By Thomas Grant Jr.
Non-region play ended last Friday with both Irmo and defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork emerging with perfect records.
Both teams posted dominant home victorious last Friday. The Yellow Jackets and Silver Foxes will now head into a bye week and return to action in Region 4-5A play.
Irmo 38, Myrtle Beach 12
The Seahawks returned to W.C. Hawkins Stadium for a rematch with the Yellow Jackets.
The host team defeated Myrtle Beach 55-24 in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs. This time, the two teams faced each other as Class 5A schools.
It was the same outcome as the Yellow Jackets jumped out to a 17-0 lead. They went on to win 38-12 for their 18th straight regular-season victory.
Virginia Tech quarterback commit A.J. Brand completed 16-21 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 107 yards and two scores. Wide receiver Donovan Murph had 10 receptions for 145 yards.
Maleek Miller also had a rushing touchdown for Irmo.
“To play the non-region schedule that we’ve had and finish 5-0, the bye week couldn’t have come any sooner,” Irmo head coach Aaron Brand said. “But we’ll take this 5-0 start.”
Irmo will open region play Oct. 4 against Lexington in a revival of the Battle of the Dam rivalry.
Dutch Fork 51, Oceanside Collegiate 0
A few miles down, Dutch Fork completed its sweep of charter schools. The Silver Foxes blanked Oceanside Collegiate for their 12th straight victory.
It was the third straight shutout of the season for Dutch Fork (4-0). It has held opponents scoreless for 14 straight quarters and since allowing a touchdown pass in the season-opener against Spartanburg have gone 172 minutes and 52 seconds without giving up a point.
This was also their 22nd shutout dating back to 2016.
After getting chastised by head coach Tom Knotts, the offense produced a more balanced effort with the defense. Running back Maurice Anderson rushed for three touchdowns and quarterback Ethan Offing was 13-16 for 226 yards and a touchdown.
Jayden Westbrook caught the touchdown and also had a 51-yard punt return for a score.
The Landsharks, who won the Class 2A title last year and compete in Class 3A now, were held to just five first downs and 92 total yards. They trailed 48-0 at halftime.
Dutch Fork (4-0) opens Region 4-5A play Oct. 4 at Chapin.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (17) (4-0)
2. Gaffney (1) (4-0)
3. Northwestern (1) (5-0)
4. Summerville (4-0)
5. Irmo (5-0)
6. Sumter (5-0)
7. JL Mann (3-1)
8. Hillcrest (4-0)
9. White Knoll (3-1)
10. Boiling Springs (3-1)
Others receiving votes: Spartanburg, River Bluff, Greenwood, James Island, West Florence,
Dorman
MAXPREPS.COM RPI RATINGS
(For the first time, the S.C. High School League will utilize the Maxpreps.com RPI rankings to determine playoff seeding in Class 5A Division I and II and Class 4A. The points is based on 50% of a team’s winning percentage, 40% on their opponents’ winning percentage and 10% on your opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage. The complete rankings can be found at the South Carolina Administrators Association website.)
(Class 5A)
*1. Dutch Fork, 4-0 0.80781
#2. Northwestern, 4-0 0.77029
#3. Gaffney, 4-0, 0.76740
*-4. Summerville, 4-0, 0.75948
*-5. Dorman, 3-1, 0.71677
*6. Spartanburg, 3-1, 0.71188
*7. Sumter, 5-0, 0.69317
#8. Greenwood, 3-1, 0.67490
*9. River Bluff, 5-0, 0.67183
#10. Chapin, 4-1, 0.66525
#11. Irmo, 5-0, 0.64383
*12. JL Mann, 3-1, 0.63333
#13. Hillcrest, 4-0, 0.62813
#14. White Knoll, 3-1, 0.62771
*15. Lexington 3-1, 0.61750
#16. TL Hanna, 2-2, 0.61250
*17. Boiling Springs, 3-1, 0.60188
*18. Ridge View, 1-3, 0.59813
#19. Westwood, 3-2, 0.59542
#20. West Florence, 4-1, 0.59092
*21. Fort Dorchester, 3-1, 0.58969
*22. Blythewood, 4-1, 0.58242
*23. Ashley Ridge, 4-1, 0.57692
24. Riverside, 3-1, 0.57240
25. Catawba Ridge, 4-1, 0.56025
* – Division I, # – Division II
