Having a week to prepare for a formidable foe like Dutch Fork is one thing.
In the cases of River Bluff and Lexington, they have the luxury of 2 weeks. A timely ‘bye’ week has given both schools extra time to prepare for key Region 5-5A matchups against the defending 3-time Class 5A champions. Up first are the Gators. 
“We have focused on cleaning up a few things on defense and using the bye week to teach and get healthy,” River Bluff head coach C. Blair Hardin said.
For the 2nd straight year, the two teams enter the contest with undefeated records. Last year’s meeting saw the Silver Foxes roll to a 56-14 win in The Swamp as they scored on the first 8 possessions.
The Gators (6-0) are counting on a year of experience to serve them well in the rematch.
“Dutch Fork is an excellent football team,” Hardin said. “They are extremely disciplined and play with great fundamentals. Our goal is to play very tough and with a lot of discipline. The game comes down to blocking and tackling which they do a great job.”
The winner will retain a share of first place in Region 5-5A with idle Lexington.  Should Dutch Fork (5-0-1) win, it would extend their ongoing winning streaks:
- 32 straight games without a loss
- 31 straight wins over in-state foes
- 21 straight road wins
- 21 straight region wins
- 6 straight games with 40 or more points

For the 2nd straight week, WACH Fox 57's Friday Night Rivals will air a game from Irmo. Stacey Hough and former Chapin and University of South Carolina offensive lineman Mason Zandi will call the game. It can be watched on WACH 57.2/Spectrum Cable Channel 1250, live streamed at www.wach.com and on the WACH Fox app. 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - K.Z. Adams (Gray Collegiate)
The War Eagles’ running back had 180 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 28-26 win over Class A number-one Lamar. It was the 2nd straight year Gray Collegiate has defeated the Silver Foxes on the road.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Irmo
Playing before a televised audience on WACH 57, the Yellow Jackets rallied for a dramatic 27-26 win over Spring Valley. Tracy Williams’ 22-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left and PAT by Angel Camarena earned Irmo its first region win over new head coach Aaron Brand.

WEEK 6 GRIDIRON GIANTS
Nanders Lawrence (Airport) - 2 receiving TDs
Markco Gilmore (Airport) - 2 passing TDs
Haiden Rimer (Airport) - Game-winning field goal as time expired.
Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 140 passing yards
Will Way (Brookland-Cayce) - 3 rushing TDs
Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 169 passing yards 
Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 311 passing yards, 6 TDs
Jalin Hyatt (Dutch Fork) - 134 receiving yards, 2 TDs
Jonathan Hall (Dutch Fork) - 96 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 374 passing yards, 5 TDs (all in 1st half)
Alec Holt (Gilbert) - 5 receptions, 89 yards, 3 TDs 
Dre Harris (Gilbert) - 3 receptions, 100 yards, TD
Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate) - 150 passing yards, TD
Noah Powell and Braylen Scott-Joyner (both of Gray Collegiate) - 10 tackles each
Tracy Williams (Irmo) - 209 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Taylor Mathias (Lexington) - 165 rushing yards, TD
Ahmad Bynem-Scott (Lexington) - 89 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Elijah Ogden (Lexington) - 173 passing yards, 2 TDs
Jayden Geiger (Lexington) - 117 receiving yards, TD
Tristan Allen (Lexington) - 47.3 yards punt average 
Joey Mcroberts (Northside Christian) - 109 rushing yards
Andrew Walke (Northside Christian) - 113 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 11 tackles
Max Mckenna (Northside Christian) - 150 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 7-13 passing, 3 TDs
Charlie Compton (Northside Christian) - 2 TD receptions. 
Pryce Whitten (Swansea) - 140 passing yards
Aveon Smith (White Knoll) - 269 total yards, 3 TDs
Darius Derrick-Jones (White Knoll) - 135 kick return yards 

AVEON SMITH OUT
The senior season of White Knoll quarterback Aveon Smith ended abruptly this past Friday after he tore his left ACL in the 45-27 loss to Lexington. Fellow senior Jaelin Gray will replace Smith in the lineup. Read more right now at www.lexingtonchronicle.com .

MILESTONES
Dutch Fork quarterback Ty Olenchuk posted his 2nd career 6-touchdown game this past Friday. In the process of tying that school record, he surpassed 7,000 career passing yards. 
At Gilbert, head coach Chad Leaphart became the fastest coach to 35 career wins in 4 seasons at his alma mater. He trails only Marty Woolbright (67) and Barry Harley (47) for school wins. 

BY THE NUMBERS

Gilbert quarterback Jy Tolen has thrown for 2,325 yards and 25 TDs this season. Dre Harris has 573 receiving yards and Alec Holt leads the team with 12 receiving TDs. Drew Howell has 87 tackles and 7 sacks...Dutch Fork quarterback Ty Olenchuk has 7,209 career passing yards and is 831 yards shy of the school mark held by his older brother, Derek Olenchuk...Gray Collegiate quarterback Hunter Helms has thrown for 2,163 yards and 21 TDs. Wide receiver Omarion Dolleson has 938 receiving yards and 11 TDs...W.W. King has dropped 7 consecutive games dating back to last season.