(Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.)
By Thomas Grant Jr.
Through three quarters, history was on the verge of repeating itself in Red Bank last Friday.
White Knoll had 3-time defending Class 5A champion down 24-20 heading into the fourth quarter. It was two years ago when the Timberwolves upended the Silver Foxes 17-14 at home enroute to reaching the state finals for the first time.
Mistakes in the form of two fourth-quarter turnovers that Dutch Fork turned into points denied White Knoll the victory. It was outscored 21-0 in the fourth quarter for the 41-24 loss.
Timberwolves’ quarterback Jhais McKeiver carried the offense. He threw for 180 yards and rushed for 142 yards and three touchdowns.
McKeiver’s two scores of eight and 36 yards helped White Knoll erase a 13-0 first-quarter deficit. In the third quarter, he had a 25-yard touchdown run to regain the lead for the Timberwolves at 24-20.
However, McKeiver was intercepted twice and White Knoll had two fumbles lost which led to 21 Dutch Fork points.
The loss snapped a 5-game winning streak for White Knoll (5-2, 1-1). It now heads on the road to face the other Irmo resident team in the top-ranked Yellow Jackets (7-0, 2-0).
The two teams met twice last season, both won by Irmo in the regular season and the Class 5A Division II final.
Newberry stays perfect
The third-ranked Bulldogs head into the bye week still undefeated and with a share of first place in Region 4-3A.
Newberry (8-0, 2-0) defeated Fox Creek 41-14 as quarterback Kenton Caldwell accounted for four touchdowns. He threw three and rushed for another score.
B.J. Jones also had a rushing touchdown and Jordan Wright blocked a punt and recovered the football in the endzone for a score.
The Bulldogs return to action Oct. 24 at Keenan.
OTHER LAKE MURRAY REGION RESULTS
Lexington 29, Chapin 7
Markel Boyd rushed for 94 yards and two touchdowns and Gavin Dovic connected on three field goals for the Wildcats (3-4, 1-1).
Up next is a trip to Irmo to face Dutch Fork. The Silver Foxes have won the last 11 meetings in the series dating back to 2012.
Gilbert 21, Midland Valley 14
Wynn Meetze rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns and Jiraya Staley added 130 yards on the ground to lead the Indians in the Region 4-4A matchup.
Kit McLauchlin threw a touchdown pass to Chandler Gutrie and Gilbert (3-4, 2-2) managed to run out the final minutes after a late Mustangs’ score.
Batesburg-Leesville 49, Ninety-Six 14
Amadre Wooden surpassed the 1,000-rushing yard plateau this season with 238 on the ground and four touchdowns for the Panthers.
Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl selection K.D. Whitt accounted for three touchdowns at three different positions. He had a 28-yard touchdown reception, a 66-yard scoring run and returned an interception 57 yards for his third touchdown.
It was one of three turnovers forced by Batesburg-Leesville (4-3, 1-1).
Saluda 51, Pelion 7
Tristan Daniels rushed for 203 yards and three touchdowns and C.J. Springs had five receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers.
Quarterback Brayden Williams accounted for a rushing and passing touchdowns. Saluda (5-2, 2-0) remains tied with Strom Thurmond for first place in Region 2-2A.
Mid-Carolina 32, Columbia 8
Strom Thurmond 54, American Leadership Academy 0
Former Wildcat scores
game-winner for Newberry
Running back Jonah Davis scored on a one-yard run with 1:37 left to lift Newberry to a 35-28 win at Tusculum.
It was just the former Lexington Wildcat’s second carry of the day. He also had three receptions for 24 yards and a two-point conversion.
Newberry (5-1, 4-1) plays host to Mars Hill for Homecoming this Saturday.
RPI RATINGS
(Class 5A – Division I)
Lower State
Carolina Forest, 6-1, 0.69659, Stratford, 6-1, 0.68627, Summerville, 6-1, 0.67609, James Island, 6-1, 0.67378, Sumter, 6-1, 0.65506, Ashley Ridge, 4-3, 0.55150, Lexington, 3-4, 0.51700, River Bluff, 3-4, 0.51456, Fort Dorchester, 3-4, 0.48914, Wando, 4-3, 0.48141, Cane Bay, 2-5, 0.4437, Stall, 1-6, 0.38385, West Ashley, 1-5, 0.36891
(Class 5A – Division II)
Lower State
Irmo, 7-0, 0.79844, White Knoll, 5-2, 0.63241, Myrtle Beach, 5-2, 0.62262, Lucy Beckham, 4-2, 0.61595, Berkeley, 5-2, 0.60182, Westwood, 5-2, 0.53815, Lugoff-Elgin, 4-4, 0.52339, West Florence, 3-4, 0.46067, North Myrtle Beach, 3-4, 0.46237, St. James, 2-5, 0.44641, Conway, 2-4, 0.43881, Socastee, 1-6, 0.37289, Chapin, 0-7, 0.34894, Goose Creek, 0-7, 0.29878
Class 4A
Lower State
South Florence, 6-1, 0.68344, North Augusta, 6-1, 0.67962, Hilton Head Island, 6-1, 0.67063, Gray Collegiate, 5-2, 0.65142, Bluffton, 5-2, 0.62582, May River, 6-1, 0.58958, Hartsville, 4-3, 0.58743, Bishop England, 5-2, 0.58242, Midland Valley, 5-2, 0.56425, Wilson, 5-3, 0.55022, Lower Richland, 5-3, 0.54363, Crestwood, 4-4, 0.52428, South Aiken, 4-3, 0.49488, Gilbert, 3-4, 0.47722, Darlington, 3-4, 0.47626, Beaufort, 3-4, 0.45571, Brookland-Cayce, 2-5, 0.42802, Aiken, 2-5, 0.40313, Colleton County, 1-6, 0.36142, Lakewood, 0-7, 0.31405, Airport, 0-7, 0.30671
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Irmo (16) (7-0), 2. Northwestern (3) (7-1), 3. Dutch Fork (5-1), 4. Summerville (6-1), 5. Greenwood (6-1), 6. Ridge View (5-2), 7. James Island (6-1), 8. Gaffney (5-2), 9. Indian Land (7-0), 10. TL Hanna (6-1)
Others receiving votes: Dorman, Stratford, Spartanburg, White Knoll, Sumter, Greenville, Byrnes
Class 4A
1. South Pointe (18) (6-1), 2. South Florence (1) (6-1), 3. AC Flora (7-1), 4. Gray Collegiate (5-2), 5. Daniel (6-1), 6. North Augusta (6-1), 7. Hilton Head Island (6-1), 8. Seneca (7-1), 9. Camden (6-2), 10. May River (6-1)
Others receiving votes: Wren, Midland Valley, Hartsville
Class 3A
1. Belton-Honea Path (13) (7-0), 2. Oceanside Collegiate (5) (6-2), 3. Newberry (1) (8-0), 4. Loris (7-0), 5. Mountain View Prep (7-0), 6. Woodruff (6-1), 7. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (7-0), 8. Marlboro County (6-1),9. Swansea (7-0), 10. Dillon (4-3)
Others receiving votes: Powdersville, Christ Church
Class 2A
1. Central (19) (6-0), 2. Clinton (5-3), 3. Strom Thurmond (6-1), 4. Timberland (6-1), 5. Hampton County (4-3), 6. Phillip Simmons (5-2), 7. Fairfield Central (5-3), 8. Saluda (5-2), 9. Batesburg-Leesville (4-3). 10. Chester (5-3)
Others receiving votes: North Central, Andrew Jackson, East Clarendon, Chesnee
