The high school football regular season comes to an end this week, and there’s still a lot to be determined for the playoffs.

Here are the top area games this week with postseason implications – plus a look at playoff scenarios. The playoff brackets and schedule are finalized Saturday.

Top games to watch

* Gilbert (9-0) at Brookland-Cayce (7-2)

At stake: The winner captures the Region 5-3A championship and will be in position to host at least two home playoff games. The loser finishes second in the region and will have at least one home playoff game.

Notes: The home team has won the last nine games in the series. Gilbert won, 35-21, last year. Gilbert freshman Trevon Williamson has rushed for 638 yards and 15 total touchdowns while filling in for starting running back Jaylen Jay, who has been out with injury. QB Drake Braddock has thrown for 2,073 yards and 24 for Gilbert. B-C Shrine Bowl selection Will Young has done it all for B-C at quarterback, running back and receiver. He has 1,389 all-purpose yards and 23 touchdowns. RB Deshaun Washington leads B-C with 1,004 yards and 13 TDs.

* Lexington (7-2) at Dutch Fork (4-5)

At stake: Winner gets second place in Region 4-5A and a first-round home playoff game. Loser is third in the region and opens the upper state playoffs on the road.

Notes: Dutch Fork has won nine straight in the series. DF quarterback Jon Hunt threw for a season-high 313 yards last week against River Bluff. Bryce Nutall and Dakota Jordan lead DF with five sacks apiece. Lexington running back Matt McAuley has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of his last three games. Montrell Byrd leads Lexington with 75 tackles, 16 for loss and five sacks.

* River Bluff (5-4) at Chapin (5-4)

At state: Winner gets fourth seed from Region 4-5A and an automatic playoff spot. Loser still is likely to earn an at-large spot in the playoffs.

Notes: River Bluff leads the all-time series, 5-2. Chapin quarterback Brady Albro has thrown for 2,201 yards and 18 TDs. Jacob Nerone leads the team with 46 catches for 575 yards and two touchdowns. Gavin Stam leads Chapin with 85 tackles. Stephen Collier leads River Bluff with 41 catches for 559 yards and five TDs. River Bluff is being outscored 114-68 in the second quarter. Hayden Cushman leads RB with 63 tackles.

* Fairfield Central (7-2) at Newberry (5-4)

At stake: Winner gets second place in the region and possibly two playoff games. The loser is third but will still get a first-round home game.

Notes: Fairfield leads the series, 16-12, but Newberry has won two of the last three. Jamel Howse leads Newberry with 30 catches for 614 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Jared Acosta has a team-high 68 tackles. Fairfield Central quarterback Cam McMillon has thrown for 1,511 yards and 18 total touchdowns. KJ Golden leads the team with seven touchdown catches.

Playoff scenarios

* Class 5A

Region 3: Clover (4-0) and Rock Hill (4-0) are tied for first and play for the region title Friday. Nation Ford (2-2) can clinch third with a win over Fort Mill (1-3). Blythewood (1-3) will get fourth with a win over Spring Valley or a Fort Mill loss. Spring Valley (0-4) is eliminated from playoff contention.

Region 4: White Knoll (4-0) has won the region. Lexington (2-1) and Dutch Fork (2-1) are tied for second and play this week. The winner is the No. 2 seed and loser No. 3. River Bluff (0-3) and Chapin (0-3) play for fourth and final automatic spot. The fifth-place team could earn one of the three at-large spots. The first- and fourth-place teams in the region are in the lower state bracket, with second and third place in the upper state.

* Class 4A

Region 4: Irmo (4-0) has clinched the region championship. Ridge View (3-1) is second and can clinch the No. 2 seed with a win over A.C. Flora (2-2). ACF would be second with a win over RV and RNE loss to Westwood. RNE (2-2) can force a three-way tie for second with a win and RV loss. Points allowed between the three teams would determine tiebreaker if that happens. Lugoff-Elgin (1-3) is in contention for an at-large spot.

Region 5: Midland Valley (3-0) and North Augusta (3-0) are tied for first and play for the region title this week. South Aiken (1-2) is in third and can wrap up third place with a win over Aiken (0-3) in its final two games. Airport (1-3) has clinched the region’s fourth spot.

* Class 3A

Region 5: Gilbert (4-0) and Brookland-Cayce (4-0) are tied for first, with the region title decided this week when they meet at B-C. Dreher (2-2) is third and can clinch the third playoff spot with a win over Lower Richland (1-3). Orangeburg-Wilkinson (1-3) is fourth and plays Swansea (0-4), which has been eliminated from playoff contention. If O-W and Lower Richland both win, there will be a three-way tie for the final two playoff spots that will be decided by a tiebreaker.

Region 6: Crestwood (4-0) has won the region and Camden (3-1) is second. Lakewood (2-2) is third with a three-way tie for the fourth and final spot between Darlington (1-3), Marlboro County (1-3) and Lake City (1-3). Final week games are Lakewood-Crestwood, Camden-Marlboro County and Lake City-Darlington.

* Class 2A

Region 3: Strom Thurmond (4-0) has clinched the region championship. Saluda (3-1) is the second seed from the region. Silver Bluff (2-2) will be the third seed with a win over Pelion. Batesburg-Leesville (2-2) is the fourth seed with a win over Saluda or a Pelion loss. Pelion (1-3) has clinched the fifth-place spot. The top five teams earn a playoff bid.

Region 4: Gray Collegiate (6-0) has clinched the region title by virtue of all other teams in region forfeiting their games against the War Eagles. Newberry (4-1) and Fairfield Central (4-1) are tied for second and play this week. Keenan (3-3) has wrapped up fourth. The fifth and sixth playoff spots will be between Mid-Carolina (1-4), Columbia (1-4) and Eau Claire (1-4). The top six teams earn playoff spots from the region.

Region 5: Andrew Jackson (4-0) has clinched the region and Cheraw (3-1) is second. North Central (2-2) and Central (2-2) are tied for third and play this week. Chesterfield (1-3) is fifth. The top four teams make the playoffs.

* Class A

Region 3: Lewisville (3-0) and McBee (3-0) are tied for first and the two will play this week with the region title up for grabs. Whitmire (1-2) is third and has C.A. Johnson (1-2) this week. The winner of the Whitmire-CAJ game will be the third seed from the region and loser fourth. Great Falls’ (0-3) season is over because of a lack of available players.

* SCISA

Playoff brackets will be announced over the weekend for the SC Independent School Association teams.

This Week’s Schedule

AC Flora at Ridge View

Augusta Christian at Cardinal Newman

Batesburg-Leesville at Saluda

Blythewood at Spring Valley

CA Johnson at Whitmire

Camden at Marlboro County

Camden Military at Ben Lippen

Central at North Central

Fairfield Central at Newberry

Gilbert at Brookland-Cayce

Heathwood Hall at Hammond

Irmo at Lugoff-Elgin

Laurens Academy at Richard Winn

Lexington at Dutch Fork

Lower Richland at Dreher

Mid-Carolina at Eau Claire

Northside Christian at Spartanburg Christian

Oakbrook Prep at Newberry Academy

Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Swansea

Pelion at Silver Bluff

Richland Northeast at Westwood

River Bluff at Chapin

Wardlaw at WW King

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

Caption:

Jeff Blake Jeff Blake Photo

Gilbert Indians quarterback Drake Braddock passes against the Lexington Wildcats during their game at Gilbert High School Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.

October 27, 2023 | State, The (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Lou Bezjak; Staff Writer | Page: 1B | Section: Sports