An important week of football is coming up as the regular season reaches its end. 

In the final week of the season, four Lexington County teams will look to lock up a region championship. The rest will look to end on a win and improve their playoff seeding. 

The biggest game of the week is undoubtedly between Dutch Fork and Irmo. The cross-town rivals are both undefeated and will play for the 5A Region 4 championship. 

Dutch Fork enters the contest fresh off a win over River Bluff. Quarterback Ethan Offing had a career game, throwing for over 400 yards and four touchdowns. Boykin Bickley and Maurice Anderson each had over 100 yards receiving and a touchdown as the Silver Foxes won 41-14. 

Irmo defeated Chapin last week 55-21. Star quarterback A.J. Brand went off for eight touchdowns, five through the air and three on the ground. Donovan Murph had a big game as the team’s lead receiver, scoring two touchdowns. 

The Yellow Jackets and Silver Foxes have been two of the best teams in the state this season. All year long, there was a feeling this game could decide the region winner, and it will. 

Gray Collegiate is also set to compete for a region championship just one week after it was announced head coach De'angelo Bryant was suspended for the rest of the season. 

The War Eagles are in an unusual predicament where they could win the region and still miss the postseason entirely. Team representatives were scheduled to meet with the high school league to discuss possible eligibility errors after the Chronicle’s press deadline. The team could be punished with a postseason ban. 

This week the War Eagles will travel to North Augusta. Both teams are unbeaten in region games and are perceived as contenders for the 4A championship. The winner will be named region champs and get a high seed in the playoffs. 

The last Lexington County team competing for a region championship this week is the Batesburg-Leesville Panthers. The team enters this week undefeated after earning a clutch win over previously unbeaten Saluda 28-7. 

It was a historic game for Panthers quarterback Tanner Watkins, who became the school’s all-time touchdown leader, Amadre Wooden had 172 yards and two touchdowns as the team improved to 9-0.

Batesburg-Leesville will play Strom Thurmond this week. A win would clinch the region championship and give the Panthers an undefeated regular season. A loss wouldn’t guarantee Batesburg-Leesville loses the region, but it makes it much less likely depending on tie-breaker scenarios. 

While other teams around the county aren't in contention for a region championship, they can still improve their spot in the standings and better their playoff odds. 

River Bluff will travel to Lexington, looking to lock up third place in the 5A Region 4 standings. The Gators have had a tremendous turnaround this year after going winless in the region last season. 

White Knoll and Chapin are set to meet for their season finales. The Eagles have one more chance to earn a region win and leapfrog the Timberwolves at the bottom of the standings. 

Gilbert will travel to Aiken this week with a shot at finishing above .500 in the 4A Region 4 standings. The Indians are looking to bounce back from a tough outing last week against Gray Collegiate. A win this week would improve the Indians’ record to 5-5 and 4-3 in region. 

Airport has a shot to end the year on a high note and jump over South Aiken in the standings with a win against the Mustangs.

American Leadership Academy has one final chance to get a win this week, but it will have to come against one of the best teams in 2A. The Patriots are set to travel to Saluda and are hoping to avoid a winless 2024 season. 

Brookland-Cayce and Pelion ended their seasons last week, so they will be off this week. 

In SCISA, the playoffs are set to begin this week. Northside Christian earned a program record ninth win last week against Camden Military and will look to make a run at a 3A SCISA championship. The Crusaders' journey starts this week against First Baptist School. 

Big Performances

A.J. Brand had an explosive game against Chapin scoring five passing and three rushing touchdowns. 

J.R. Kinard rushed for over 100 yards and had an interception in Northside Christian’s regular-season finale. 

Ethan Offing threw for over 400 yards and four touchdowns in Dutch Fork’s win over River Bluff.

Amadre Wooden had 172 yards and two touchdowns for Batesburg-Leesville in its crucial win over Saluda.

Week 10 Area Scoreboard 

Dutch Fork: 41, River Bluff: 14

Irmo: 55, Chapin: 21

White Knoll: 35, Lexington: 19

Brookland-Cayce: 49, Airport: 14

Gray Collegiate: 42, Gilbert: 0

Newberry: 45, Swansea: 0

Batesburg-Leesville: 28, Saluda: 7

Pelion: 28, American Leadership: 6

Northside Christian: 48, Camden Military: 14

Week 11 Games to Watch

Dutch Fork vs. Irmo

Batesburg-Leesville at Strom Thurmond 

Gray Collegiate at North Augusta 

Lexington vs. River Bluff