The post-season is now here for 12 Chronicle Country teams. 

In the case of Irmo, however, who and where it would open took a few more days to confirm.

On Oct. 28, the S.C. High School League sanctioned Ridge View High School for using three ineligible players. As a result, the Blazers were barred from the postseason after forfeiting all their games.

This resulted in Irmo moving up to second place in Region 5-4A with an opportunity to play host to first-round home game. After the Appellate Panel voted 6-0 to uphold the sanctions, the Yellow Jackets’ playoff position remained intact. 

Different Paths to Columbia

With Region 4-5A as a ‘hybrid’ region, its teams find themselves both in the Upper and Lower State brackets.

Dutch Fork begins its quest to regain the Class 5A title in the Upper State. A potential second-round matchup with Dorman, coached by former Lexington running back Dustin Curtis looms, as well as a possible state final rematch in the Upper State final against Gaffney. White Knoll is also in the Upper State, while Lexington and River Bluff will compete in the Lower State

History Awaits 

Reaching the Class 3A title game will allow Gilbert head coach Chad Leaphart to become the school’s all-time winningest head coach. He currently at 65 wins, three behind Marty Woolbright.

Back in the Postseason

After a five-year hiatus, the Northside Christian Academy football team under head coach Dean Howell will play its first playoff game since reaching the 2017 SCISA 8-man final. River Bluff and Batesburg-Leesville also return to the playoffs after missing out last season. 

Week 10 Gridiron Giants

Korey Williams (Batesburg-Leesville) – 110 rushing yards, touchdown 

Deshaun Washington (Brookland-Cayce) – 115 rushing yards, touchdown

Tanner Staton (Brookland-Cayce) – two rushing touchdowns 

Brady Albro (Chapin) – 244 passing yards, three touchdowns 

Jarvis Green (Dutch Fork) – 289 total yards, six touchdowns 

Aliam Appler (Dutch Fork) – 225 passing yards, two touchdowns

Alias Graham-Woodberry (Gilbert) – 183 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Jaden Allen-Hendrix (Gilbert) – 139 rushing yards, two touchdowns 

Blane Redmond (Gray Collegiate) – 160 rushing yards, three touchdowns

B.J. Montgomery (Gray Collegiate) – 150 rushing yards, three touchdowns 

A.J. Brand (Irmo) – 292 total yards, three touchdowns 

Telvin Smith (Irmo) – seven receptions, 144 receiving yards

Cooper Johns (River Bluff) – 291 total yards, five touchdowns 

Parker Murray (River Bluff) – 179 yards, two touchdowns 

Collin Woodward (W.W. King Academy) - 168 rushing yards, two touchdowns; 10 tackles

Ben Sauls (W.W. King Academy) - 119 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Colby Woodward (W.W. King Academy) - 17 tackles

By the Numbers 

Dutch Fork closed out the regular season with its 14th straight region title (outright or shared), 45th consecutive regular-season win over an in-state opponent. It was also the Silver Foxes’ 41st straight road win and 32nd consecutive region victory. Linebacker Jaylen Hinton has 96 tackles and teammate John Buetow has 13 sacks, followed by Terrance Wells with 10. Head coach Tom Knotts is 14-0 in first-round playoff games. 

River Bluff head coach C. Blair Hardin is 3-0 in first-round playoffs.

Lexington linebacker Christian Sexton has 98 tackles.

Brookland-Cayce and Gilbert combined for 24 penalties for 260 yards in last week’s game. The Bearcats were penalized 14 times and the Indians 10 times.

River Bluff’s 70 points surpassed the school’s single-game record for most points previously set on Aug. 31, 2018 in a 65-6 win over Pelion. The school record for margin of victory is 62 set Sept. 6, 2019 in a shutout win also over the Panthers.

Gray Collegiate has three players with 100 or more tackles – Kaine Williams (145), Jordan Robinson (143), Blake Croft (102). 

1,000-Yard Club

Brookland-Cayce running back Naahzekiel Mays is 13 yards shy of reaching 1,000 yards, while Batesburg-Leesville’s Korey Williams needs 41 yards. The club currently includes the Bearcats’ Deshaun Washington, Lexington’s Jonah Norris, Dutch Fork’s Jarvis Green, River Bluff’s Cooper Johns, W.W. King Academy’s Ben Sauls and Gilbert’s Jaden Allen-Hendrix and Alias-Graham Woodberry. 

Mr. 2,000

Despite leaving the regular-season finale following a hard hit against Columbia, Gray Collegiate quarterback Riley Staton reached the 2,000-yard mark for the season. He’s thrown for 2,030 yards and 25 touchdowns. 

Top College Numbers by Chronicle Country Players

FS Hugh Ryan (Dutch Fork) of Furman - Named Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Week after tallying seven tackles, an interception and pass breakup in win over Chattanooga.

WR Jalin Hyatt (Dutch Fork) of Tennessee – six receptions, 138 yards, two touchdowns in win over Kentucky. He also broke the single-season school record for touchdown receptions with 14.

WR Elijah Spencer (Dutch Fork) of Charlotte – five receptions, 84 yards, three touchdowns in win over Rice

S Nick Emmanwori (Irmo) of South Carolina – eight tackles in loss to Missouri

Quotable

“Our goal now is to play that team again in five weeks.” – Lexington head coach Perry Woolbright following the 63-7 loss to Dutch Fork. The two teams could conceivably meet again in the state final.