To say it’s been a tough week for Dutch Fork football is an understatement.

The defending 5-time Class 5A champions faced a challenge far more difficult off the field than what they’ve experienced on the field. The untimely passing of senior offensive lineman Jack Alkhatib put the program in a period of mourning and having to pull together emotionally.

With a new week, Dutch Fork now carries a new motivation in its “Shooting For 6”. The Silver Foxes head to Duncan to face an old rival in JF Byrnes.

Dutch Fork holds a 2-1 edge in the series dating back to 2010. All 3 meetings took place in the playoffs, with the Silver Foxes winning the past 2 in the 2013 and 2014 Class 4A Division I semifinals.

Dutch Fork will look to extend a 51-game unbeaten streak, a 50-game winning streak against in-state teams and 28-game consecutive victory streak on the road.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Gray Collegiate

The 2nd ranked War Eagles are 2-0 this season, both wins coming against teams in higher classifications. Having defeated Oceanside Collegiate 33-22, Gray Collegiate will go for the charter school “sweep” against Legion Collegiate this Friday.

CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK - Jayden Bradford, Bennett Galloway and Zavier Short (all of Chapin)

The Eagles’ “Big 3” opened the season leading their team to a 9th consecutive win in the “Battle of the Ball” series with Mid-Carolina. The trio accounted for 3 touchdowns each in the 46-22 win.

WEEK 1 GRIDIRON GIANTS

Jaden Allen-Hendrix (Gilbert) - 121 rushing yards, 2 TDs

Chance Jennings (Gilbert) - 177 passing yards, 3 TDs

Harley Boatwright (Gilbert) - 2 INTs

Josh Gartmon (Gilbert) - 9 tackles

Gray Leaphart (Gilbert) - 6 receptions, 100 yards, TD

Devin Johnson (Gray Collegiate) - 90-yard kickoff return TD, receiving TD

KZ Adams (Gray Collegiate) - 122 rushing yards, TD

THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Ben Sauls (WW KIng) - 137 rushing yards, 3 TDS, 1 receiving TD

Collin Woodward (WW KIng) - 160 total yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD

PERRY MAKES HISTORY

White Knoll’s Maleah Perry kicked an extra point in the 30-7 loss to Lower Richland. She joined Corey Watkins as female players who’ve scored in a football game for the Timberwolves.

2021 DEBUTS

4 Chronicle Country teams will finally open their respective seasons this week:

•Airport at Bluffton

•Brookland-Cayce at Blythewood

•Batesburg-Leesville at Swansea

•South Florence at Irmo

The Brookland-Cayce/Blythewood game has replaced Lexington/Gilbert as the WACH 57 Sonic Friday Night Rivals Games of the Week. The game can be watched on Channel 1250 on Spectrum.

QUOTABLE

“I am such a blessed mother. Jack, you will shine bright eternally. You made your mark on this world in your short 17 years. And for that, I am so proud of you. My love rises to the Heavens for you forever..” - Kelly Alkhatib, Jack Alkhatib’s mother, on Twitte

WEEK 1 SC PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL

Class 5A

1. Dutch Fork (14), 2. Fort Dorchester, 3. T.L. Hanna, 4. Ridge View, 5. Gaffney, 6. JF Byrnes, 7. Sumter, 8. Northwestern, 9. Clover,

10. (tie) River Bluff and Dorman Others receiving votes: Carolina Forest, Mauldin, Chapin, Spartanburg, Woodmont

Class 4A

1. A.C. Flora (13), 2. (tie) Myrtle Beach (1),

2. (tie) Greenville, 4. Catawba Ridge,

5. South Pointe, 6. North Myrtle Beach,

7. Beaufort, 8. Irmo, 9. North Augusta,

10. Westside

Others receiving votes: Greenwood, May River, Greer, West Florence, Airport

Class 3A

1. Daniel (14), 2. Chapman, 3. Dillon, 4. Gilbert,

5. Camden, 6. Oceanside Collegiate, 7. (tie) Union County and Woodruff, 9. Brookland-Cayce, 10. Aynor

Others receiving votes: Chester, Seneca, Wren, Belton Honea Path, Clinton, Lower Richland, Hanahan, Fairfield Central

Class 2A

1. Abbeville (14), 2. Gray Collegiate,

3. Barnwell, 4. Marion, 5. Newberry, 6. Saluda,

7. Andrews, 8. Silver Bluff, 9. Christ Church,

10. Chesnee

Others receiving votes: Andrew Jackson, St. Joseph’s, Woodland, North Central, Batesburg-Leesville

Class A

1. Southside Christian (14), 2. Lamar, 3. Whale Branch, 4. Bamberg-Ehrhardt, 5. Blackville-Hilda, 6. (tie) Wagener-Salley and Lake View,

8. Baptist Hill, 9. Lewisville, 10. Ridge Spring-Monetta

Others receiving votes: Great Falls, Hannah-Pamlico, C.A. Johnson, Allendale-Fairfax, Johnsonville, Whitmire

WEEK 1 HS FOOTBALL RESULTS

•Chapin 46, Mid-Carolina 26

•Gilbert 55, Aiken 29

•Gray Collegiate 33,

Oceanside Collegiate 22

•Columbia 26, Pelion 24

•Spring Valley 33, River Bluff 10

•Lower Richland 30, White Knoll 7

•Lewisville 46, Wagener-Salley 22

•WW King 36, Faith Christian 12

WEEK 2 HS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

(Thursday’s Game)

•Gray Collegiate at Legion Collegiate

(Friday’s Games)

(All Games Start at 7:30 pm)

• Broome at Airport

•Batesburg-Leesville at Swansea

•Brookland-Cayce at Blythewood

•Chapin at Lugoff-Elgin

•Dutch Fork at JF Byrnes

•Wagener-Salley at Edisto

•South Florence at Irmo

•Midland Valley at Pelion

•River Bluff at Nation Ford

•Patrick Henry at WW King

•Orangeburg-Wilkinson at White Knoll

(Saturday’s Game)

•Lexington at Gilbert 10 am