This is the time of year where high school football teams fall into different categories.

There are the teams whose seasons will come to an end this Friday. When it comes to Chronicle Country, it’s only a couple of teams in that group.

The next are the teams who find themselves fighting for a playoff spot in Week 10. Such is the case for White Knoll and River Bluff who are battling for the final postseason berth in Region 5-5A Friday in The Swamp. The third group are those teams

The third group are those teams who have clinched playoff berths and are now involved in improving their region standing. Such is the case for Brookland-Cayce and Gilbert who are locked in a 3-way tie with Orangeburg-Wilkinson for 1st place in Region 5-3A.

A win by Brookland-Cayce secures the top seed regardless of a Gilbert win at Swansea. A Bearcats’ loss and Gilbert win gives the Indians the top seed based on their head-to-head advantage over OW.

The Irmo Yellow Jackets also find themselves in a 3-way race for the region title. Even with a win over Lugoff-Elgin, Irmo will have to await the outcomes for AC Flora and Westwood to determine whether they will open the playoffs.

The latter is what Lexington and Chapin will battle for Friday at Wildcat Stadium. The winner claims second place in Region 5-5A and a first round home playoff game.

There’s also Gray Collegiate Academy which looks to clinch the Re

THURSDAY MORNING QUARTERBACKgion 3-2A title with a win over Newberry. This is the final regular season contest for coaching legend Phil Strickland, who led Batesburg-Leesville and Gaffney to state titles during his Hall of Fame career.

The final group which all teams aspire to reach, fittingly, is where Dutch Fork resides. The Silver Foxes wrapped up a 12th consecutive region title under head coach Tom Knotts and, with a bye, have an extra week to begin their “Shoot for 6(0)”.

WEEK 9 GRIDIRON GIANTS

•Skylar King (Brookland-Cayce) - 2 rushing TDs, 1 kickoff return TD, 1 passing TD

•Tanner Staton (Brookland-Cayce) - 2 passing TDs

•Jayden Bradford (Chapin) - 301 passing yards, 5 TDs

•Zavier Short (Chapin) - 7 receptions, 217 yards, 4 TDs

•Bennett Galloway (Chapin) - 120 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 76 receiving yards, TD

•Jarvis Green (Dutch Fork) - 133 rushing yards, 4 TDs; 1 receiving TD

•Davin Patterson (Dutch Fork) - 236 passing yards, 2 TDs

•Antonio Williams (Dutch Fork) - 10 receptions, 169 yards

•Jackson Caulder (Gilbert) - interception, fumble recovery

•Errick Tucker (Irmo) - 4 rushing TDs

•Peyton Whitten (Pelion) - 231 passing yards, 3 TD passes; 114 rushing yards, TD; INT on defense

•Cooper Johns (River Bluff) - 137 rushing yards, 2 TDs

•Landon Sharpe (White Knoll) - 188 passing yards, 2 TDs

THE STREAKS CONTINUE

Dutch Fork football will enter the post-season not looking to win an unprecedented 6th state title, but extend their state-record 24-game post-season winning streak. Other streaks it will look to keep alive:

•58 consecutive games without a loss

•57 consecutive wins over in-state teams

•30 consecutive home games without a loss

•29 consecutive home wins over in-state teams

1,000-YARD CLUB

Gray Collegiate running back KZ Adams leads all Chronicle Country running backs with 1,630 yards. Gilbert’s Alias Graham-Woodberry is second with 1,339 yards. Dutch Fork’s Jarvis Green became the newest club member with 1,044 yards in his last regular season game. Chapin’s Bennett Galloway is 130 yards shy with 1 game remaining. Dutch Fork wide receiver Antonio Williams is 7 yards away for receiving yards.