By Thomas Grant Jr.
Several Lake Murray football teams are battling for top positions for the upcoming playoffs.
Mid-Carolina remains one of 10 S.C. High School League undefeated teams. Last Friday, the Rebels defeated Andrew Jackson 23-6 to improve to 8-0 overall, 3-0 in Region 3-2A.
They trailed 6-0 after the first quarter when Ryker Woolstenhulme scored on a 9-yard run to tie the game. He then made a 27-yard field goal to put Mid-Carolina up 9-6 in the second quarter.
The Rebels then added a 5-yard touchdown run by Wyatt Mazza in the third quarter and a 31-yard touchdown pass by Davis Ruff to Cash Knight in the fourth quarter.
A win over Keenan puts Mid-Carolina in position to win the region title the following week against Newberry. The Raiders defeated the Bulldogs 28-16 to tie them for second place in the region.
Saluda faces defending champs
An opportunity for first place in Region 4-2A awaits the Tigers Friday night at Bettis Herlong Stadium.
They face undefeated and defending Class 2A champion Strom Thurmond. The Rebels own the Palmetto State’s longest winning streak at 18 games and have a streak of holding opponents scoreless for 12 straight quarters.
Saluda set up the first-place matchup with a 56-41 win at Orangeburg-Wilkinson. Running back Tristan Daniels carried the offense with 203 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
Daniels also caught a 64-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Avery Coyle. He finished with 285 passing yards with two, 100-plus yard receivers in Darryl Hill and Ceddion Springs.
The Tigers (6-2, 3-0) put the game away in the first half with a 35-14 halftime lead.
Battling for 2nd place
Lexington County schools in Classes 3A and 5A look to finish no higher than second place in their respective regions.
Gilbert plays host to Swansea in a Region 4-3A matchup. The Indians are coming off a 52-0 shutout of Airport as former Tiger quarterback Kendall Wright completed 9-12 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns to Chandler Guthrie/
Running back Jaylen Brost had 113 rushing yards and two scores in the first half in helping Gilbert (6-2, 2-1) take a 38-0 halftime lead.
The same night saw Swansea hold off Lower Richland 35-34 in the final seconds.
The Diamond-Hornets were driving for a potential go-ahead score when they fumbled over the football. Swansea quarterback Tarez James had over 251 total yards and three touchdowns and Deandre Caldwell had three touchdowns for Swansea (4-4, 2-1).
In Class 5A, River Bluff saw its 5-game winning streak and hopes for a Region 3-5A title end in a 42-0 loss to Dutch Fork. Silver Foxes’ quarterback Jaxon Knotts threw for 393 yards and two touchdowns and Michael Robinson rushed for three scores.
River Bluff (6-2, 2-1) needs a win Friday against White Knoll stay alive for second place with Lexington. The Timberwolves are coming off a 46-36 loss to Chapin that dropped them to 1-7 overall, 0-2 in the region.
Lexington also needs a win against the Eagles to set up a season-ending battle with the Gators for a home playoff game.
OTHER WEEK 8 SCORES
Silver Bluff 53, American Leadership Academy (Lexington) 7
Strom Thurmond 45, Pelion 0
FRIDAY’S GAMES
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at American Leadership Academy (Lexington)
Lexington at Chapin
Newberry at Chester
Swansea at Gilbert
Mid-Carolina at Keenan
Silver Bluff at Pelion
White Knoll at River Bluff
Strom Thurmond at Saluda
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL (Week 8)
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (10), 2. Northwestern (8), 3. James Island, 4. Berkeley, 5. Dorman, 6. Byrnes, 7. River Bluff, 8. Boiling Springs, 9. Fort Mill, 10. Rock Hill
Others receiving votes: Ridge View, Sumter
Class 2A
1. Strom Thurmond (18), 2. Marlboro County, 3. Dillon, 4. Mid-Carolina, 5. Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 6. Southside Christian, 7. Saluda, 8. Crescent, 9. Keenan, 10. Chesnee
Others receiving votes: Battery Creek, Woodland, St. Joseph’s Woodruff, Mountain View Prep, Philip Simmons, Manning, Clinton
