From an atmosphere and expectation standpoint, the "Showdown in L Town" lived up to its billing.
Top 10 Archrivals Lexington and River Bluff battled for first place in Region 5-5A. The intensity on the Wildcat Stadium field matched the passion displayed by the capacity-filled home and visitor stands.
The blue and gold faithful would have more to celebrate as the Wildcats rolled to a 48-21 victory over the Gators.
The efforts of River Bluff running back Cooper Johns, who finished with 255 rushing yards and two touchdowns, were overwhelmed by Lexington's offense. Backfield counterpart Jonah Norris rushed for 259 yards and four touchdowns and quarterback Taiden Mines and wide receiver Jarrod Mewborn hooked up for three touchdown pass plays.
Defensively, Christian Sexton had 10 tackles and Braydon Woolbright had two interceptions.
“Our guys finally played a complete game,” Lexington head coach Perry Woolbright said. “Every game we’ve played hard. We’ve played good and we kind of had some letdowns in one quarter or not. But our guys finally played a big game.”                                                                                                                                                     

The Wildcat faithful had plenty to celebrate early as their team jumped out to a 208-0 advantage. Norris put Lexington on the board on the opening drive with a 15-yard scoring run, while the Gators' first drive was stopped after Christian Sexton tackled Gray Herring short on fourth down at the 7-yard line.
Mines and Mewborn scored their first touchdown early in the sec
ond quarter on a 14-yard pass play. On Lexington's next series, Norris bounced off the line of scrimmage and broke free for a 53-yard touchdown.
After Woolbright's first interception, Mines found Mewborn again from 26 yards to complete the Wildcats' scoring run. River Bluff finally got on the board on a two-yard touchdown run by Johns set up by a personal foul penalty by Lexington.
The Wildcats answered back with a 48-yard touchdown pass by Mines to Mewborn to make it 35-7.                                                                                                         

Mines finished with 188 yards, 135 to Mewborn on five catches.                       

 With 46 left before halftime, a 29-yard run by Johns set up a 28-yard touchdown pass by quarterback Parker Murray to Alejandro Ambriz to make it 35-14 at halftime.
River Bluff started the second half backed up at its own two-yard line. It took just one burst through the line of scrimmage by Johns to sprint 97 yards for a touchdown.
Lexington answered with two third quarter touchdown runs of five yards and 69 yards by Norris to close out the scoring.
"Offensively, we didn't move the ball when we needed to," River Bluff head coach C. Blair Hardin said. "Defensively, we gave up big plays and got our butt kicked."
River Bluff (5-2, 1-1) will have a bye Oct. 14 while Lexington (6-1, 2-0) travels to face another crosstown rival White Knoll.

Dutch Fork 52, White Knoll 0

The top-ranked Silver Foxes responded from its first regular-season loss since 2017 by posting its 18th shutout win since 2016.
Jarvis Green rushed for 150 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half, and quarterback Aliam Appler threw for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Chandler Perry had a 39-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown and the defense held the Timberwolves (6-2, 0-2) to 49 total yards. The game ended with a 28-yard field goal by Justin Welch.
It was the 42nd consecutive regular-season win against Palmetto State teams and 29th straight region win for Dutch Fork (6-1, 1-0). Up next is a visit to River Bluff
Dutch Fork (6-1, 1-0) plays host to Chapin Oct. 14.

Gilbert 43, Swansea 13

Alias Graham-Woodberry rushed for three touchdowns and his 86 rushing yards moved him closer to reaching 1,000 yards for the sixth-ranked Indians.
Gilbert scored all of its points in the first two quarters to have a 43-6 lead at halftime.
Jaden Allen-Hendrix rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown and Drake Braddock threw for 161 yards and a touchdwon for Gilbert (5-2, 2-0).
Jacob Harper threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns, both caught by Justin Gissendanner who had six receptions for 164 yards.
The Indians play host to Orangeburg-Wilkinson Oct 14, while the Tigers (3-4, 0-2) platys host to Lower Richland.

Holly Hill Academy 62, W.W. King 18

The Knights suffered their first loss of the season at the hands of the two-time defending SCISA 8-man  champion Raiders. 

It was the 28th consecutive victory by Holly Hill Academy (6-0, 2-0). 

W.W. King Academy (6-1, 3-0)  plays host to Laurens Academy. 

Ridge View 40, Irmo 37 (OT)

Aaron Brand rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two scores in the overtime loss to the Blazers. 

Irmo (4-3, 0-2) travels to A.C. Flora Oct. 14. 

Northside Christian 54, GSIC Charter 14

Jefferson McCallum threw for 152 yards and three touchdowns, two to Sam Burks , as the Crusaders snapped a two-game losing streak.

At halftime of "Homecoming", former three-sport athlete Charlie Compton was inducted into the school's Hall of Fame. 

Northside Christian Academy (5-2, 2-0)  travels to Bethesda Academy Oct. 14.

Gray Collegiate 27, Fairfield Central 14
Midland Valley 38, Airport 19

Silver Bluff 29, Batesburg-Leesville 14