It’s now down to five Chronicle Country teams remaining in the quest for state high school football titles.

For Dutch Fork, Brookland-Cayce and Gray Collegiate, the third round opponents are quite familiar, while Lexington and Irmo go on the road to face opponents they don’t know as well.

The Silver Foxes make the trip to Sumter High School for the second straight year. They face a Gamecocks’ team looking to avenge last year’s 24-0 loss in the Lower State final, one of 17 shutouts posted by Dutch Fork since 2016.

The task of upending the five-time defending champions will be daunting for Sumter, which is 0-4 all-time against the Silver Foxes. Dutch Fork not only just owns a 60-game undefeated streak and winning streaks of 59 straight against in-state teams and a state-record 26 in a row in the postseason. It has also won 32 consecutive road games.

Closer to home at Fort Knox, the Bearcats find themselves in the third round for the third time in six years. Standing in the way of a trip to the Class 3A final four is last year’s Lower State champion and state runner-up Camden.

The two teams met last year in the first round at Zemp Stadium in Camden. The Bulldogs prevailed in a 52-44 victory. It was the most points they allowed last season, which ended in a 52-31 loss to Daniel in the state final.

The third playoff rematch involving a Chronicle Country team takes place at Fairfield Central High School. For two straight years, Gray Collegiate’s path to the state championship has gotten derailed by the current titleholder Abbeville.

Having set a team record for victories, the War Eagles are hoping the third time’s the charm against a Panthers’ team whose 23-game winning streak is the second longest in the Palmetto State.

Rounding THURSDAY MORNING out the group QUARTERBACK of five remaining playoff teams are the Lexington Wildcats and Irmo Yellow Jackets.

Both teams are coming off second-round road victories. Lexington scored 28 unanswered points to defeat Goose Creek to reach the third round for the first time since 2015. Meanwhile, Irmo dominated Westside and former Wildcats’ head coach Scott Earley 42-20 for their first trip to the third round since 2010.

A Lexington victory over top seed Fort Dorchester could set up a rematch with Dutch Fork in the Class 5A Lower State final. Meanwhile, the Yellow Jackets can reach the Class 4A Upper State final with a third straight road playoff win at Spartanburg.

Second Round Gridiron Giants

Tanner Staton (Brookland-Cayce) - 228 total yards, TD

Nazzhzekiel Mays (Brookland-Cayce) - 3 rushing TDs

Alex Owings (Chapin) - 12 tackles

Jayden Bradford (Chapin) - 292 total yards, TD

Zavier Short (Chapin) - 153 total yards, 8 receptions, 3 touchdowns (2 rushing, 1 receiving)

Jarvis Green (Dutch Fork) - 97 rushing yards, 4 TDs

Davin Patterson (Dutch Fork) - 252 total yards, 4 passing TDs

Antonio Williams (Dutch Fork) - 138 total yards, 2 TDs

Chris Wicker (Dutch Fork) - 9 tackles

Chance Jennings (Gilbert) - 169 passing yards, 2 TDs

KZ Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 247 rushing yards, 3 TDs

DeAree Rogers (Irmo) - 6 receptions, 140 yards, 2 TDs, 3 rushing TDs, interception return TD

Izayah Whiteside (Irmo) - 3 passing TDs

Nick Emmanwori (Irmo) - 13 tackles

Tyler Walker (Lexington) - 128 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Taiden Mines (Lexington) - 118 passing yards, TD

Rhett Peeples (Lexington) - 11 tackles

The 2,000 Club

Gray Collegiate Academy running back and Mr. S.C. Football finalist KZ Adams continues to make his case for the award. The Georgia State commit has rushed for

2,448 yards and 31 touchdowns this season. At Dutch Fork, wide receiver Antonio Williams has tallied over 2,047 total yards and 16 touchdowns.

Carolina Bowl Senior Showcase

A tentative roster for the South Carolina team playing in the Carolina Bowl Dec. 12 at Gaffney High School has seven Chronicle Country players and a head coach.

Irmo wide receiver DeAree Rogers, Dutch Fork offensive lineman Ethan Benson and Lexington outside linebacker Tanner Johnson were selected on offense. Defensive tackles Brice Coulter (River Bluff) and Meosphia Yarborough (Gilbert), linebacker CJ Wicker (Dutch Fork) and athlete Tory Kelly were selected on defense.

Fort Dorchester’s Steve LePrad is the South head coach and Lexington’s Perry Woolbright is the offensive coordinator.