A critical week of the high school football season has passed, as the majority of teams in Lexington County began region play. 

There are just four weeks of games left until the playoffs begin. These final four games will be key in determining the standings and postseason seeding. 

Eleven games took place last Friday, with all 15 local teams in action for the first time this season. Four games featured a local head-to-head, including all three games between 5A Region-4 schools. 

Here are some of the biggest storylines from week 6 of Lexington County high school football. 

Region play kicks off 2nd half of season

The first five weeks of the football season are all a warm-up for the region slate. 10 Lexington County teams played their first region game in week six. The only exceptions were the four local 4A Region-4 teams, who started earlier in the season, and Northside Christian, who plays in SCISA. 

Every year, a handful of local teams end up competing for a region championship. Last year, Dutch Fork and Batesburg-Leesville won their conferences, but a few others were also in contention. 

Local teams went 7-8 in games last week. Removing the four local head-to-heads and the county went 3-4. 

Gray Collegiate maintained its hold on first place in the 4A Region-4 standings after dominating Brookland-Cayce. The War Eagles are 3-0 in conference and have four games left.

Dutch Fork, Irmo and White Knoll won the three 5A Region-4 games. The Silver Foxes beat Chapin, the Yellow Jackets dominated Lexington and the Timberwolves thrashed River Bluff. 

The Silver Foxes and Yellow Jackets finished first and second last year, with Dutch Fork’s win over Irmo deciding the champion. 

White Knoll’s win over River Bluff gave the Timberwolves a big advantage. The Gators were third, just ahead of White Knoll, last season. The Timberwolves’ win last Friday grants them a tie-breaker if necessary. 

Swansea and Pelion started region play (1-0) after wins over Keenan and Ninety Six. Batesburg-Leesville and American Leadership lost their region openers, but have plenty of games left to make up for it. 

Northside Christian did not play in a region game this week, but the Crusaders are (0-2) with two conference games remaining. 

Lexington County sees 5 shutouts in week 6

There were five shutouts in 11 games of football across Lexington County. Local teams were on both the giving and receiving ends of these beatdowns.

Three of those shutouts came in games between two local schools. Dutch Fork dominated in a 50-0 win over Chapin. Irmo imposed its will on Lexington in a 35-0 victory, and Gray Collegiate gashed Brookland-Cayce 56-0.

Northside Christian played the South Carolina Spartans and wrecked them 49-0. 

American Leadership was on the wrong end of a shutout, losing its region opener to Saluda 48-0.

Irmo, Swansea remain perfect with four weeks to go

The final two undefeated teams in Lexington County remained that way after showing out in their region opener. 

Irmo and Swansea enter week seven a combined 13-0 with dominant victories on their resumes. Both teams started (1-0) in region play after winning last week. 

The Yellow Jackets cruised to a shutout win over Lexington after quarterback Dre Dopson threw four touchdown passes. Irmo will play at River Bluff this week, looking to keep its winning streak alive.

Swansea’s sudden success under Willie Fox continues as the team defeated Keenan 31-22. The Tigers are 7-0 and three games away from an unbeaten season. 

Winning those games will be a high hurdle. Two of the games will be against the two teams that beat them in region play last season, Silver Bluff and Newberry. The third is against a Fox Creek team that enters the week 5-1.

Last week’s big performances 

Quintin Wilson ran in three touchdowns for Dutch Fork in a 50-0 win over Chapin.

Xavier Wright threw for two touchdowns and ran in two more in Gray Collegiate’s win last week.

Dre Dopson threw four touchdown passes for Irmo in their shutout win over Lexington.

Markeese Wynn had a 96-yard scoop-and-score in White Knoll’s win over River Bluff.

Week 7 games to watch 

White Knoll vs. Dutch Fork

Brookland-Cayce at Aiken

Lexington vs. Chapin

Pelion at Saluda

Week 6 scoreboard

Dutch Fork: 50, Chapin: 0

Irmo: 35,  Lexington: 0

White Knoll: 35, River Bluff: 3

Midland Valley: 63, Airport: 26

Gray Collegiate: 56, Brookland-Cayce: 0

South Aiken: 17, Gilbert: 14

Swansea: 31, Keenan: 22

Saluda: 48, American Leadership: 0

Strom Thurmond: 28, Batesburg-Leesville: 26

Pelion: 35, Ninety Six: 28

Northside Christian: 49, S.C. Spartans: 0