After 7 weeks of a regular season sometimes affected by pandemic quarantines, the football players will finally begin Friday for the SC High School League.

A total of 8 Chronicle Country teams will open post-season play. In Class 5A, Dutch Fork will begin its quest for a state-record 5th title against a familiar playoff foe in Summerville.

The top-ranked, undefeated Silver Foxes enter the post-season with a 46-game unbeaten streak, winners of 45 straight regular season games and a 20-game playoff streak. They will also enjoy homefield advantage throughout the post-season.

The other playoff representative out of Region 5-5A is River Bluff. The Gators head to Fort Dorchester seeking to win its 3rd straight 1st round game under head coach C. Blair Hardin.

After clinching 2nd place in Region 4-4A to earn a playoff berth, Irmo will open the Class 4A playoffs at Westside. The Rams are led by former Chapin and Lexington head football coach Scott Earley. 

In Class 3A, Gilbert will open the playoffs at home against Lake City. A victory would make Indians’ head coach Chad Leaphart the 2nd winningest coach in school history behind Marty Woolbright. 

The other Region 5-3A representative, Brookland-Cayce, will travel to Camden for the 1st round. It’s the WACH 57 Sonic Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week.

The Class 2A playoff field includes 3 teams from Region 3-2A. Region champion Gray Collegiate will play host to St. Joseph’s in a rematch of last year’s 2nd round matchup won by the War Eagles 44-18. 

After defeating Batesburg-Leesville 35-19, 2nd place Newberry will travel to Chesnee. The Panthers earn an at-large berth which sets up a matchup with longtime rival and top-ranked, undefeated Abbeville. 

Fresh off winning the Region 5-2A title for the 1st time since 2006, Pelion will play host to Phillip Simmons in the 1st round. 

In addition to the post-season, the non-playoff teams will have a final game. Lexington will play host to Spring Valley, while Chapin travels to Prosperity for the annual “Battle of the Bell” matchup against Mid-Carolina. 

SC HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

Summerville at Dutch Fork

River Bluff at Fort Dorchester

Brookland-Cayce at Camden

Lake City at Gilbert

Phillip Simmons at Pelion

St. Joseph’s vs. Gray Collegiate (at Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia)

Irmo at Westside 

Batesburg-Leesville at Abbeville 

REGULAR SEASON GAMES

Spring Valley at Lexington

Chapin at Mid-Carolina