The long-awaited SC High School League football season finally started Friday night.

That is true at least for 11 Chronicle Country public high schools.

For River Bluff and Swansea, the start of the regular season has been pushed back a week or 2. Both teams saw their respective season-openers postponed due to positive tests. (See story on A1).

The Drive 4 ‘5’

When the Gators resume play Oct. 9 in The Swamp, the opponent will be 4-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork.

The Silver Foxes will have 2 games under their belt as they look to extend the following streaks:

•40 consecutive games without a loss

•39 straight victories over South Carolina teams

•25 straight road victories

•23 straight region wins

The Dutch Fork/River Bluff game is 1 of 3 games involving Chronicle Country teams to air this season as part of WACH 57’s Sonic “Friday Night Rivals” series.

The others are:

•Irmo at Chapin (Oct. 30)

•Gilbert at Pelion (Nov. 6)

The games can be seen on Channel 1250 on Spectrum Cable and streamed at www.wach.com .

The ‘U’ word

Despite its lofty status, even Dutch Fork is not immune to concerns.

Only 2 teams will make the playoffs from every region.

In addition, the Silver Foxes are replacing several key offensive players from the teams that posted a 55- 1-1 mark in 4 seasons.

They include quarterback Ty Olenchuk, running back Jon Hall, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and offensive lineman Ta’Chawn Brooks.

“I hope all my teams play with a great sense of urgency,” Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts said. “But this year is different with region play at the beginning. With a short preparation period, it is vitally important for everyone to have a sense of urgency.”

Fans got a glimpse of the 2020 Silver Foxes and new starting quarterback Will Taylor in the 31- 7 scrimmage victory over Ridge View. The Ben Lippen transfer and Clemson baseball commit threw a touchdown pass to Devin Hyatt, the younger brother of Tennessee freshman Jalin Hyatt.

The ‘Dean’

Airport head coach Kirk Burnett is entering his 17th season at the helm of the Eagles. He’s the longest serving coach in Chronicle Country.

Behind him for Dutch Fork’s Knotts and Chapin’s Justin Gentry who are each entering their 11th seasons.

New regions, classifications

2 Chronicle Country schools begin play Friday in new regions and classifications.

Irmo makes its reappearance as a Class 4A school at Richland Northeast. Pelion returns to Class 2A and opens at home against last year’s Class A Upper State champion Ridge Spring-Monetta.

Batesburg-Leesville was also affected by realignment. It will make its debut in Region 3-2A against Gray Collegiate, now quarterbacked by former Panther Tre Robinson.

Stadium rules Fans will have to follow different

Fans will have to follow different protocols in attending games this season:

•Stadiums will run at 20% seating capacity. For Lexington District 1, this means 1,000 fans maximum at Lexington, River Bluff and White Knoll and 800 for Gilbert and Pelion.

•Social distancing will be enforced and fans will be asked to wear masks near others and at the concession stands.

•Fans are asked to prepurchase tickets at their schools. If paying at the booth, fans are asked to bring exact change.

TEAM OF THE WEEK - Northside Christian Academy

The Crusaders won their 2nd straight game in a 40-8 win over Jefferson Davis Academy. NCA scored the game’s 1st 40 points, which included a school-record 91-yard fumble return TD by Jake Daniels. He also had a 26-yard TD reception and Brayden Ross had a 9-yard scoring run.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Max McKeena (Northside Christian)

The Crusaders’ quarterback threw for 276 yards and 4 touchdowns, 2 of 51 yards each to Charlie Compton. He’s thrown 9 TDs in his last 2 games, 5 to Compton.

Note to coaches

Send your game statistics to chroniclesports@yahoo.com. Your information helps us recognize your top players’ achievements each week in Thursday Morning Quarterback.