By Thomas Grant Jr.
The extended S.C. High School League football season has created a ‘bye’ week for Region 4-5A teams.
When play resumes, River Bluff, Lexington and White Knoll will be battling for third place and improve their RPI ratings for the playoffs.
The Gators (7-1, 2-1) currently hold the third position following a 30-6 victory over Chapin.
The Gators welcomed back starting quarterback Parker Murray. He threw for 114 yards and a touchdown and rushed for a score to lead the Gators (7-1, 2-1).
Hayden Myers rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown and the River Bluff defense had three interceptions, including one returned 26 yards for a touchdown by Griffin Lindler off Chapin backup Brock Smith.
Lexington (5-3, 1-2) suffered a 38-0 shutout to top-ranked Dutch Fork. The loss dropped the Wildcats to 1-12 against the Silver Foxes under head coach Tom Knotts.
Meanwhile, White Knoll (4-4, 0-3) remained winless in the region it won a year ago. They were tied at 21-21 with undefeated Irmo for three quarters with touchdown runs by Landon Sharpe and Tiyon Fanning and a touchdown pass to Shrine Bowl wide receiver Devin Geronomi.
The Yellow Jackets scored 14 unanswered points to take a 35-21 victory.
Gilbert beats Brookland-Cayce
After a 1-3 start, the Indians are back at .500 and in the Region 4-4A title race.
Gilbert edged Brookland-Cayce 50-49 in West Columbia. It marked the first time in 11 meetings that the road team was on the winning side.
The Indians trailed as many as 14 points and found themselves going back and forth with the Bearcats. Trailing 49-42, quarterback Cooper James drove Gilbert downfield for a scoring drive capped by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Trevon Williamson.
Down 49-48 with 49 seconds left, the Indians went for the win and got it with James’ 2-point conversion pass to Connor Gooding.
Brookland-Cayce had a chance to win in the final seconds but missed the go-ahead field goal.
Gilbert (3-3, 2-1) played host to South Aiken Tuesday and travel to Airport for a noon Saturday game.
Panthers, Tigers stay undefeated
Top-ranked Batesburg-Leesville is off to its best start since 2015 under former head coach Perry Woolbright. They improved to 7-0 following the 45-0 win over American Leadership Academy.
Amadre Wooden rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns. Angel Garcia rushed for 112 yards and Hansel Discua returned an interception 43 yards for a score.
Meanwhile quarterback Tanner Watkins had a touchdown. He’s currently ranked third all-time at Batesburg-Leesville in career passing and second in touchdown passes.
Batesburg-Leesville (8-0, 2-0) can have its best start since 2000 with a home win Friday against Pelion (1-7, 0-3). The Panthers look to snap a 3-game losing streak following a 55-6 loss to Strom Thurmond.
A victory would also set up a showdown for first place in Region 2-2A next week at Saluda. The undefeated Tigers (6-0, 2-0) are coming off a 33-7 win over Ninety-Six as Brayden Williams had 151 rushing yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown pass from Drew Arant.
Bowl announces team selections
Nine players from the Lake Murray region were selected to play for the South team in the Touchstone Energy Bowl.
The game was moved to Dec. 21 but will still take place at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach.
The South team will feature linebacker Matthew McAulay (Lexington), athlete Stephen Collier and punter Tripp Bryant (both of River Bluff), offensive lineman Donovan Sims (White Knoll), wide receiver Caleb Levy (Newberry), linebacker Montrelle Keys (Airport) and tight end Connor Gooding (Gilbert). Eagles head coach Shane Fidler is a South assistant.
Defensive lineman John Sawyer of Batesburg-Leesville and J.T. Lott of Saluda were selected to the North team. Panthers’ head coach Greg Lawson is a North assistant.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLLS
(Class 5A)
1. Dutch Fork (13) (7-0)
2. Northwestern (1) (9-0)
3. Gaffney (1) (6-0)
4. Summerville (8-0)
