THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Week 10 is filled with contests with playoff ramifications.

For the 2nd consecutive year, longtime rivals Airport (7-2, 4-0) and Brookland-Cayce (6-3, 4-0) will end the regular season playing for the Region 5-4A title. It’s the 2nd meeting this season between the 2 teams, with the Bearcats holding off a late rally to win 35-32 at Fort Knox.

Airport also dropped the 1st meeting last year, before avenging the loss and defeating B-C 38-27 in Cayce. The Eagles forced 4 turnovers and current starter Markco Coleman ended up finishing the game in place of the injured Brandon Caughman.

This time, the game takes place in West Columbia. It’s also Hall of Fame night when the school will enshrine former football standout and longtime head coach Ray Stackley and former football and wrestling standout the late Raymond Hall-man.

In Class 5A, Lexington (7-2, 3-1) and River Bluff (7-2, 1-2) will clash in The Swamp with the winner claiming 2nd place in Region 5-5A and a 1st round home playoff game.

In Class 3A, Swansea (3-6, 1-2) plays host to Edisto (6-3, 1-2) in a matchup to determine 3rd place out of Region 5-3A.

In Class 2A, Batesburg-Leesville (5-4, 3-1) travels to Saluda (7-2, 3-1) with the winner finishing in 2nd place in Region 2-3A. The Panthers hold a 46-21 lead in the 7-decade long series, but have lost the last 4 meetings. Meanwhile, Gray Collegiate Academy (6-3, 3-0) can claim the Region 3-2A title outright with a win over C.A. Johnson (4-5, 3-1). The game will take place at Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - White Knoll

After a 5-0 start, the Timber-wolves had dropped 3 straight games following the season-ending knee injury to starting quarterback Aveon Smith. The injury bug struck again this past Friday when Touchstone Cooperative Energy Bowl South All-Star selection Luis Orellana suffered a leg injury during the matchup with River Bluff. Despite the adversity, resilient White Knoll held on for the 14-10 win over the 7th ranked Gators.

CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK - Ahmad Bynem-Scott (Lexington) & Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate Academy)

Bynem-Scott, a senior Wildcat running back had 183 of his career-high 243 yards in the 1st half of the 41-14 win over Chapin. He also surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the season.

A Holy Cross commit, Helms is a 2-time honoree after throwing for 228 yards and 7 touchdowns in the 62-0 win over Eau Claire.

WEEK 8 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Markco Gilmore (Airport) - 144 total yards, 2 TDs

Malachi Brown, Skylar King, Peyton Whitten and Deondre Baker (all of Brookland-Cayce) - 2 TDs each

Roger Pedroni (Chapin) - 310 passing yards

Zavier Short (Chapin) - 10 receptions, 167 yards, 2 TDs

Zion Wallace (Chapin) - 130 kick return yards, INT

Jack Riley (Chapin) - 10 tackles

Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 221 passing yards, 3 TDs

Elijah Ogden (Lexington) - 154 passing yards, 3 TDs; 1 rushing TD

Levi Gulasa (Lexington) - 11 tackles

Lexington defense - 5 forced turnovers

Braden Walker (River Bluff) - 102 rushing yards, TD

Jaelin Gray (White Knoll) - 155 passing yards, 2 TDs

STREAKING SILVER FOXES

After a break this past Friday, defending 3-time Class 5A champion Dutch Fork returns to action Friday at White Knoll. The Silver Foxes enter the contest on a 34-game undefeated streak, as well as having won 33 straight against South Carolina teams, 22 consecutive in region play and 21 games in a row on the road. They have also won the last 9 meetings against the Timber-wolves.

PALMETTO CHAMPION

Gilbert quarterback Jy Tolen was named the Palmetto Champions Class 3A Lower State Back of the Year by the S,C. Football Coaches Association. The senior has thrown for 2,762 yards and 31 touchdowns for the Indians. He will receive the award at the Dec. 5 All-Star Football Banquet at Seawell’s in Columbia where he will compete with 7 other Upper and Lower State Back of the Year winners for the overall award.

BY THE NUMBERS

Gray Collegiate quarterback Hunter Helms has thrown for 3,063 yards and 35 TDs. Wide receiver Omarian Dollison has 67 receptions for 1,241 yards and 17 TDs. Running back K.Z. Adams has rushed for 1,018 yards and 23 TDs. Linebacker Dalton Shumpert has 100 tackles...Chapin quarterback Roger Pedrioni became the school’s career passing leader...Gilbert wide receiver Alec Holt has caught 15 touchdowns and has 31 receptions for 646 receiving yards.