Another week, another round of matchups between schools within close proximity of each other.
Only 8-9 miles separate Dutch Fork and Irmo. The same is true for Friday combatants Lexington and Gilbert in a game that is this week's WACH 57 Sonic Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week (Spectrum Channel 1250 or Digital 57.2). 
There are other ties which seemingly link the schools facing each other:
- Head coaches Tom Knotts of Dutch Fork and Aaron Brand of Irmo worked together at Independence High School.
- Lexington High School head coach Perry Woolbright's father, Marty, formerly coached at Gilbert and the school's winningest head coach.  Current Indians' head coach Chad Leaphart  played under Marty Woolbright.
- Leaphart's father played for Lexington's 1950 state championship team. 
While last year's meeting (won by Lexington 17-13) was the first between the Wildcats and Indians, Dutch Fork and Irmo have played 29 times since 1996. The Yellow Jackets hold a 17-12 advantage, but have dropped the last 5 meetings. 
TEAM OF THE WEEK - Chapin High School
The Eagles defeated longtime rival Mid-Carolina 35-20 to win "The Battle of the Bell" for the 7th consecutive year. 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Hunter Helms
The Holy Cross-bound senior quarterback set a school record with 6 touchdown passes in the 63-12 win over Swansea. He finished with 402 passing yards. 
WEEK 1 GRIDIRON GIANTS
Nanders Lawrence (Airport) - 112 rushing yards, 3 TDs; 44 receiving yards, TD
Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 213 passing yards, 3 TDs
Marvin Gantt (Batesburg-Leesville) - 155 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Shauntrell Hendrix (Batesburg-Leesville) - 5 receptions, 143 yards, TD
Will Way (Brookland-Cayce) - 171 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Chapin defense - 4 sacks versus Mid-Carolina.
Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 25-30, 265 yards, TD; 96 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Cooper Evans (Chapin) - 135 rushing yards, TD; 8 receptions, 61 yards
Dutch Fork defense - allowed 67 total yards (-10 rushing) against Spring Valley
Jonathan Hall (Dutch Fork) - 4 rushing TDs
Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 212 yards, TD
Jalin Hyatt (Dutch Fork) - 6 receptions, 133 yards, TD
Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 327 passing yards, 2 TDs; 2 rushing TDs
Dre Harris (Gilbert) - 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD
Matt Reed (Gilbert) - 10 receptions, 89 yards
Taylor Mathias (Lexington) - 159 rushing yards, TD
Elijah Ogden (Lexington) - 166 total yards, 3 TDs
Riley Myers (River Bluff) - 115 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Braden Walker (River Bluff) - 3 TDs, 84 rushing yards
Aveon Smith (White Knoll) - 264 passing yards, 4 TDs; 57 rushing yards, TD
T.J. Peebles (White Knoll) - 123 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Luis Orellano (White Knoll) - averaged 51.4 yards per kickoff, 5 touchbacks
BY THE NUMBERS
Dutch Fork has gone 27 straight games without a loss. It has also won 20 consecutive road games dating back to October 2015...Gray Collegiate quarterback Hunter Helms has thrown for 807 yards and 7 TDs in 2 games. Wide receiver Omarian Dollison has 16 receptions for 300 yards and 5 TDs...Gilbert quarterback Jy Tolen has thrown for 685 yards and 6 TDs in 2 games...Lexington's defense is allowing 2.8 yards a play...Airport holds a 5-4 advantage over Swansea and have won the last 2 meetings...White Knoll is 3-0 all-time against Keenan, outscoring the Raiders 133-33.
HOMECOMING 
Friday's matchup between Newberry and Batesburg-Leesville marks the return of Bulldogs' head coach Phil Strickland to Panther Stadium. He led the Panthers to Class 2A titles in 1995 and 1999 during his tenure and is a member of the S.C. Football Coaches Hall of Fame.
Speaking of which...
NEWEST INDUCTEES
The Dec. 13 ceremony in Myrtle Beach will see the induction of 3 head coaches with Chronicle Country ties. Allen Sitterle (formerly of Lexington), Bob Hanna (formerly of Irmo) and Rusty Charpia (currently an assistant coach to his son at Brookland-Cayce) were among the 9 coaches selected for enshrinement into the S.C. Football Coaches Hall of Fame. 
WEEK 2 SCHEDULE
(All games start at 7:30 pm) 
Airport at Swansea
Newberry at Batesburg-Leesville
Spring Valley at Brookland-Cayce
Lugoff-Elgin at Chapin 
Dutch Fork at Irmo 
Lexington at Gilbert 
Gray Collegiate vs. Dreher (at Memorial Stadium in Columbia)
Richard Winn at Northside Christian
Pelion at River Bluff 
W.W. King at St. John's Christian 
Keenan at White Knoll