It’s only two weeks into the high school playoffs and only seven Chronicle Country teams remain in the hunt.

However, many of the matchups are truly worthy of being called “championship worthy.”

Dorman at Dutch Fork – These two teams aren’t strangers, especially in Class 5A state title games. The Silver Foxes prevailed twice in dramatic fashion. The 2017 win was decided on a stopped two-point conversion tackle by now Furman linebacker Hugh Ryan and the 2019 overtime contest was decided on now Clemson baseball player Tyler Olenchuk’s touchdown pass to now Tennessee wide receiver Jalin Hyatt.

The Cavaliers do hold the distinction of handing Dutch Fork its last home playoff loss on Nov. 27, 2015. Since then, the Silver Foxes have won 20 straight games in Irmo. 

Lexington at Summerville – A Lower State clash between two teams with similar resumes both in overall record, Top 10 rankings, and first-round shutout wins. The Wildcats and Green Wave also split their last two meetings in 2009 and 2010. 

Saluda at Gray Collegiate – A matchup of two of the last three Class 2A state champions. The War Eagles have won eight straight after an 0-3 start and have won the last two meetings against the Tigers. The game will take place at Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia, where Gray Collegiate is undefeated all-time. 

Faith Christian vs. W.W. King Academy – The Knights of Batesburg are a victory away from their first SCISA 8-man final since 2016. It was also the last time the team posted double-digit victories. Standing in the way are the Knights of Summerville who have won eight straight after an 0-2 start. The winners face either two-time defending champion Holly Hill Academy or Richard Winn in the Nov. 18 final at a site to be determined. 

Brookland-Cayce at Dillon – The two teams have only met twice, both in the postseason with the Wildcats coming out on top. Playing a regular schedule that included seven playoff games should prepare the Bearcats for this tilt near South of the Border.  The game will be available at https://thedove1620.com/

Irmo at James Island – It’s the first meeting between the Yellow Jackets and Trojans. Irmo has won three straight, while the Trojans are riding a six-game winning streak since suffering their lone loss to Cane Bay.

Manning at Gilbert – Another first-time playoff matchup with two teams with similar resumes. The Indians look to post their fourth 10-win season under head coach Chad Leaphart, who’s only three wins shy of becoming the school’s all-time winningest head coach.  This also marks the return of former Irmo head football coach Reggie Kennedy to Chronicle Country. 

First-Round Playoff Gridiron Giants

Naahzeikiel Mays (Brookland-Cayce) – 163 rushing yards, four touchdowns 

Jarvis Green (Dutch Fork) – 262 total yards, three touchdowns

Aliam Appler (Dutch Fork) – 193 passing yards, three touchdowns

Jaylen Hinton (Dutch Fork) – 10 tackles 

B.J. Montgomery (Gray Collegiate) – 90 rushing yards, three touchdowns

Blaine Redmond (Gray Collegiate) – 100 rushing yards, touchdown 

Devin Johnson (Gray Collegiate) – two touchdowns 

Drake Braddock (Gilbert) – 148 passing yards, touchdown

Jaden Allen-Hendrix and Alias Graham-Woodberry (Gilbert) – two touchdowns each 

Taiden Mines (Lexington) – 237 passing yards, three touchdowns; one rushing touchdown

Kamadi Maxwell (Lexington) – five receptions, 177 yards, two touchdowns

Lexington defense – held Wando to 74 total yards 

Parker Murray (River Bluff) – 160 passing yards, two touchdowns

Cooper Johns (River Bluff) – 167 rushing yards, two touchdowns

Blaine Blose (River Bluff) – five receptions, 102 yards

Landon Sharpe (White Knoll) – 345 passing yards, four touchdowns; rushing touchdown

Austin Cunningham (White Knoll) – eight receptions, 103 yards, two touchdowns

Hasan Lee (White Knoll) – eight receptions, 153 yards, two touchdowns

1,000-Yard Club

Brookland-Cayce running back Naahzeikiel Mays and Batesburg-Leesville’s Korey Williams became the latest members of this Chronicle Country group. The club currently already included 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. 

Homecoming for Coaches 

A pair of former Lexington High School graduates turned state championship head coaches will make their return to Chronicle Country for the second round of the playoffs.

Dorman head football coach Dustin Curtis is in his first year with the program. The former Wildcats’ running back previously led A.C. Flora to the 2020 Class 4A title. 

When the Cavaliers face Dutch Fork, Dorman boys’ basketball coach Thomas Ryan will be in the radio booth. The former Wildcats’ guard has led his team to four state titles in his tenure. 

The broadcast can be heard on wspa.com. 

Palmetto I-20 Classic

The Palmetto I-20 Classic, a game featuring All-Star high school players from the Midlands, is set for Dec. 9 at Zemp Stadium in Camden. 

The coaching staff for Team Nasty (a roster of players from Lexington County and Richland One) will be lead by Irmo head coach Aaron Brand. The assistants are Gilbert’s Chad Leaphart (tight end), River Bluff’s C. Blair Hardin (running backs), Irmo assistant Don Tolliver (wide receiver), Lexington assistant Adam Gamble (offensive line), Dutch Fork assistant Scott Braswell (defensive coordinator, defensive backs), Brookland-Cayce assistant Stacey Bell (defensive line), W.J. Keenan assistant Ray McLeod (inside linebacker) and White Knoll assistant Kenny Freeman (outside linebackers).

Team Savage will consist of players from Richland School District Two, Kershaw, Sumter, Fairfield, Lee and Lancaster counties.