THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Gray Collegiate and Gilbert are on the verge of winning region titles for the 2nd time in school history.

Both teams put themselves in position to join Dutch Fork as region champions by rallying for home victories this past Friday. The War Eagles fell behind Calhoun County 14-13 before scoring 45 unanswered points for the 58-20 victory at Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia.

Over at Leonard Price Stadium, things were more perilous for the 5th ranked Indians. After answering 9th ranked Strom Thurmond’s opening score with 17 unanswered points, Gilbert found itself down 26-17 with less than 10 minutes left.

Sparked by 2 late touchdown passes by Jy Tolen to Alec Holt and 2 key defensive stops, Gilbert came away with the 30-26 win on a night 3 fellow Top 5 teams (Dillon, Chester and May River) fell to defeat.

The Indians moved up to number 3 in the Class 3A Top 10 prep football polls, while the War Eagles remained 9th in Class 2A. More important for both teams is winning this Friday in road contests to wrap up region titles.

The War Eagles travels to Richland 1 Stadium on the campus of W.J. Keenan High School. Gilbert will head to Cordova in Orangeburg County to face Edisto and 1st year head coach and former Airport assistant coach Preston Deaver.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Dre Cook (Gilbert)

The senior outside linebacker had a season-best 13 tackles (5 tackles for loss) and a sack and rushed for 2 touchdowns.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - W.W. King Academy

The Knights became the last Chronicle Country team to post their 1st win of the season. The 27-24 win over Newberry Academy snapped a 6-game losing streak dating back to last year.

WEEK 8 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Jahmad Barr-Williams (Batesburg-Leesville) - 154 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 100 total yards, TD

Will Way (Brookland-Cayce) - 111 rushing yards

Deonte Baker (Brookland-Cayce) - 108 rushing yards, 3 TDs

Pryce Whitten (Brookland-Cayce) - 198 passing yards, 2 TDs

Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 389 total yards, 3 TDs (2 passing, 1 rushing)

Zavier Short (Chap-in) - 8 receptions, 143 yards, 2 TDs

Jon Hall (Dutch Fork) - 3 rushing TDs

Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 206 passing yards

Tyrik McDaniel (Dutch Fork) - 180 all-purpose yards, 82-yard kickoff return TD; INT

Drew Howell (Gilbert) - 15 tackles

Wells Sykes and Colten Mason (both of Gilbert) - 11 tackles each

Jarrett Cason (Gilbert) - 10 tackles

Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 282 total yards, 2 TDs

Alec Holt (Gilbert) - 4 receptions, 87 yards, 2 TDs

Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate) - 355 passing yards, 3 TDs

K.Z. Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 157 rushing yards, 5 TDs

Trenton Higgins (Gray Collegiate) - 6 receptions, 189 yards, TD

Omarion Dollison (Gray Collegiate) - 5 receptions, 102 yards, 2 TDs

Alex Reed (Lexington) - 112 kick return yards

Josiah Schrodt (Lexington) - 11 tackles

Jackson Stone (River Bluff) - 164 passing yards, 3 TDs

Riley Myers (River Bluff) - 105 rushing yards, 2 TDs

MJ Reed (Swansea) - 303 total yards, 2 TDs

Pryce Whitten (Swansea) - 160 passing yards, TD

Messiah Robinson (Swansea) - 12 tackles, fumble recovery

Jaelin Gray (White Knoll) - 212 total yards, 3 TDs

Luis Orellano (White Knoll) - 50.6 yards kickoff average; 38.5 yards punting average

Donovan Johnson (White Knoll) - 107 rushing yards

Darius Derrick-Jones (White Knoll) - 8 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TDs

STREAKS CONTINUE

The Dutch Fork football team extended its undefeated streak to 34 games with the 43-7 win over Lexington. The 3-time defending Class 5A champions also won their 33rd consecutive game versus South Carolina-based teams and 22nd straight region game.

2019 TOUCHSTONE COOPERATIVE ENERGY BOWL SELECTIONS

The North and South All-Star players were announced Monday for the Dec. 14 contest at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach. To see which Chronicle Country players were selected, and more TMQB, visit www.lexingtonchronicle.com .