There was truly no place like home for Chronicle Country teams in Week 1 of the S.C. High School League playoffs.
All 6 home teams (Airport, Batesburg-Leesville, Dutch Fork, Gilbert, Gray Collegiate and River Bluff) emerged with victories in the   opening round. All but the Panthers and Gators will get a least 1 more game in front of the home fans this week in Round 2. 
Meanwhile, Brookland-Cayce will make its 2019 post-season debut Friday at Fort Knox against Wilson. The Bearcats have homefield through the Class 4A Lower State finals.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Gray Collegiate 
The War Eagles set a single-season school record for victories with Friday’s 1st round playoff win over Fox Creek. Their 9-2 overall record now includes a forfeit win over Oceanside Collegiate. 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - DiMarco Johnson (Dutch Fork) 
The senior defensive back had 2 interceptions in the win over Chapin. He returned the first pick 38 yards to set up a Dutch Fork score and then set a school-record with a 93-yard pickoff return for a touchdown.

1ST ROUND PLAYOFF GRIDIRON GIANTS
Marvin Gantt (Batesburg-Leesville) - 135 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 140 passing yards 
Keshoun Williams (Batesburg-Leesville) - 3 receptions, 98 yards 
Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 174 passing yards, 1 rushing TD
Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 281 passing yards, 3 TDs
Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 336 passing yards, 5 TDs
Alec Holt, Ja’Mais Holloway and Dre Harris (all of Gilbert) - 2 TDs each 
Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate) - 363 passing yards, 4 TDs
K.Z. Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 159 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Omarian Dolleson (Gray Collegiate) - 200 receiving yards, 3 TDs
Braden Walker (River Bluff) - 264 rushing yards, 4 TDs
Jackson Stone (River Bluff) - 150 passing yards, 2 TDs
Kevin Culcleasure (River Bluff) - 9.5 tackles

MILESTONES
Dutch Fork quarterback Ty Olenchuk, who officially signed Wednesday to play baseball at Clemson, added to his bevy of school records this past Friday. He became the school’s all-time leading passer with 8,134 yards, surpasssing older brother, Derek ... Dutch Fork’s undefeated streak is now 36. The Silver Foxes have also won 35 straight in-state games and 16 consecutive playoff games ... Gilbert reached 10 wins in a season for the 3rd time in 4 seasons after its victory over Ridgeland-Hardeeville. Prior to head coach Chad Leaphart’s arrival, the Indians’ only 10-win season occurred in 1991 under Marty Woolbright. 

HARDIN’S RETURN TO THE GRAND STRAND
River Bluff head coach C. Blair Hardin will lead his team to Conway to face Carolina Forest in the 2nd round. Hardin is familiar with the Panthers, having gone 1-1 against them during his tenure from 2014-2016 at North Myrtle Beach. The contest was moved to 7 pm Thursday due to concerns about inclement weather in Horry County. 

SECOND ROUND PLAYOFF SCHEDULE

(Thursday's Game)

River Bluff at Carolina Forest 7 pm 

(Friday's Games)

ALL GAMES START AT 7:30 pm
Wando at Dutch Fork 
River Bluff at Carolina Forest
Batesburg-Leesville at 
Southside Christian 
Gray Collegiate vs. St. 
Joseph’s Catholic
(at Midlands Sports Complex 
in West Columbia) 
Lake City at Gilbert 
Airport at Lower Richland
Wilson at Brookland-Cayce