With two weeks left in the high school football regular season for public schools, the playoff race is starting to take shape.
Each region has a different amount of guaranteed playoff spots, ranging from at least four all the way to six for bigger regions. There are at-large spots in Class 5A and 4A because of an uneven amounts of regions.
Here are the updated playoff scenarios for Midlands teams. Region records are in parentheses:
Class 5A
–Region 3–
Locks: Blythewood (3-0), Spring Valley (2-1) and Clover (2-1) are in the driver’s seat for three of the region’s five automatic playoff spots. Blythewood can win the region with a victory in one of its final games against Rock Hill and Spring Valley. The Bengals haven’t won a region championship since 2013. Spring Valley is in the hunt for a region title but needs to win its last two games and have Blythewood lose its last two. Clover also has an outside shot but needs some help. If the three teams finish in a three-way tie, the tiebreaker is defensive points allowed in region games.
In the mix: The other two playoff spots will be between Nation Ford (1-2), Rock Hill (1-2) and Fort Mill (0-3).
–Region 4–
Locks: Lexington (3-0) has locked up a playoff spot and can finish no worse than second. The Wildcats can win the region title by defeating Dutch Fork (2-0) on Oct. 28. The Silver Foxes win the region title with a win over River Bluff on Friday and Lexington the following week. The winner of the region and fourth-place finisher will be in the Upper State playoff bracket, with the runner-up and third-place team in the Lower State.
In the mix: River Bluff (1-1), Chapin (0-2) and White Knoll (0-3) are fighting for the other two automatic spots from the region. The fifth-place team could still earn an at-large spot in the Lower State. Chapin and White Knoll play next week, with the winner likely getting one of the guaranteed spots. River Bluff has Dutch Fork next week and Chapin in the finale and can wrap up a spot with at least one win in the final two games.
Class 4A
–Region 4–
Locks: Region title likely will be decided in the North Augusta (2-0) vs. Midland Valley (2-0) game on Oct. 28.
In the mix: South Aiken (1-1) and Aiken (1-2) are in good shape for the final two spots and would get them if Airport (0-3) loses against North Augusta next week.
–Region 5–
Locks: A.C. Flora (3-0) and Ridge View (3-0) have locked in playoff spots, and the region championship will come down to their matchup on Oct. 28.
In the mix: The other two guaranteed spots are up for grabs between Westwood (1-2), Lugoff-Elgin (1-2), Richland Northeast (1-2) and Irmo (0-3). Irmo has games against Westwood and L-E. If Irmo defeats Westwood next week, Flora beats L-E and RV defeats RNE, four teams will enter the final week at 1-3 in the region – so there’s a lot to be decided.
The fifth-place team will be eligible for one of the four at-large spots in the Lower State.
Class 3A
–Region 5–
Locks: Brookland-Cayce (3-0) and Gilbert (3-0) have clinched playoff spots and will decide the region title when they play on Oct. 28.
In the mix: The other two playoff bids will be decided between Dreher (1-2), Lower Richland (1-2), Orangeburg-Wilkinson (1-2) and Swansea (0-3). If LR wins its next two games against Dreher and O-W, it would finish third.
–Region 6–
Locks: Camden (3-0) and Crestwood (3-0) are headed to the playoffs and play this week with the region title up for grabs.
In the mix: Lakewood (2-1) needs one more win to clinch a spot. The other playoff berth will be decided between Marlboro County (1-2), Lake City (0-3) and Darlington (0-3).
Class 2A
–Region 3–
Locks: Silver Bluff (3-0) and Strom Thurmond (3-0) have locked up berths and will play this week for the region title.
In the mix: The other three playoff spots will be between Saluda (1-2), Batesburg-Leesville (1-2), Fox Creek (1-2) and Pelion (0-3). Pelion needs to beat B-L this week or it will be eliminated from playoff contention. Friday’s Saluda and Fox Creek winner also will wrap up a playoff spot.
–Region 4–
Locks: Gray Collegiate (5-0) has won the region championship.
In the mix: Fairfield Central (3-1), Newberry (3-1), Keenan (2-2), Mid-Carolina (1-3), Columbia (1-4) and Eau Claire (0-4) are battling for the other playoff spots. Six of the seven teams from the region get into the playoffs. Keenan had its win over Newberry taken away because of an ineligible player. The Raiders played a player in a JV game and then dressed him in the varsity game, which violates S.C. High School League rules.
–Region 5–
Locks: Andrew Jackson (3-0) and Buford (2-1) have wrapped up spots and will decide region title when they play on Oct. 28.
In the mix: The other two spots will be decided between Chesterfield (1-2), Cheraw (1-2), North Central and Central (1-2), which are in a four-way tie with two games left.
Class A
–Region 3–
Locks: Lewisville (2-0), Whitmire (2-0) and CA Johnson (2-1) have clinched spots, but the region title is up for grabs. Lewisville wins the region by defeating Whitmire on Friday. Whitmire (2-0) could win it by beating Lewisville and CAJ in the next two weeks. There could be a three-way tie if Whitmire beats Lewisville and then CAJ beats Whitmire.
In the mix: McBee (0-2) and Great Falls (0-3) will battle for last spot.
Lou Bezjak: (803) 771-8419, @LouatTheState
Caption:
Jeff Blake Jeff Blake Photo
Dutch Fork Silver Foxes running back Jarvis Green rushes against St. Frances during their game at Dutch Fork High School on September 23.
October 18, 2022 | State, The (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Lou Bezjak; Staff Writer | Page: 1B | Section: Sports