The high school football season started with 18 Chronicle Country teams. Only 1 is still playing.

That’s 2-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork High. And the Silver Foxes have a chance to “3-Peat”.

They were the lone survivors. “Black Friday” took down 6 other local squads:

•Central 21, Batesburg-Leesville 0

•Hartsville 68, Brookland-Cayce 35

•Bamberg-Ehrhardt 56, Gray Collegiate 22

•May River 27, Gilbert 7

•Berkeley 32, River Bluff 14

•Dillon 43, Swansea 6

Dutch Fork stormed from its first scoring deficit all season and first since the first quarter of last year’s Class 5A final against Dorman.

The Sliver Foxes defeated West Ashley 63-20. It was their 22nd consecutive victory and added to its list of impressive numbers: 38-1 in 3 seasons

•20 consecutive region wins

•10 straight playoff wins

•8th season with 10 or more wins under head coach Tom Knotts

•Outscored opponents 606-83

•Scored 50 or more points 10 times this season

•Scored 60 or more points 6 times this season

To reach the title game for the 6th time in 7 years, Dutch Fork will have to win 2 road games.

Up first is West Florence, a 27-20 winner over last year’s Lower State finalist Fort Dorchester.

The Knights (11-1) have won 7 straight games since a 31-28 home setback to Camden Sept. 28.

Under 1st-year head coach Jody Jenerette, West Florence won the Region 6-5A title averaging 44 points a game.

This is the 2nd straight year the 2 teams have met in the post-season and 2nd time overall.

Last year, the Silver Foxes scored 28 unanswered points to break a 14-14 tie and win 42-14.

The winner travels to either Berkeley or Summerville for the Lower State final.

Dutch Fork is 5-0 all-time against Summerville. However, it’s winless in 2 tries against Berkeley. The last meeting was in 2009.

The Silver Foxes have won 16 consecutive road games. Friday marks the first playoff game outside Irmo since it defeated J.F. Byrnes 31-21 in the Class 4A final in 2013.

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYOFF GRIDIRON GIANTS

Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 19-29 passing, 356 yards, 4 TDs Gage Zirke (Dutch Fork) - 9 receptions, 177 yards Ron Hoff (Dutch Fork) - 5 TDs (3 receiving, 2 receiving) Darrius Bell (Gilbert) - 7 tackles, sack Riley Myers (River Bluff) - 107 yards Jackson Stone (River Bluff) - 138 passing yards, 2 TDs

HISTORIC SEASONS

River Bluff and Gray Collegiate both set or tied school records for victories.

The Gators finished 9-2 and also advanced to the second round of the Class 5A playoffs for the 1st time. They were shorthanded for the contest at Berkeley due to injuries suffered by running back Braden Walker and quarterback Michael Rikard.

Meanwhile, Gray Collegiate won seven games for the second straight year and claimed a first-ever Region 3-2A title and playoff victory.

PALMETTO CHAMPIONS ALL-STARS

Dutch Fork linebacker Josiah Commander and Gilbert defensive lineman Darrius Bell were recognized by the SC Football Coaches Association.

Commander was chosen as the top Lower State Class 5A linemen, while Bell earned the honor in Class 3A.