By Thomas Grant Jr.
In a Week Three which saw two Lake Murray teams bumped from the undefeated ranks and a third one stay there thanks to a late defensive stand.
Linebacker Blaine Fielder’s breakup of a potential game-winning 2-point conversion attempt by Gilbert gave River Bluff a 14-13 road victory. The win improved the Gators to 4-0 on the season, the third time that’s occurred under head coach C. Blair Hardin.
“I told him I loved him,” River Bluff coach Blair Hardin told Felder, who finished with eight tackles. “I want to kick his butt sometimes, but I am proud of him. We bowed up in a tough game and it is good to have that experience before we get into region play.”
A 9-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Parker Murray to East Carolina commit Stephen Collier gave River Bluff a 7-0 halftime lead. Gilbert quarterback Cooper James, who threw for 186 yards, tied the game in the third quarter with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Guthrie with 7:52 left.
The Gators answered four minutes later with a 4-yard touchdown by Lathen Smalls run to reclaim the lead.
With less than six minutes remaining, Gilbert mounted a 16-play drive from its 1-yard line. With 31 seconds left, Jaylen Jay scored on a one-yard run to bring the Indians within one and head coach Ozzie Exume opted to go for the victory.
“I’m aggressive by nature,” he said. “I trusted our guys. We had a good play call and set-up. It didn’t work out.”
Batesburg-Leesville, Swansea win
Fresh off the win over previously top-ranked Abbeville, Batesburg-Leesville stayed on the road to face Lower Richland.
After falling behind 7-0 in the first quarter, the Panthers quickly tied the game on an 84-yard kickoff touchdown return by KD Whitt. He then scored on a 16-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and Clarence Springs recovered a fumble in the endzone in the third quarter for the 21-7 victory.
Whitt finished with 159 rushing yards on 24 carries for Batesburg-Leesville, who improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2015
Chapin, B-L stays perfect
It was a matchup of undefeated Lake Murray teams at Cecil Woolbright Field this past Thursday.
The game was moved up a day for weather reasons.
Newberry scored 14 unanswered points to rally from a 12-point deficit to lead Chapin 23-21 in the second quarter. Newberry quarterback Kenton Caldwell led the comeback with four touchdowns (3 rushing, one passing) and finished with 377 total yards.
Senior quarterback Brady Albro, who sat out the first quarter after injuring his ankle a week earlier, led Chapin to three scoring drives to regain the lead. The Eagles then held off another comeback attempt by the Bulldogs for the 42-37 win.
Albro was 18-25 passing for 275 yards for Chapin (4-0). Khalen Bostick caught two of the touchdowns and finished with six receptions for 142 yards. Cole Martin and a rushing and receiving touchdown.
The same night saw Swansea improve to 4-0 for the first time in three years with a 28-18 victory over Pelion. Tysean Charley had 100 rushing yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers.
Over in Kershaw County, Monteith Brown rushed for two scores and Ryker Woolstenhulme rushed for 133 yards in a 34-13 win.
Both Davis Ruff and Ty Floyd both had passing touchdowns for the Rebels (2-2).
Other results
Over at Wildcat Stadium, it was a low-scoring affair between undefeated Lexington and Greenwood.
The Wildcats were held to 75 total yards in a 14-0 loss to the Eagles. Quarterback Brennon Carter threw for 7-22 for 81 yards as Lexington (3-1) was held to -6 rushing yards.
In Lexington, American Leadership Academy is still seeking its first program victory. The Patriots were defeated 21-6 by Ridge Spring-Monetta.
Both Lexington and American Leadership Academy are idle this week.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (18) (3-0)
2. Gaffney (1) (3-0)
3. Northwestern (4-0)
4. Summerville (3-0)
5. Irmo (4-0)
6. Sumter (4-0)
8. JL Mann (2-1)
7. Hillcrest (3-0)
9. White Knoll (2-1)
10. Boiling Springs (3-0)
Others receiving votes: TL Hanna, Spartanburg, Chapin, River Bluff, Blythewood, Greenwood
Class 3A
1. Dillon (15) (4-0)
2. Belton-Honea Path (3) (3-1)
3. Mountain View Prep (4-0)
4. Marlboro County (1) (4-0)
5. Woodruff (4-0)
6. Loris (4-0)
7. Oceanside Collegiate (2-2)
8. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (4-0)
9. Swansea (3-1)
10. Pendleton (2-2)
Others receiving votes: Aynor, Newberry, Broome, St. Joseph’s, Chapman, Fox Creek
Class 2A
1. Hampton County (14) (4-0)
2. Clinton (2) (3-1)
3. Saluda (2) (3-0)
4. Batesburg-Leesville (1) (3-0)
5. Strom Thurmond (2-1)
6. Barnwell (3-1)
7. Fairfield Central (3-1)
8. Chesterfield (4-0)
9. Andrews (3-0)
10. Mullins (4-0)
Others receiving votes: Woodland, Phillip Simmons, Timberland, Manning, East Clarendon, Landrum, Columbia, Academic Magnet
FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE
(Games Start at 7:30 p.m.)
Calhoun County at Batesburg-Leesville
Chapin at Summerville
North Augusta at Gilbert
Cheraw at River Bluff
Pelion at Mid-Carolina
Barnwell at Swansea
Photo by GoFlashwin.com
