Football will be on the minds of high school fans in Gilbert, Irmo and West Columbia as much as Thanksgiving dinner this week.

Those respective towns have teams playing for a berth in the “Weekend of Champions” for the SC High School League this Friday. 

For the 5th consecutive year, Dutch Fork made the Class 5A Lower State final. The Silver Foxes (8-0) are 2 wins away from completing an unprecedented “Drive For 5” and will face Sumter (8-0) for a chance to complete state history. 

Meanwhile, Gilbert and Gray Collegiate will head on the road in pursuit of its 1st ever state title game appearances. 

After exorcising playoff demons of the past in last Friday’s 37-6 rout of Dillon, the Indians (8-0) will pay a visit for the 1st time to Zemp Stadium to face Camden (8-0). The Class 3A Lower State finals also marks the 1st time Gilbert and the Bulldogs have met on the gridiron. 

Gray Collegiate (8-0) does have familiarity with top-ranked Abbeville (8-0) from last year’s Class 2A Upper State semifinal in Newberry. The Panthers came away with the 38-35 victory, but lost the following week to Chapman to end its quest for a 5th straight title.

The winners of the state semifinals will play at either Harry Parone Stadium at Spring Valley High School or Charles W. Johnson Stadium on the campus of Benedict College Friday or Saturday for the championship. 

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK - The Gilbert defense 

The Dillon entered the playoff contest with Gilbert averaging 54 points a game. It left Leonard Price Field held to its lowest point total in 4 years. 

GRIDIRON GIANTS

Will Taylor (Dutch Fork) - 224 rushing yards, 5 TDs; 131 passing yards, TD

Trace Danley (Dutch Fork) - 9 tackles, 95-yard fumble recovery TD

KZ Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 178 rushing yards, TD

Tre Robinson (Gray Collegiate) - 2 rushing TDs, 1 passing TD

Justen Brunson (Gray Collegiate) - 3 interceptions 

Colton Mason (Gilbert) - 230 rushing yards

Izayah Whiteside (Gilbert) - 106 passing yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD

Dedrick Starkes (Irmo) - 2 rushing TDs 

Azwan James (Pelion) - 2 rushing TDs

Jackson Stone (River Bluff) - 187 passing yards, 2 TDs

Adam Molnar (River Bluff) - 9.5 tackles, interception

1,000-YARD CLUB

The race for the Chronicle Country rushing leader has gotten tighter. Gray C:ollegiate’s KZ Adams has 1,665 yards on the season, with Gilbert’s Colton Mason (1,656 yards) just 9 yards behind. 

THE STREAKS CONTINUE

Dutch Fork has gone 48 straight games without a loss, won 47 straight against in-state teams and have been victorious in 22 consecutive playoff games. 

BY THE NUMBERS

Dutch Fork quarterback Will Taylor has thrown for 1,877 yards and 19 TDs. The Silver Foxes are 5-3 all-time against Sumter and 3-0 in the Tom Knotts era. The 42 points scored by Carolina Forest was the most allowed by Dutch Fork in a playoff game against Nov. 19, 2015 against Dorman. The Cavaliers’ quarterback was current University of South Carolina starter Collin Hill...Gilbert head coach Chad Leaphart is his alma mater's 2nd winningest coach with 49 career wins. He can join Marty Woolbright,the school’s leader with 67), as the only coaches in school history with 50 victories with a win Friday. 

FRIDAY’S PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

(All Games at 7:30 pm) 

Sumter at Dutch Fork

Gilbert at Camden

Gray Collegiate at Abbeville 

QUOTABLE 

“Our kids believe and they played lights out in all phases of the game tonight! Our kids wanted this game an awful lot... they have played with a chip on the shoulder all year,” - Gilbert head coach Chad Leaphart following the 37-6 victory over Dillon. The Indians had lost the 2 previous home playoff meetings against the Wildcats.