The number of undefeated Chronicle Country teams was guaranteed to decrease Friday night.

Pelion arrived at Gilbert High School with a 3-0 record. The Panthers left with their first loss following a 56-3 rout by the Indians.

Jaden-Allen Hendrix accounted for three touchdowns and Alias Graham-Woodberry and Jaylen Jay both rushed for over 100 yards and two touchdowns for Gilbert (3-0). It was career win number 101 and the 61^st for head coach Chad Leaphart.

“It's just all about getting better each week and trying to be the best we can, and the guys came out pretty sharp and pretty satisfied with how we played tonight, but still got some room for improvement on some things that we got to do better if we want to make the best we can be,” Leaphart said.

Allen Hendrix opened the scoring with a 43-yard touchdown run 36 seconds into the game. Pelion answered with a 27-yard field goal by Lucas New with 6:47 left in the first quarter for its lone points.

Gilbert closed out the scoring with 49 unanswered points. Allen-Hendrix scored twice on the ground from 33 and three yards to end the first quarter.

Backup quarterback Dustin Braddock connected with starter Chance Jennings for a 30-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter and Allen Hendrix had a three-yard touchdown run to make it 35-3.

Allen-Hendrix scored his third touchdown from one yard in the third quarter. Jay closed out the scoring with touchdown runs of 49 and 46 yards.

Up next is a “Backyard Brawl” at Lexington for the Indians. For Leaphart, it is an opportunity to move closer to surpassing Marty Woolbright, the father of Wildcats’ head coach Perry Woolbright, on the school career win list.

“It's huge,” Leaphart said. “I mean, it is a new rivalry. We've only started playing since 2018. But it really has turned into something big. I think our kids and their kids really look forward to it and the communities look forward to it and it will be a lot of excitement, probably a huge crowd Friday night.”

Dutch Fork 64, Stratford 21

Despite starting quarterback Aliam Appler and leading rusher Jarvis Green being sidelined, the top-ranked Silver Foxes had their best offensive showing of the season.

Four players – Trenton Lodge, Maurice Anderson, Paul Taylor, and Landon Danley, who had a 70-yard fumble recovery return for a score – rushed for touchdowns and combined for 210 of the team’s 265 yards. Lodge closed out the game with a 54-yard scoring run.

Quarterback Jon Hunt threw for 175 yards but had three interceptions. Danley and Bryan Ford both saw action at quarterback as well.

 The Silver Foxes also had two kickoff returns of 80 and 90 yards, respectively, for touchdowns by Chandler Perry and Savionne Jones. Perry also accounted for the team’s third consecutive week with an interception return for a touchdown.

It was the 42^nd consecutive regular season win for Dutch Fork and 38^th straight victory on the road. The Silver Foxes will look to extend that streak Sept. 16 at North Augusta.

For the third straight week, Region 5-5A teams were a perfect 5-0 and are 18-2 overall on the season.

White Knoll 56, Westwood 20

The Timberwolves continued its best start in school history with their first road win of the season.

Quarterback Landon Sharpe completed 12-15 passes for four touchdowns and 251 yards and rushed for a touchdown. Austin Cunningham accounted for three touchdown receptions and had six receptions for 162 yards.

Demenico Banks led White Knoll with 11 tackles, and it forced three turnovers.

Up next for the Timberwolves is a road matchup at South Aiken. It is the fourth straight matchup against a Chronicle Country team for the Thoroughbreds, who dropped to 0-3 following their loss to River Bluff.

River Bluff 35, South Aiken 28

Cooper Johns rushed for 207 yards and two touchdowns and Gray Herring’s six-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter was the difference in the Gators’ fourth straight victory.

Johns’ two scores in the first quarter gave River Bluff a 14-0 lead. South Aiken answered with a 46-yard touchdown run by Terrance Smith in the second quarter.

A pair of field goals by Brady Orr extended River Bluff’s lead to 20-7. South Aiken answered back with a touchdown to end the first half and another to open the second half by Jevon Edwards to take a 21-20 lead.

Smith’s touchdown pass to Jeffrey Jackson extended the Thoroughbreds’ lead to 28-20. River Bluff tied the game with 3:17 left in the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Toriaun Leaphart and two-point conversion by Alejandro Ambriz before taking the lead for good in the fourth on Herring’s touchdown.

Quarterback Patrick Murray threw for 100 yards for River Bluff, who next play host to Lower Richland Sept. 9.

Northside Christian 21, New Hope Leadership Academy 0

The Crusaders improved to 4-0 for the first time in school history.

J.R. Kinard had a rushing touchdown for the lone score of the first half for Northside Christian. Matt Diaz and Sam Burks also accounted for second-half touchdowns.

Up next for the Crusaders (4-0, 2-0) is another non-region home game Sept. 9 against Hickory Grove Christian out of Charlotte, N.C.

W.W. King Academy 42, Jefferson Davis Academy 22

The Knights improved to 3-0 for the first timce since 2017 with the victory.

They play host to Charleston Collegiate on Sept. 9. 

Chapin 38, Newberry 0

Brady Albro threw three touchdowns as the Eagles won their third straight game and posted their second shutout this season.

Wyatt Bland and Nate Beerman both had rushing scores to lead Chapin, who travel to Brookland-Cayce Sept. 9.

Gray Collegiate 22, Camden 7

Justin Pauling had three of his team’s four interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown as the defending Class 2A champions earned their first win of the season.

The War Eagles open region play Sept. 9 against Eau Claire in their home opener.

OTHER SCORES

Swansea 34, Wagener-Salley 30

A.C. Flora 72, Brookland-Cayce 43

Lugoff-Elgin 23, Airport 15