Having a week to prepare for a formidable foe like Dutch Fork is one thing.

In the cases of River Bluff and Lexington, they have the luxury of 2 weeks. A timely ‘bye’ week has given both schools extra time to prepare for key Region 5-5A matchups against the defending 3-time Class 5A champions.

“We have focused on cleaning up a few things on defense and using the bye week to teach and get healthy,” River Bluff head coach C. Blair Hardin said.

For the 2nd straight year, the two teams enter the contest with undefeated records. Last year’s meeting saw the Silver Foxes roll to a 56-14 win in The Swamp as they scored on the first 8 possessions.

The Gators (6-0) are counting on a year of experience to serve them well in the rematch.

“Dutch Fork is an excellent football team,” Hardin said. “They are extremely disciplined and play with great fundamentals. Our goal is to play very tough and with a lot of discipline. The game comes down to blocking and tackling which they do a great job.”

The winner will retain a share of first place in Region 5-5A with idle Lexington. Should Dutch Fork (5-0-1) win, it would extend their ongoing winning streaks:

- 32 straight games without a loss

- 31 straight wins over in-state foes

- 21 straight road wins

- 21 straight region wins

- 6 straight games with 40 or more points

For the 2nd straight week, WACH FOX 57's Sonic Friday Night Rivals will air a game from Irmo. Stacey Hough and former Chapin and University of South Carolina offensive lineman Mason Zandi will call the game. It will be shown on WACH 57.2/Spectrum Cable 1250 and streamed on www.wach.com and the WACH Fox app. 

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - K.Z. Adams (Gray Collegiate)

The War Eagles’ running back had 180 yards and 3 touchdowns in the 28-26 win over Class A number-one Lamar. It was the 2nd straight year Gray Collegiate has defeated the Silver Foxes on the road.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Irmo

Playing before a televised audience on WACH 57, the Yellow Jackets rallied for a dramatic 27-26 win over Spring Valley. Tracy Williams’ 22-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left and PAT by Angel Camarena earned Irmo its first region win over new head coach Aaron Brand.

WEEK 6 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Nanders Lawrence (Airport) - 2 receiving TDs

Markco Gilmore (Airport) - 2 passing TDs

Haiden Rimer (Airport) - Game-winning field goal as time expired.

THURSDAY MORNING

QUARTERBACK

Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 140 passing yards

Will Way (Brookland-Cayce) - 3 rushing TDs

Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 169 passing yards

Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 311 passing yards, 6 TDs

Jalin Hyatt (Dutch Fork) - 134 receiving yards, 2 TDs

Jonathan Hall (Dutch Fork) - 96 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 374 passing yards, 5 TDs (all in 1st half)

Alec Holt (Gilbert) - 5 receptions, 89 yards, 3 TDs

Dre Harris (Gilbert) - 3 receptions, 100 yards, TD

Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate) - 150 passing yards, TD

Noah Powell and Braylen Scott-Joyner (both of Gray Collegiate) - 10 tackles each

Tracy Williams (Irmo) - 209 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Taylor Mathias (Lexington) - 165 rushing yards, TD

Ahmad Bynem-Scott (Lexington) - 89 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Elijah Ogden (Lexington) - 173 passing yards, 2 TDs

Jayden Geiger (Lexington) - 117 receiving yards, TD

Tristan Allen (Lexington) - 47.3 yards punt average

Joey Mcroberts (Northside Christian) - 109 rushing yards

Andrew Walke (Northside Christian) - 113 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 11 tackles

Max Mckenna (Northside Christian) - 150 rushing yards, 2 TDs; 7-13 passing, 3 TDs

Charlie Compton (Northside Christian) - 2 TD receptions.

Pryce Whitten (Swansea) - 140 passing yards

Aveon Smith (White Knoll) - 269 total yards, 3 TDs

Darius Derrick-Jones (White Knoll) - 135 kick return yards

AVEON SMITH OUT

The senior season of White Knoll quarterback Aveon Smith ended abruptly this past Friday after he tore his left ACL in the 45-27 loss to Lexington. Fellow senior Jaelin Gray will replace Smith in the lineup. Read more right now at www.lexingtonchronicle.com .

MILESTONES

Dutch Fork quarterback Ty Olenchuk posted his 2nd career 6-touchdown game this past Friday. In the process of tying that school record, he surpassed 7,000 career passing yards.

At Gilbert, head coach Chad Leaphart became the fastest coach to 35 career wins in 4 seasons at his alma mater. He trails only Marty Woolbright (67) and Barry Harley

(47) for school wins.