It’s “Homecoming Week” at certain Chronicle Country high schools

Both Pelion and Northside Christian Academy have scheduled events leading into their respective Friday matchups.

The Panthers will play host to Ridgeland-Hardeeville, while the Crusaders will play its lone varsity game against Calhoun Falls at Palmetto State Armory Field.

Then there’s the unofficial “Homecoming” for 5-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork.

After 3 straight road games to open the season, the Silver Foxes will finally get a home game this Friday against Friday.

A scheduled home game against in-town rival Irmo on Sept. 3 was cancelled due to covid-19 issues with the Yellow Jackets.

This is also the Silver Foxes’ 1st home game since the untimely passing of offensive lineman Jack Alkhatib. The team has dedicated their “Shoot for 6(0)” to Alkhatib, even carrying a banner with his 60 jersey number on a flag to the field prior to this past Friday’s game against Greenwood.

The 56-16 win extended Dutch Fork’s road winning streak to 30 games. This Friday against the Vikings, the Silver Foxes will look to extend 2 other streaks:

- 53 consecutive games without a loss

- 52 straight in-state victories

The Silver Foxes not only remain the unaminous number 1 in Class 5A high school sports rankings, but are now 23rd in USA Today’s High School Sports Super 25.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Batesburg-Leesville

Covid-19 issues kept the Panthers out of action the past 2 weeks. They finally played a home game this past Friday and defeated 8th ranked Lewisville 13-6 to even their mark at 1-1 on the season.

WEEK 4 GRIDIRON GIANTS

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - WR Antonio Williams (Dutch Fork)

The Silver Foxes’ senior dominated on offense and special teams against Greenwood. He had 8 receptions for 150 yards and a touchdown and had 3 kick returns for 165 yards, including a 96-yard touchdown.

Camarious Long (Batesburg-Leesville) - 108 passing yards, 2 TDs

Ziggy Merritt (Batesburg-Leesville) - 3 receptions, 107 yards, 2 TDs

Jayden Bradford (Chapin) - 121 passing yards, TD; 50 rushing yards, TD

Bennett Galloway (Chapin) - 155 rushing yards, TD; 4 receptions, 66 receiving yards, TD

Davin Patterson (Dutch Fork) - 303 passing yards, 4 TDs

Jarvis Green (Dutch Fork) - 99 rushing yards, TD Chris Wicker (Dutch Fork) - 10

Chris Wicker (Dutch Fork) - 10 tackles

THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Chance Jennings (Gilbert) - 176 passing yards, TD, 49 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Riley Barnes (Gilbert) - 3-4 on PATs

Alias Graham-Woodberry (Gilbert) - 124 rushing yards, TD

Jonah Norris (Lexington) - 155 passing yards, 4 TDs

Taiden Mines (Lexington) - 146 passing yards

Blake Smith (Lexington) - 3 interceptions

Lexington defense - Allowed 112 total yards and forced 5 turnovers

Hunter Sheppard (River Bluff) - 113 passing yards, 2 TDs

Gray Herring (River Bluff) - 106 rushing yards, TD

Austin Cunningham (White Knoll)

- 119 passing yards, TD; 57 rushing yards

Jaquez Frederick (White Knoll) - 110 total yards

Chase Rivers (White Knoll) - 13 tackles

Hayden Cushman (White Knoll) - 11 tackles

Collin Woodward (WW King Academy)

WW King Academy defense - 4 interceptions

FREE FOOTBALL

The Midlands were privy to 3 games which went past regulation this past Friday.

The Swamp was 1 of those places as fans witnessed a triple-overtime thriller against Laurens. The game was tied at 7-7 at the end of 4 quarters. It was deadlocked at 14-14 entering the 3rd overtime when Gary Herring scored on a 6-yard touchdown run to put the Gators on top. Thomas Powell’s interception sealed the 21-14 victory.

HALL OF FAME GAME AT LEXINGTON HIGH SCHOOL

Friday’s “Battle of the Dam” game between host team Lexington and Irmo will feature a halftime cer emony for thr 2020 Lexington High School Athletics Hall of Fame class.

This year’s inductees are:

•Maureen Dunnagan Harmon (golf 2004-2010)

•Drew Harris (cross-country, track and field 2004-2010)

•Josh Reagan (baseball 2011-2013)

•Lauren Stephenson (golf 2009-2015)

•Brian Foulks (basketball, football 1990-93)

The selections were made in June 2020 and pushed back to this year. Due to the current circumstances of covid-19, all pre-game festivities and cancelled and the ceremony will be shortened to the halftime presentation.

QUOTABLE

“It’s a tough thing. These seniors have really had it tough. Last year, their season was cut short as underclassmen. This year, as seniors, you’re fighting to get a game each week and then you want to strive to play in those All-Star games. The Shrine Bowl and (Touchstone Cooperatives Bowl), those are 2 All-Star games and now, it just cuts the number in half of who can go to All-Star Games. So it’s a shame. “Those people who make those decisions, they’ve got to make them and stuff like that I guess what they think best. But it really hurts those kids just the fact they don’t get to play them. And not just because they may not be going to play in college, but that’s a great experience. I just know from coaching in the (Touchdown Cooperatives Bowl), it’s a great experience just to go to be a part of that All-Star game. Not everybody gets to play in college, but just the experience is going to be cut out for a lot of kids.”

Lexington head coach Perry Woolbright on the decision not to play the 2021 Shrine Bowl. He served on the South coaching staff at the 2019 Touchstone Cooperatives Bowl.