For the past three months, the Lexington Chronicle asked readers to vote.
A total of 86,015 of you took part in the contest to select from six worthy Chronicle Country players who would appear in the 2018 High School Football Edition cover.
The participation was well beyond the expectations and showed the heavy interest of readers have in the student-athletes who compete for the schools in Lexington and parts of Richland County.
Once the final votes were tallied, two players stood out. With close to 52 percent of the total count, Gray Collegiate Academy quarterback Hunter Helms was the top vote-getter. His 47,894 votes were 20,501 more than runner-up running back Cody Temples of Gilbert. 
Given both players accounted for nearly 90 percent of the vote, the Chronicle decided for this year to place both Helms and Temples on the cover. The High School Football Edition is included in this week's newspaper or online at 

 https://etypeservices.com/Lexington%20County%20ChronicleID712/ . 

Ironically, Gray Collegiate and Gilbert will be featured over the airwaves and internet. The contest is the first Sonic Rivals Game of the Week airing on WACH 57 and streamed on its website (www.wach.com). 
Both teams are coming off historic seasons for their respective programs. The War Eagles won a school-record seven games, while the Indians went undefeated during the regular season, captured its first-ever Region 5-3A title and won 12 games in advancing to the third round of the Class 3A playoffs.
In addition, Gilbert will enter Friday's matchup with a 10-game regular-season winning streak. The last loss occurred Nov. 4, 2017 at Brookland-Cayce to end the 2016 regular season. 
The team with the longest active streak in Chronicle Country is Dutch Fork. The 2-time defending Class 5A champions will take a 12-game winning streak into Charlotte, N.C. to face Class 4A runner-up Mallard Creek (N.C.) Saturday night. 
OTHER WEEK 0 STORYLINES:
- Northside Christian Academy will be the first Chronicle Country team to open the regular season. The Crusaders travel to Hilton Head Prep for a 5 p.m. contest.
- Lexington and Irmo renew "The Battle of the Dam" at W.C. Hawkins Stadium. The Wildcats have won the last three meetings, but the Yellow Jackets hold an overwhelming 35-14 series lead.
- Cecil Woolbright Field is the site of one of the Palmetto State's oldest rivalries. Chapin and Mid-Carolina will be meeting for the 61st time in the "Battle of the Railroad Bell". The Eagles hold a 43-17 advantage in the series and have won the last five meetings. 
- With renovations to Memorial Stadium expected to be competed in September, Airport will now face Dreher at home. The Eagles of West Columbia will now have six home games. 
- Brookland-Cayce will open the season at home against White Knoll. It's the first of three games against Class 5A schools for the Bearcats, who moved up Class 4A. The contest also marks the debut of former Swansea head football coach Greg Wright as defensive coordinator. Wright has filed a lawsuit against Lexington School District One for his June 28 termination. Assistant coach Eric Pack was promoted as interim head coach and will make his debut Friday at Doug Bennett Stadium against Lower Richland. 
- Batesburg-Leesville will face Ridge Spring-Monetta, seeking to improve to 19-0 all-time in the series. River Bluff opens at home against Fort Mill, looking to remain undefeated in three meetings against the Yellow Jackets. 
- Pelion and Wagener-Salley will meet for the 33rd time with the winner taking a 17-16 lead in the series. 

QUOTABLE 
"If we were mentally sharp and focused and where we need to be attitude-wise, we’d be in the Top 10 in the country. But right now, we’re not even in the Top 100.” - Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts two days prior to this past Saturday's 28-0 win over Ridge View at the Joe Turbeville Jamboree. 

WEEK 0 SCHEDULE

(All Games, unless noted otherwise) start at 7:30 p.m. 

FRIDAY'S GAMES

Northside Christian Academy at Hilton Head Prep 5 p.m. 

Dreher at Airport 

White Knoll at Brookland-Cayce 

Ridge Spring Monetta at Batesburg-Leesville  

Chapin at Mid-Carolina .

Gray Colegiate at Gilbert 

Lexington at Irmo

Wagener-Salley at Pelion 

Fort Mill at River Bluff

Lower Richland at Swansea

Saturday's Game

Dutch Fork vs. Mallard Creek (at Charlotte, N.C.) 

GAMES ON TV, RADIO & INTERNET 

(TV) 
WACH 57 - Gray Collegiate at Gilbert 7 p.m.  

(RADIO) 
WBLR (1430 AM) - Ridge Spring-Monetta at Batesburg-Leesville 7:30 p.m. 

WDEK (97.9 FM & 1170 AM) - Lexington at Irmo 7:30 p.m. 
(INTERNET) 
www.facebook.com/groups/ChapinFootball - Mid-Carolina at Chapin 
www.lexingtonwildcats.com - Lexington at Irmo