With most of the major non-region games wrapped up, local teams will now shift focus to succeeding in conference play. 

During the region season, games get a lot more competitive and the stakes are much higher. Since the conference standings are used to determine playoff seeding, one game can be the difference between hosting round one and having to travel into hostile territory. 

A few teams already got these festivities started. Northside Christian is a perfect (6-0) this season and already two games into region play. Swansea also got things going last week, losing to Camden. 

For teams like Dutch Fork and Gilbert, region time is a chance to prove what they’ve shown in the first half of the year. They believe they are contenders in their classification, and winning a conference title would help cement that statement. 

Neither can get caught slipping, though, as plenty of other teams will be looking to knock them off. 

The Silver Foxes play in one of the toughest regions in football. River Bluff, Lexington and Chapin all made it through the non-region with winning records. White Knoll, while struggling now, was projected to be a top team in 5A during the preseason. 

Gilbert will also have to go through a few local teams, as Airport, Brookland-Cayce and Swansea all play in the same region. They all struggled early, but now is the perfect opportunity to turn things around. 

To teams that have struggled, that’s what the region season can be. It’s a chance to reset and lock in for one final push to the playoffs. 

Last week’s top performances 

Maleek Miller had eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns in Dutch Fork's win over Gray Collegiate.

BJ Suits accounted for all three of Northside Christian’s touchdowns in a 21-13 win over Trinity Collegiate. 

Noah Dunn ran in two touchdowns as Lexington snuck by Blythewood 28-21.

Davis Taylor threw two touchdown passes to help River Bluff beat A.C. Flora.

This week’s games to watch 

Irmo vs. North Augusta

Gilbert vs. Camden

River Bluff vs. Chapin

Airport vs. Swansea

Brookland-Cayce vs. Lower Richland

Lexington County scoreboard

Dutch Fork: 42, Gray Collegiate: 7

Lexington: 28, Blythewood: 21

River Bluff: 38, A.C. Flora: 7

Mid-Carolina: 36, Brookland-Cayce: 14

Gilbert: 28, Chapin: 24

Camden: 62, Swansea: 14

Buford: 36, American Leadership: 12

Batesburg-Leesville: 35, Clinton: 28 (OT)

Northside Christian: 21, Trinity Collegiate: 13