Batesburg-Leesville.
Rebels stay perfect
Mid-Carolina, Newberry, Saluda and Pelion all opened region play in Class 2A.
The Rebels improved to 6-0 on the season following the 38-3 win over Chester in Region 3-2A.
Quarterback Davis Ruff was 14-20 passing for 165 yards and two touchdown passes to Cash Knight. Running back Ryker Woolstenhulme rushed for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
In the same region, Newberry routed Columbia 62-15 as Ty Abrams, Sincere Glymph and Sincere Brown each scored two touchdowns.
In Region 4-2A, Saluda posted its second straight game with 50-plus points. This time, the Tigers were on the winning side of the 55-6 rout of American Leadership Academy (Lexington).
Avery Croyle threw for 244 yards and four touchdowns and Tristen Daniels had two TDs for the Tigers (4-2, 1-0).
Another region contest saw Pelion defeated 37-7 by undefeated Orangeburg-Wilkinson.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA WEEK 7 POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (15), 2. Northwestern (1), 3. Dorman, 4. James Island, 5. Fort Mill, 6. Boiling Springs, 7. Rock Hill, 8. Berkeley, 9. Byrnes, 10. River Bluff Others receiving votes: Carolina Forest, Sumter, Ridge View
Class 3A
1. Daniel (16), 2. Bishop England, 3. Wren, 4. Hanahan, 5. Chapman, 6. Camden, 7. Loris, 8. Emerald, 9. Oceanside Collegiate, 10. Gilbert
Others receiving votes: Powdersville, Pickens, Belton-Honea Path
Class 2A
1. Strom Thurmond (16), 2. Marlboro County, 3. Dillon, 4. (tie) Mid-Carolina and Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 6. Woodruff, 7. Clinton, 8. Keenan, 9. Saluda, 10. Battery Creek
Others receiving votes: St. Joseph’s, Chesnee, Southside Christian, Crescent, Woodland
WEEK 7 SCHEDULE
Clear Dot Charter at Batesburg-Leesville
Gilbert at Brookland-Cayce
Lexington at White Knoll
Newberry at Andrew Jackson
Saluda at Pelion
American Leadership Academy (Lexington) at Strom Thurmond
Swansea and River Bluff are idle