5. Irmo (8-0)
6. Sumter (8-0)
7. Spartanburg (5-1)
8. Hillcrest (5-1)
9. JL Mann (4-2)
10. Greenwood (5-1)
Others receiving votes: TL Hanna, River Bluff, Boiling Springs; Catawba Ridge; Ashley Ridge
(Class 4A)
1. Westside (15) (6-0)
2. Daniel (5-1)
3. South Pointe (6-2)
4. South Florence (6-2)
5. Hartsville (6-1-1)
6. May River (6-1)
7. North Augusta (5-1)
8. Wren (5-1)
9. Seneca (6-1)
10. AC Flora (7-2)
Others receiving votes: Gray Collegiate, Bishop England, Greer, Hilton Head Island, Camden
(Class 3A)
1. Belton-Honea Path (9) (7-1)
2. Mountain View Prep (6) (7-0)
3. Loris (7-1)
4. Dillon (6-2)
5. Marlboro County (6-1)
6. Woodruff (5-1)
7. Oceanside Collegiate (5-3)
8. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (6-2)
9. Keenan (6-3)
10. Swansea (5-3)
Others receiving votes: Powdersville, Newberry, St. Joseph’s
Class 2A
1. Batesburg-Leesville (7-0) (10)
2. Saluda (6-0) (5)
3. Fairfield Central (7-1)
4. Barnwell (7-1)
5. Clinton (5-2)
6. Strom Thurmond (5-1)
7. Hampton County (6-2)
8. Manning (7-1)
9. Philip Simmons (6-2)
10. Woodland (6-2)
Others receiving votes: Central, Timberland, Chesterfield, Cheraw, Andrews, Landrum
RPI RATINGS
CLASS 5A
DIVISION I
(Upper State)
1.Dutch Fork, 7-0, 0.86087; 2. Spartanburg, 5-1, 0.76781; 3. River Bluff, 7-1, 0.72538; 4. JL Mann, 4-2, 0.66235; 5. Lexington, 5-3, 0.64531; 6. Clover, 5-3, 0.60734; 7. Boiling Springs, 4-2, 0.60139; 8. Rock Hill, 5-4, 0.57314; 9. Dorman, 4-3, 0.56499; 10. Byrnes, 3-4, 0.52052; 11. Mauldin, 2-4, 0.41258; 12. Wade Hampton, 0-6, 0.17074
(Lower State)
1.Summerville, 8-0, 0.79069; 2. Sumter, 8-0, 0.74651; 3. Ridge View, 5-3, 0.63881; 4. Ashley Ridge, 6-2, 0.63079; 5. James Island, 5-3, 0.57895; 6. Blythewood, 6-3, 0.56058; 7. Carolina Forest, 3-3-1, 0.52872; 8. Fort Dorchester, 4-4, 0.52571; 9. West Ashley, 4-4, 0.47613; 10. Wando, 4-4, 0.45429; 11. Stratford, 3-5, 0.42382; 12. Cane Bay, 1-7, 0.30809; 13. Spring Valley, 0-8, 0.30585; 14. Stall, 0-7, 0.24833
DIVISION II
(Upper State)
1.Northwestern, 9-0, 0.82229; 2. Gaffney, 6-0, 0.80629; 3. TL Hanna, 4-2, 0.67951; 4. Hillcrest, 5-1, 0.65930; 5. Greenwood, 5-1, 0.65781; 6. Riverside, 4-2, 0.59312; 7. Catawba Ridge, 6-2, 0.59123; 8. Indian Land, 4-4, 0.46743; 9. Eastside, 3-3, 0.46499; 10. Woodmont, 1-5, 0.37202; 11. Nation Ford, 1-7, 0.36834; 12. Greenville, 1-5, 0.35714; 13. Fort Mill, 1-6, 0.33609; 14. Easley, 1-5, 0.31893
(Lower State)
1. Irmo, 8-0, 0.82475; 2. Chapin, 4-4, 0.59659; 3. White Knoll, 4-4,0 .58702; 4. West Florence, 5-3, 0.58215; 5. Goose Creek, 5-3, 0.57984; 6. Westwood, 5-3, 0.54921; 7. Myrtle Beach, 4-3, 0.53118; 8. Berkeley, 4-4, 0.51632; 9. Lucy Beckham, 4-4, 0.46824; 10. Lugoff-Elgin, 3-6, 0.44219; 11. Socastee, 2-5, 0.39237; 12. North Myrtle Beach, 2-5, 0.37765; 13. Conway, 1-6, 0.31762; 14. St. James, 0-7, 0.22908
CLASS 4A
(Upper State)
1.Westside, 6-0, 0.85988; 2. Daniel, 5-1, 0.66893; 3. South Pointe, 6-2, 0.66838; 4. Wren, 5-1, 0.66259; 5. Seneca, 6-1, 0.64605; 6. AC Flora. 6-2, 0.63390; 7. Richland Northeast, 6-2, 0.60344; 8. Greer. 4-3, 0.60341; 9. Camden, 5-3, 0.59769; 10. Fountain Inn, 4-3, 0.59006; 11. Pickens, 3-3, 0.50695; 12. Emerald, 3-4, 0.46017; 13. Lancaster, 3-5, 0.44490; 14. Dreher, 3-5, 0.42670; 15. Blue Ridge, 3-3, 0.40961; 16. Berea, 2-4, 0.39117; 17. Laurens, 1-6, 0.37433; 18. York, 2-6, 0.36708; 19. Travelers Rest, 1-5, 0.30422; 20. Southside, 0-7, 0.16575
(Lower State)
1.North Augusta. 5-1, 0.70644; 2. Hartsville, 6-1-1, 0.67533; 3. Bishop England, 6-2, 0.67431; 4. South Florence, 6-2, 0.66678; 5. May River, 6-1, 0.66658; 6. Gray Collegiate, 4-2, 0.63652; 7. Hilton Head Island, 5-2, 0.59178; 8. Bluffton, 5-2, 0.56320; 9. Darlington. 4-4, 0.52176 ; 10. Gilbert, 3-3, 0.50498; 11. Crestwood. 3-5, 0.49098; 12. Lower Richland, 5-4, 0.48594; 13. South Aiken. 2-4, 0.46108; 14. Beaufort, 2-6, 0.40074; 15. Lakewood, 2-6, 0.39034; 16. Midland Valley, 2-5, 0.37369; 17. Brookland-Cayce, 2-5, 0.37010; 18. Airport, 1-5, 0.36514; 19. Colleton County, 1-7, 0.30139; 20. Wilson, 1-8, 0.29884; 21. Aiken, 0-6, 0.15877
Photos by GoFlashwin.com
