CLOSING TIME

To quote Yogi Berra, it’s getting late early.

For several Chronicle Country teams, it’s “make or break” time to earn post-season berths or even region championships.

Undefeated and 2-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork (8-0, 3-0) entered its bye week wrapping up the Region 5-5A title with the 51-7 win over Lexington. It was the Silver Foxes’ 19th consecutive win both overall and in region play and 16th straight road victory.

The most competitive race right now is in Region 5-4A. Airport (5-3, 2-1) and Brookland-Cayce (5-3, 2-1) are locked in a 4-way tie for first place with South Aiken and North Augusta.

Victories over South Aiken by the Eagles and Aiken by the Bearcats this Friday sets up a potential “winner take all” rematch at Fort Knox on Oct. 26. Brookland-Cayce won the first meeting 32-14.

Meanwhile, a 3-game winning streak has Gray Collegiate (4-4, 2-0) in position to clinch their first-ever region title with a victory Friday over Eau Claire at Spirit Communications Park in Columbia.

A team which will have to wait a week earn a shot at a region title is Irmo. The idle Yellow Jackets and head coach Reggie Kennedy will play host to his former team and Region 4-5A leader Sumter (7-0, 2-0) to determine a share or the outright region champion.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK - Swansea, W.W. King and Northside Christian

And then there were none. The Tiger, Knights and Crusaders became the last Chronicle Country teams to earn their first victories of the season. Swansea defeated archrival Pelion 22-14, W.W. King upended Tri-Academy 34-20 and Northside Christian beat Christian Academy 50-18 on “Homecoming” for their first win in 11-man football.

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

The War Eagles’ running back rallied his team with a career-best 276 yards and 6 touchdowns in the 43-22 win over Calhoun County.

WEEK 8 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Brandon Caughman (Airport) - 314 passing yards, TD, 3 rushing TDs

Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 185 passing yards.

Connor Lehman & James Wells (both of Chapin) - 11 tackles

Sam Greer (Chapin) - 10 tackles

Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 348 passing yards, 3 TDs

Jalin Hyatt (Dutch Fork) - 9 receptions, 125 yards, 2 TDs

Gage Zirke (Dutch Fork) - 8 receptions, 176 yards, TD

Ron Hoff (Dutch Fork) - 105 total yards, 2 TDs

Jonathan Hall (Dutch Fork) - 102 total yards, TD

Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 74 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Kendrell Flowers (Irmo) - 169 rushing yards, 3 TDs

Dylan Williamson (Pelion) - 12 tackles, 2 sacks

Jeremiah Green (Pelion) - 100-plus rushing yards.

Braden Walker (River Bluff) - 346 rushing yards, 4 TDs

Aveon Smith (White Knoll) - 155 total yards, TD

1,000-YARD RUSHING CLUB

River Bluff running back Braden Walker has now rushed for 1,153 yards.

Read more now at www.lexingtonchronicle.com .