Just from a geographic standpoint, a football matchup between Lexington and River Bluff screams, “big matchup.”

Only 10 miles separate the two Class 5A schools, but many of the students grew up together. This is just one of the many storylines entering the Oct. 7 matchup at Wildcat Stadium.

Add the fact it pits two Top 10 teams against each other for sole possession of first place in their region and it all adds up to a contest where motivation will be at an all-time high on both sides.

“It’s a big game for our community,” Lexington head coach Perry Woolbright said. “River Bluff is still a newer school, so a lot of kids went to elementary school together. Even all the way up to middle school, a lot of these kids went to school together, played on rec teams together and stuff like that. So the families know each other. The players know each other, so anytime you have that, it just adds an extra excitement element to it … and it’s a big game.”

Lexington (6-1, 1-0) enters the game on a six-game winning streak and leads the all-time series 5-3. It snapped a three-game losing streak to the Gators after rallying from a 13-point halftime deficit to win last year 21-20 in “The Swamp.” It was a turning point for both teams as the Wildcats placed second in the region behind top-ranked Dutch Fork and advanced to the third round of the playoffs for the first time since 2015.

Meanwhile, River Bluff ended the season with a six-game losing streak to miss the playoffs for the first time under head coach C. Blair Hardin. This year, the Gators (6-1, 1-0)  have already tripled last year’s victory total.

The winner of this year’s Lexington “backyard brawl” can claim sole possession of first place in Region 5-5A at 2-0. With Dutch Fork still down the road for both teams, a victory would enhance the prospects of placing in the Top 2 in the standings.

As a hybrid region, the Top 2 finishers will compete in the Upper State playoffs. The third and fourth place teams head to the Lower State with a fifth team in the running for an at-large berth.

Both the Wildcats and Gators also feature a pair of 1,000-yard plus rushers. Lexington’s Jonah Norris (1,171 yards, 15 touchdowns) and River Bluff’s Cooper Johns (1,088 yards, 15 touchdowns) are both coming off three-touchdown games in region road victories.

“I’m good friends with Cooper and, yes, it’s going to be competitive, but I have a lot of respect for him,” Norris said. “It’s going to be a good fight between the both of us.”

Team of the Week – Gray Collegiate

After an 0-3 start, the defending Class 2A champions have won their last four games with a margin of victory of 201-36.

Week 6 Gridiron Giants

Naahzeikiel Mays (Brookland-Cayce) – 194 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Will Young (Brookland-Cayce) – 183 rushing yards

DeShawn Washington (Brookland-Cayce) – 110 rushing yards, touchdown

Tanner Staton (Brookland-Cayce) – two rushing touchdowns

Jaden Allen-Hendrix (Gilbert) – 181 rushing yards, two touchdowns

Alias Graham-Woodberry (Gilbert) – 147 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Brendon Boatwright (Gilbert) – 16 tackles, sack

Jordan Smith (Gilbert) – 14 tackles

Kyler Seigler (Gilbert) – 13 tackles, interception

Caleb Strese (Gilbert) – 11 tackles

Kelvin Blackwell (Gilbert) – 10 tackles, two sacks

Elijah Mayes (Gilbert) – six tackles, two interceptions

Riley Staton (Gray Collegiate) – four passing touchdowns

Devin Johnson (Gray Collegiate) – two receiving touchdowns

Erick Turner (Irmo) – two rushing touchdowns

Jonah Norris (Lexington) – 175 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Taiden Mines (Lexington) – 148 passing yards, touchdown

Christian Sexton (Lexington) – 15 tackles

Lexington defense – Held Chapin to -6 total yards

Cooper Johns (River Bluff) – 218 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Landon Sharpe (White Knoll) – 178 passing yards, two touchdowns

Jesse Ross (White Knoll) – 97 rushing yards

Jaiden Kimble (White Knoll) – four receptions, 87 receiving yards

Ben Sauls (W.W. King Academy) – 257 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Carson Woodward (W.W. King Academy) – two rushing touchdowns, eight tackles

The 1,000 Yard Club

Running backs Jonah Norris of Lexington, Cooper Johns of River Bluff and Ben Sauls of W.W. King Academy have all surpassed 1,000 yards through seven weeks of football. Gilbert’s Jaden Allen-Hendrix is 80 rushing yards away.

Sonic Friday Night Rivals

Another Friday, another Chronicle Country team to appear on WACH 57. This week, Irmo plays host to Ridge View in a critical Region 4-4A contest. The game can be seen on Spectrum (Channel 1250) or streamed at www.wach.com.

By the Numbers

Dutch Fork will look to extend its 28-game winning streak in region play and 41-game regular season winning streak against South Carolina-based teams. Pelion will play host to Fox Creek Oct. 6. It is the fourth Thursday game of the season for the Panthers, who are 2-1 in those games. Gray Collegiate Academy quarterback Riley Staton has thrown for 1,558 yards and 17 touchdowns. Northside Collegiate Academy opponent Georgia School for Innovation and Classics Charter is 0-12 all-time in footbball.

Quotable

“Coming over here in their place, too, and just crazy week, and the game ended up being kind of being a crazy, wild game too. But our guys kept her cool when all the crazy things went on. I mean, we had the lights blow out in the game. I mean, so it was one of those crazy nights, but our guys kept cool, calm, composed, and finished to deal with a 23-point win in region play. So I’m excited about that.” – Gilbert head football coach Chad Leaphart after the win over Lower Richland.