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 at Legion Collegiate (at Gastonia ,NC)

Bezjak’s Prediction: Gray Collegiate

Friday

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

Swansea at Batesburg-Leesville

Bezjak’s Prediction: Batesburg-Leesville

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

Lou Bezjak: (803) 771-8419, @LouatTheState

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.