An early morning kickoff and more schedule changes highlight this week’s high school football action in the Midlands.
Lexington County rivals, after breakfast
Lexington travels to Gilbert for a 10 a.m. kickoff on Saturday. The game originally was scheduled for Friday and was to be WACH Fox’s Game of the Week, but it was moved back so Lexington could have an extra day to prepare while coming out of COVID-19 quarantine.
This will be the third meeting from the two schools, which finally started playing each other in 2018. Each team has won one game, and last year’s contest was canceled because of COVID.
— Bezjak’s prediction: Gilbert
Region 4-3A changes schedule
Teams from Region 4-3A officially decided to move up region games on their schedule two weeks, from Oct. 1 to Sept. 17.
Teams in the region are Chester, Fairfield Central, Keenan, Lower Richland and Mid-Carolina.
By doing this, it allows two open weeks at the end of the schedule for makeup dates in the region in case games are postponed because of COVID. According to the S.C. High School League, there were approximately 35 games canceled this week and five new games added.
That number is down some from last week, when 45 games were canceled with 12 new ones scheduled.
Region games determine playoff qualifiers around the state and take precedence over non-region ones. Several Class A regions already have done this along with Region 5-5A and Region 5-3A, which includes Camden.
Top Midlands matchups
A look at some of the best games to keep an eye on for Week 2:
« Dreher at Keenan, and Dutch Fork at Byrnes: Keenan and Dutch Fork will play their first games since the deaths of members of their football teams. Dutch Fork’s Jack Alkhatib died after collapsing on the practice field on Aug. 24. Keenan’s Donadrian Robinson died at his home on Aug. 28.
— Bezjak’s Predictions: Keenan and Dutch Fork
« Brookland-Cayce at Blythewood: Blythewood is looking for its 3-0 start since 2007, while B-C plays its first game after missing its previous two because of COVID protocols.
— Bezjak’s Prediction: Brookland-Cayce
« South Florence at Irmo: Virginia quarterback commit LaNorris Sellers leads a strong passing attack to face the Yellow Jackets, who will be playing their first game of the season.
— Bezjak’s Prediction: Irmo
« Spring Valley vs. Carver Columbus (Ga.), 5 p.m. Saturday: Spring Valley takes its 2-0 start on the road to Atlanta to play in the Cam Newton Classic. The Vikings were supposed to play in it last year but the event was canceled because of COVID.
— Bezjak’s Prediction: Spring Valley
This week’s schedule, picks
Thursday
Gray Collegiate 42, Legion Collegiate 0
Bezjak’s Prediction: Gray Collegiate
Friday
Barnwell at Swansea
Bezjak’s Prediction: Barnwell
Camden at Hartsville
Bezjak’s Prediction: Camden
Chapin at Lugoff-Elgin
Bezjak’s Prediction: Chapin
Chester at Airport
Bezjak’s Prediction: Chester
Eau Claire at CA Johnson
Bezjak’s Prediction: CA Johnson
Fairfield Central at Chesnee
Bezjak’s Prediction: Chesnee
Faith Christian at Richard Winn
Bezjak’s Prediction: Richard Winn
Heathwood Hall at Ben Lippen
Bezjak’s Prediction: Ben Lippen
Johnsonville at North Central
Bezjak’s Prediction: North Central
Hilton Head Island at Lower Richland
Bezjak’s Prediction: Lower Richland
Midland Valley at Pelion
Bezjak’s Prediction: Midland Valley
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at White Knoll
Bezjak’s Prediction: Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Patrick Henry at WW King
Bezjak’s Prediction: Patrick Henry
Porter-Gaud at Hammond
Bezjak’s Prediction: Hammond
Richland Northeast at Crestwood
Bezjak’s Prediction: Richland Northeast
River Bluff at Nation Ford
Bezjak’s Prediction: River Bluff
South Florence at Irmo
Bezjak’s Prediction: Irmo
Whitmire at Mid-Carolina
Bezjak’s Prediction: Mid-Carolina
Canceled: York at Westwood; Sumter at Ridge View; Newberry at Clinton; Augusta Christian at Cardinal Newman; Ninety Six at Saluda; Bluffton at Airport; Columbia at North Central
Last Week: 19-3
Season totals: 32-8
September 2, 2021 | State, The: Web Edition Articles (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Lou Bezjak, The State | Section: high_school