THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

A regular season marred by hurricanes and bad weather now heads into the post-season. 11 Chronicle Country teams will begin their quest for SC High School League state championships

(schedule, Page B3).

There’s no shortage of match-up storylines.

3-PEAT QUEST

Defending 2-time Class 5A champion Dutch Fork enters the post-season looking to extend several streaks: - 20 straight overall wins - 16 straight road victories - 10 straight playoff victories

Should the Silver Foxes advance to the third round, it would need to win twice on the road to return to Williams-Brice Stadium for the Dec. 7 state final.

HOMEFIELD ADVANTAGE

“The Swamp” will hold its first-ever home football playoff game when River Bluff plays Conway. The Gators (8-1) can break their school record for victories set in 2014.

Gilbert and Airport will also hold first-round home games. Region 3-2A champion Gray Collegiate will play its first-round Class 2A playoff “home” game at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium at Benedict College against Latta.

REMATCH ANYONE?

Lexington is 1 of 6 Chronicle Country teams opening the playoffs on the road. The Wildcats travel to Conway to face Carolina Forest in a rematch of last year’s post-season opener won by the Panthers 34-21 in Lexington.

WEEK 11 TEAM OF THE WEEK - Swansea

After an 0-7 start, the Tigers have won three consecutive games to end the regular season. They posted a season-high in points in defeating Calhoun County 42-22.

WEEK 11 PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Marcus Dwyer III (Pelion)

The Panthers’ running back had a career-best 136 yards and 2 TDs in the 48-8 win over C.A. Johnson.

WEEK 11 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 178 passing yards James Wells and Sam Greer (both of Chapin) - 9 tackles each Pryce Whitten (Pelion) - 9-17 passing, 145 yards, 2 passing TDs Travon Austin (Pelion) - 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TDs Chris Goodyear (Pelion) - 2 30-yard FGs.

NEW ALL-STAR GAME

A 3rd post-season high school football game for seniors will take place this fall.

The inaugural Columbia Metro Senior Bowl will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 22 at W.C. Hawkins Stadium with seniors from 38 Midlands public and private schools. The West team will be made mostly of Chronicle Country schools from Lexington and parts of Richland County. Irmo head football coach Reggie Kennedy will lead the West with assistant coaches Erik Kimrey (Hammond); Robert Stogner (Chapin); Marlin Taylor (Dutch Fork); Gary Smallen (River Bluff); Kirk Burnett (Airport), Phil Strickland (Newberry) and Mark Cagle (Gilbert).BSN Sports will provide the uniforms and coaches’ apparel for the game. Portions of the proceeds will go to Palmetto Children’s Hospital.

Players selected to the West team: QB – Brandon Caughman (Airport) and John Ragin (Irmo) RBs – Kendrell Flowers (Irmo); Antonio Gantt (River Bluff) and Jeremiah Green (Pelion) WRs – Travon Alston (Pelion); Keenan Coats (Swansea); Joe Pradubsri (Brookland-Cayce) and Kyser Samuel (Gray Collegiate) TE – Cleburne Gray (River Bluff) OL – Hampton Ergle (Lexington); Cameron Johnson (Dutch Fork); Sean Miller (Airport); Tyrick McCoy (Brookland-Cayce) and J.C. Redmond (Airport) DL – Kendrick Allen and Jamar Walker (both of Dutch Fork); Wyatt Hall (Lexington); Noah Johnson (River Bluff) and David Kinard (White Knoll) LBs – Josiah Commander (Dutch Fork); Dillon Cornwell (Gilbert); Logan Cripe (Lexington); Paul Edwards (Brookland-Cayce); Julius Land (Irmo) and Jake Watson (Chapin) DBs – Jacob Bannister (White Knoll); Allen Fields (Swansea); Okachi Emmanwori (Irmo); Taylor Lehman (Chapin); Cody Temples (Gilbert) and Jaewon Williams (Batesburg-Leesville) Athlete – Tay Wilson (Batesburg-Leesville) and Dante Williams (Swansea) Kickers – Coltin Hallman (River Bluff) and Alex Nelson (Chapin)

BY THE NUMBERS

Brookland-Cayce QB Reed Charpia leads all Chronicle Country players in passing with 2,699 yards and 16 TDs. Just behind Charpia is Gray Collegiate quarterback Hunter Helms, who finished the regular season with 2,657 yards and 21 TDs in winning Region 3-2A Player of the Year...River Bluff RB Braden Walker leads all Chronicle County players in rushing with 1,487 yards and 16 TDs. Dutch Fork wide receiver Gage Zirke has 1,094 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.