The championship matches are set.  Twelve teams will make the pilgrimage to Orangeburg for the South Carolina High School League football championships. Six will leave a victor.

Two teams making the trip hail from Lexington County and are no strangers to the big stage. Irmo and Dutch Fork are back in the title games after making the trip last season. 

Both teams will face a familiar opponent, playing in a rematch of last season’s 5A Division I and II championships. 

Dutch Fork is back in the championship game for the 10th year in a row. The Silver Foxes are going for their ninth win in that span, and 10th overall under head coach Tom Knotts. 

Knott’s is aiming for title 17 after winning at Dutch Fork and two schools in North Carolina. Only a handful of coaches nationwide have ever reached that mark.

The Silver Foxes earned a spot in the championship game after a commanding 30-10 win over Dorman. Dutch Fork started slow but ended up dominating the second half, outscoring the Cavaliers 20-0. 

Irmo’s offense exploded for 44 points in a blowout win over Berkeley to advance to its second straight state championship game. 

The Yellow Jackets will play Northwestern in a rematch of last season’s game. Irmo lost the title after a last-second field goal by the Trojans. 

Irmo is looking to win its first state title under head coach Aaron Brand and its first since 1980. The Yellow Jackets also made it to championship week in 2002, 2004 and 2006 but lost. 

While Irmo and Dutch Fork moved on, Gray Collegiate’s season came to an end after losing to South Florence in the 4A semifinal. 

The War Eagles had a good run in their first venture in the 4A playoffs, but fell short of the championship game after running into the Bruins.

South Florence dominated en route to a 55-14 win. It will be the Bruins' fourth straight championship appearance, winning two of the previous three.

Gray concludes its season (11-3) overall. 

The six state championship games will be played on Friday and Saturday this week. Irmo and Dutch Fork will play in the two night games. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m.

Last week’s big performances 

Quintin Wilson scored two touchdowns in Dutch Fork’s win over Dorman.

Jaiden Bryant had a scoop-and-score touchdown in Irmo’s win against Berkeley.

KJ Dupree caught a crucial interception for Dutch Fork that led to a come-from-behind win. 

Amire White had two touchdowns in Irmo’s blowout victory. 

Full state championship schedule

Friday

3A - Belton-Honea Path vs. Oceanside Collegiate - 12 p.m.

A - Lamar vs. Bamberg-Ehrhardt - 4 p.m.

5A II - Irmo vs. Northwestern - 7:30 p.m. 

Saturday

4A - South Pointe vs. South Florence - 12 p.m.

2A - Strom Thurmond vs. Hampton County - 4 p.m.

5A I - Dutch Fork vs. Summerville - 7:30 p.m. 

Full playoff scoreboard

Round 1

River Bluff: 24, Cane Bay: 13

Fort Dorchester: 24, Lexington: 21

Gray Collegiate: 63, Brookland-Cayce: 7

Gilbert: 38, Bluffton: 21

Marlboro: 49, Swansea: 13

Batesburg-Leesville: 42, Eau Claire: 0

Liberty: 35, Pelion: 14

Pinewood Prep: 60, Northside Christian: 13

Round 2

Dutch Fork: 42, Boiling Springs: 7

Irmo: 41, Lugoff-Elgin: 16

Stratford: 40, River Bluff: 35

White Knoll: 14, Lucy Beckham: 10

North Augusta: 35, Gilbert: 7

Gray Collegiate: 49, Hartsville: 28

Chester: 42, Batesburg-Leesville: 28

Round 3

Irmo: 28, White Knoll: 14

Dutch Fork: 21, Byrnes: 0

Gray Collegiate: 31, Hilton Head Island: 28

Semifinals

Dutch Fork: 30, Dorman: 10

Irmo: 44, Berkeley: 6

South Florence: 55, Gray Collegiate: 14