Another week, another round of matchups between schools within close proximity of each other. Only 8-9 miles separate Dutch Fork and Irmo. The same is true for Friday combatants Lexington and Gilbert in a game that is this week’s WACH 57 Sonic Friday Night Rivals Game of the Week (Spectrum Channel 1250 or Digital 57.2). There are other ties which seemingly link the schools facing each other:

•Head coaches Tom Knotts of Dutch Fork and Aaron Brand of Irmo worked together at Independence High School.

•Lexington High School head coach Perry Woolbright’s father, Marty, formerly coached at Gilbert and the school’s winningest head coach. Current Indians’ head coach Chad Leaphart played under Marty Woolbright.

•Leaphart’s father played for Lexington’s 1950 state championship team. While last year’s meeting (won by Lexington 17-13) was the first between the Wildcats and Indians, Dutch Fork and Irmo have played 29 times since 1996. The Yellow Jackets hold a 17-12 advantage, but have dropped the last 5 meetings.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Chapin High School

The Eagles defeated longtime rival Mid-Carolina 35-20 to win “The Battle of the Bell” for the 7th consecutive year.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Hunter Helms

The Holy Cross-bound senior quarterback set a school record with 6 touchdown passes in the 63-12 win over Swansea. He finished with 402 passing yards.

WEEK 1 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Nanders Lawrence (Airport) - 112 rushing yards, 3 TDs; 44 receiving yards, TD Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 213 passing yards, 3 TDs Marvin Gantt (Batesburg-Leesville) - 155 rushing yards, 2 TDs Shauntrell Hendrix (Batesburg-Leesville) - 5 receptions, 143 yards, TD Will Way (Brookland-Cayce) - 171 rushing yards, 2 TDs Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 25-30, 265 yards, TD; 96 rushing yards, 3 TDs Cooper Evans (Chapin) - 135 rushing yards, TD; 8 receptions, 61 yards Dutch Fork defense - allowed 67 total yards (-10 rushing) against Spring Valley Jonathan Hall (Dutch Fork) - 4 rushing TDs Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 212 yards, TD Jalin Hyatt (Dutch Fork) - 6 receptions, 133 yards, TD Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 327 passing yards, 2 TDs; 2 rushing TDs Dre Harris (Gilbert) - 4 receptions, 107 yards, TD Matt Reed (Gilbert) - 10 receptions, 89 yards Taylor Mathias (Lexington) - 159 rushing yards, TD Elijah Ogden (Lexington) - 166 total yards, 3 TDs Riley Myers (River Bluff) - 115 rushing yards, 2 TDs Braden Walker (River Bluff) - 3 TDs, 84 rushing yards Aveon Smith (White Knoll) - 264 passing yards, 4 TDs; 57 rushing yards, TD T.J. Peebles (White Knoll) - 123 rushing yards, 2 TDs Luis Orellano (White Knoll) - averaged 51.4 yards per kickoff, 5 touchbacks

NEWEST HOF INDUCTEES

The Dec. 13 S.C. Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame ceremony in Myrtle Beach will have 3 inductees with Chronicle Country ties. Allen Sitterle (formerly of Lexington), Bob Hanna (formerly of Irmo) and Rusty Charpia (currently an assistant coach to his son at Brookland-Cayce) were among 9 coaches selected for enshrinement.