The public high school football season started just 4 weeks ago.

With 3 weeks remaining, its now headed into the home stretch for post-season.

This year, the final 3 games are critical as only 2 teams per region will make the playoffs.

So far, Gilbert and Dutch Fork have clinched post-season berths after winning their respective regions. Gray Collegiate can become the 3rd Chronicle Country team to win a region title with a win Friday at Newberry.

Meanwhile, 2 other teams in Region 3-2A will play a ‘must-win’ game Saturday.

After missing the last 2 weeks due to covid-19 exposure, Batesburg-Leesville return to action Saturday at defending Class 2A champion Saluda.

The winner keeps its postseason hopes alive, especially if Gray Collegiate wins its game since the War Eagles holds the tiebreaker over both teams.

Friday’s contest between Chapin and Lexington game could serve as an elimination game. The winner can keep alive its playoff hopes. The same is also true for River Bluff for its road game against White Knoll.

This week’s Team of the Week helped its post-season prospects in a major way last Friday:

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Pelion

The Panthers emerged from a 22-day layoff and stunned defending Class 2A Lower State champion Barnwell 34-26 on the road. A victory this week over Edisto and Pelion can clinch a playoff berth in their 1st season back in Class 2A with a victory in its final 2 games against either Silver Bluff or Wade Hampton.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Dedrick Starkes (Irmo)

The Irmo wide receiver/defensive back made an impact on both sides of the football this past Friday. He had a 2nd half interception which stopped a potential scoring drive by Lower Richland. With the Yellow Jackets short-handed in wide receivers due to injury, he then caught 2 touchdown passes in the 28-20 win.

GRIDIRON GIANTS

Jayden Bradford (Chapin) - 175 passing yards, TD

Sam Greer (Chapin) - 13 tackles

Will Taylor (Dutch Fork) - 177 passing yards, 3 TDs

Antonio Williams (Dutch Fork) - 171 total yards, TD

Elliott Spencer (Dutch Fork) - 5 receptions, 104 yards, TD

Jarvis Green (Dutch Fork) - 95 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Colton Mason (Gilbert) - 228 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Dylan Williams (Irmo) - 3 passing TDs

Izayah Whiteside (Gilbert) - 107 passing yards, 2 TDs

Gage Gunter (Gilbert) - 4 receptions, 95 yards, TD

KZ Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 104 rushing yards, 3 TDs

Tre Robinson (Gray Collegiate) - 165 passing yards, 2 TDs

Azwan James (Pelion) - 2 TDs, 80-yard punt return TD

Pelion defense - 2 interception returns for TDs

Riley Myers (River Bluff) - 134 rushing yards, TD

River Bluff defense - forced 5 turnovers

BY THE NUMBERS

Dutch Fork has a record of 58-1-1 since 2016 and have posted 12 shutout victories during that span. It has gone 44 straight games without a loss, won 43 straight against South Carolina teams and have defeated 26 consecutive region teams and road opponents...Gilbert running back Colton Mason has rushed for 907 yards and 9 TDs...Chapin linebacker Sam Greer has 53 tackles. Teammate wide receiver Zavier Short has 25 receptions for 292 yards and 3 TDs...Dutch Fork quarterback Will Taylor has thrown for 1,046 yards and 15 TDs. Teammate wide receiver Elijah Spencer has 23 receptions for 503 yards and 8 TDs. Antonio Williams has 435 kick returns yards and 2 touchdowns and 818 all-purpose yards 7 touchdowns...Gray Collegiate running back KZ Adams has rushed for 831 yards and 8 TDs.

THE LEAPHART ERA

Prior to head coach Chad Leaphart’s arrival at his alma mater Gilbert High School in 2016, the school had never won a region title in football. This past Friday, the Indians clinched their 3rd Region 5-3A title in 5 years under Leaphart. He has a record of 45-8 and is 3 wins shy of surpassing Barry Harley for 2nd in career wins at Gilbert. Marty Woolbright, the father of Lexington head coach Perry Woolbright, is the leader with 67 career wins.

SCHEDULE UPDATES

Batesburg-Leesville’s road game at Saluda will take place at 11 am Saturday. The Panthers will then face Columbia on Oct. 30 in another rescheduled Region 3-2A contest.

In Class 5A, Irmo will play host to Lugoff-Elgin this Friday at WC Hawkins Stadium in a contest originally scheduled for Nov. 5.

STADIUM RULES

Fans will have to follow different protocols in attending games this season:

•Stadium capacity for Lexington District 1 will be at 20%. This means 1,000 fans maximum at Lexington, River Bluff and White Knoll and 800 for Gilbert and Pelion. Lexington District 2 and Lexington-Richland District 5 was approved for 50 percent stadium capacity.

• Masks are required at all times for outdoor high school sporting events. The SC High School League will permit the removal of masks for brief periods of time for eating and drinking.

•Social distancing will be enforced and fans will be asked to wear masks near others and at the concession stands.

•Fans are asked to pre-purchase tickets at their schools. If paying at the booth, fans are asked to bring exact change.

QUOTABLES

“It is very sweet because I don’t think a lot of people gave us a shot to repeat as region champs because we graduated so many starters from last years team.” Add (Brookland-Cayce) and (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) to the region and that made it a lot tougher. I’m just really proud of our guys. They come to work everyday and it pays off.” - Gilbert head coach Chad Leaphart.

“Starkes was the man. We lined Starkes up. If he wasn’t a decoy, he was out making the plays. He probably led us in tackles. He had 2 touchdowns receiving. He’s a heck of a player.” - Irmo head coach Aaron Brand about wide receiver/ defensive back Dedrick Starkes.

NOTE TO COACHES

Send your game statistics to chroniclesports@yahoo.com by Monday evening to help recognize your players in TMQB.

FRIDAY’S GAMES

(Start time is 7:30 pm)

Chesnee at Airport

Brookland-Cayce at Orangeburg-Wilkinson

Lexington at Chapin

Spring Valley at Dutch Fork

Swansea at Gilbert

Gray Collegiate at Newberry

Lugoff-Elgin at Irmo

Charleston Collegiate at Northside Christian

River Bluff at White Knoll

Edisto at Pelion

WW King Academy is idle

SATURDAY’S GAME

Batesburg-Leesville at Saluda 11 am