When Irmo and Butler clashed in Charlotte last year, it was a grueling back-and-forth affair, which wasn’t decided until overtime. Round two in Irmo was the opposite. 

Jaiden Bryant scored two early defensive touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets pulled away to a 42-14 win in their 2025 home-opener. Irmo has now won 25 straight games on its own field, dating back to 2021. 

“It feels good to be back on our turf, you know, we see things clearer out here,” head coach Aaron Brand said. “ We've won a bunch of games in a row out here, and we want to not be the group to screw that up.”

Irmo was in control the entire game thanks to a powerful first-half performance from its defense. The Yellow Jackets shut out the Bulldogs through two quarters and went into the break up 29-0. 

Bryant had the first 14 points of the game, scoring twice on defense after scooping a fumble and returning an interception in the game’s first four minutes. 

“The difference was Jaiden Bryant,” Brand said. “ He can wreck the whole game, and he can really put the offense in a bad situation. Anytime we got a guy and  anytime we get a team playing behind the sticks like we did all night, good things are going to happen.” 

Irmo’s first offensive touchdown came on its second drive of the game. The Yellow Jackets got the ball near midfield and got down to the one-yard line. There, Maleek Miller took a handoff and punched it in for the score to put the team up 21-0 in the first quarter.

On that possession, Irmo played three different quarterbacks. 

The team is still searching for stability at that position after multi-time All-State standout A.J. Brand graduated. 

Brookland-Cayce transfer Dre Dopson started the game and took the most snaps. Britton Davis also played a significant amount, making plays with his arms and legs. Airport transfer Jay Eady also took a few snaps, but transitioned to mostly being a versatile, do-it-all type player. 

Dopson and Davis are the two in contention for the full-time role. Dopson finished the game 15-19 with 211 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and two fumbles. Davis was 2-5 for eight yards in the air and 31 on the ground. 

“ We’ve got to work out some kinks at quarterback, man. It's just getting a little bit depressing,” Brand said. “ Still unsure of the system. Still unsure of our protection. Still unsure of where we are, how we're blocking. We just got to spend a little more time with those guys,”   

Irmo got back on the scoreboard in the second quarter with another defensive score. This time, the team added a safety after a bad Butler snap rolled out of the endzone. The Yellow Jackets went up 23-0, with 16 of those points coming from the defense. 

“ Really proud of that defense, especially the first half of stepping up the way they did,” Brand said. “A shutout in the first half, that's what we aimed for.”

Irmo scored one more time in the opening half. Miller found the endzone for the second time, this time coming off a 15-yard carry. He finished with 118 total yards and three touchdowns, scoring a receiving one in the second half. 

The Yellow Jackets went up 35-0 on their first drive of the second half. Dopson and Eady connected on a pass, and Eady barreled his way into the endzone for the 15-yard score. 

Butler finally put points on the board near the end of the third quarter as Irmo’s defense started to lighten up. The Bulldogs suddenly had much more success in their run game and moved downfield before running it in from two yards out. 

Miller scored his third touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Butler responded with another long drive, ending in a rushing touchdown. 

With the score sitting at 42-14, Irmo got the ball back and went on a long drive to chew the clock. The team tried to kick a field goal and extend the lead after getting stopped on third down, but the kick was blocked. 

Butler got nothing going on its final drive of the game, and Irmo took over to kill the clock. 

Irmo is off to a 3-0 start for the third year in a row. The team will be back at home next week for a game against Carolina Forest.

“ We're going to have some tough battles all year long,” Brand said. “Our schedule doesn't let us take a night off.” 

Week 2 Area Scoreboard

Spring Valley: 7, Chapin: 6

Dutch Fork: 28, Ridge View: 21

Irmo: 42. Butler (N.C.): 14

Midland Valley: 21, Lexington: 17

Nation Ford: 20, River Bluff: 17

White Knoll: 49, Brookland-Cayce: 13

Orangeburg-Wilkinson: 40, Airport: 0

Gray Collegiate: 27, Marlboro County: 14

Swansea: 35, Wagener-Salley: 0

Clear Dot: 22, American Leadership: 19

Abbeville: 23, Batesburg-Leesville: 15