Mother Nature reared its head again on high school football. 
For the 2nd time this season, bad weather extended the scheduled games past Friday night. Dutch Fork, Brookland-Cayce and Irmo found themselves playing on Saturday, while Batesburg-Leesville had a rare Monday Night football contest at Panther Stadium.
Also taking place this weekend was the release of the 2019 South Carolina Sandlappers' roster for the Dec. 21 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas' All-Star Game in Spartanburg.
Defending 3-time Class 5A champion Dutch Fork had 2 selections - the maximum allowed for each school - in wide receiver and University of Tennessee commit Jalin Hyatt and defensive lineman Trey Irby.
Offensive lineman Nick Taiste of White Knoll and running back Braden Walker of River Bluff were the other local picks. Walker made his return to the Gators’ lineup this past Friday against Lugoff-Elgin, whose offensive lineman Parker Clements was also a Shrine Bowl selection, and rushed for 172 yards and 2 TDs in a 36-19 win.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Northside Christian Academy
Despite a 30-minute weather delay, the Crusaders came out sharp and defeated Newberry Academy 32-14 to snap a 5-game losing streak dating back to last season.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Aveon Smith (White Knoll)
The Miami (Ohio)-bound senior showed in 1 half of action why he’s one of the Palmetto State’s top dual threat quarterbacks. He threw for 133 yards and 3 touchdowns, all in the 2nd quarter, and rushed for 65 yards and a score in the 51-6 rout of Aiken.

WEEK 3 GRIDIRON GIANTS
Markco Gilmore (Airport) - 262 passing yards, 3 TDs
Nanders Lawrence (Airport) - 6 receptions, 107 yards
Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 124 passing yards, TD
Conner Lehmann (Chapin) - 15 tackles
Jake Hames (Chapin) - 12 tackles
Dylan King (Chapin) - 10 tackles
Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 232 passing yards, 3 TDs
Elijah Spencer (Dutch Fork) - 5 receptions, 101 yards, 2 TDs
Jonathan Hall (Dutch Fork) - 81 rushing yards, 3 TDs
Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 272 passing yards, 3 TDs
Ty Walker (Gilbert) - 124 rushing yards 
Dre Cook (Gilbert) - 3 rushing TDs
Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate) - 353 yards, 3 TDs
K.Z. Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 3 TDs, 1 INT on defense
Ahmed Bynum-Scott (Lexington) - 158 yards, 3 TDs
Dionta Sanders (Lexington) - 97 yard kickoff return TD
Max McKeena (Northside Christian) - 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
Braden Walker (River Bluff) - 172 rushing yards, 2 TDs
Jackson Stone (River Bluff) - 207 passing yards, 3 TDs
Preston Samsone (River Bluff) - 10.5 tackles 

TOUGHEST SCHEDULE 
From an opponent’s record standpoint, this distinction can be given to Pelion High School. The combined record of the Panthers’ first 4 opponents is 12-2, with 3 teams (Wagener-Salley, River Bluff and Saluda) still undefeated. 

TOUGHEST REGION 
The same from a record standpoint can be said of Region 5-5A. There are 3 undefeated teams (Dutch Fork, River Bluff and White Knoll) and the combined overall record for the entire region is currently 16-2-1. 

SONIC FRIDAY NIGHT RIVALS
WACH 57 is back in Chronicle Country for the 3rd time this season. It’s latest “Game of the Week” this Friday feature Gray Collegiate at White Knoll. Stacey Hough and former Chapin and University of South Carolina lineman Mason Zandi will have the call and the game can be streamed online at www.wach.com or watched on Spectrum Channel 1250. 

REUNION TIME
Batesburg-Leesville will pay a visit to Wildcat Stadium to face Lexington and former head coach Perry Woolbright. Over at Memorial Stadium, Gilbert faces Dreher, coached by Indian alumnus Treigh Sullivan.

BY THE NUMBERS
Dutch Fork has gone 29 consecutive games without a loss and 17 straight at home. This Friday, the Silver Foxes look to extend their road winning streak to 20 against Blythewood...White Knoll is 4-0 for the first time since 2013 and 2nd time in school history...River Bluff is 4-0 for the 2nd straight year...Gilbert is 4-0 for the 3rd time in 4 seasons, all under head coach Chad Leaphart who is 34-7 in 4th seasons at his alma mater...The combined record of Brookland-Cayce’s 4 opponents is 10-5...W.W. King has been outscored 144-8 in its first 2 games and gave up 80 points to Palmetto Christian last Friday. 

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Former Irmo head football coach Bob Hanna is still on the sidelines. The future S.C. Football Coaches Hall of Fame inductee is currently an assistant coach at James Island High School...Former Swansea head coach Gregory Wright is currently in his first season at Denmark-Olar High School. This Friday, his Vikings face Blackville-Hilda who are led by another first year head coach and former University of South Carolina teammate Brandon Isaac. 

WEEK 4 SCHEDULE
(All Games Start at 7:30 pm)

Airport at Lower Richland
Batesburg-Leesville at Lexington
Spring Valley at Chapin 
Dutch Fork at Blythewood
Gilbert vs. Dreher (at Memorial Stadium in Columbia)
Gray Collegiate at White Knoll 
Irmo at River Bluff
Patrick Henry at Northside Christian 
C.A. Johnson at Pelion 
Swansea at Calhoun County
Laurens Academy at W.W. King