By Thomas Grant Jr.
It’s a tale of two high school football teams going in opposite directions in the town of Irmo.
Irmo High School is off to a 2-0 start for the third time under head coach Aaron Brand. The new additions on offense in transfers running back Jaden Allen-Hendrix and wide receiver Donovan Murph have blended perfectly with quarterback A.J. Brand.
Down the road in Dutch Fork, it’s unfamiliar territory for the defending Class 5A champions. The Silver Foxes are off to a 0-2 start for only the second time under head coach Tom Knotts. Last week’s 17-6 loss to Spartanburg was also the second time a Knotts-led team was held without an offensive touchdown.
Both teams face difficult home challenges on Friday.
River Bluff at Irmo
It’s a battle of 2-0 teams who have dominated their opponents and face arguably their first real test this Friday.
“We challenge ourselves everyday,” Brand said. “I would definitely say that we will be their first real challenge of the season.”
The seventh-ranked Yellow Jackets have posted a margin of victory of 104-15 in the first two games. Brand has accounted for 10 touchdowns (8 passing, two rushing) this season, but the elder Brand believes he’s also benefited from the presence of Allen-Hendrix in the backfield.
“I don’t think a team can just focus on A.J.,” he said. “The number one reason is because Jaden Allen-Hendrix is an outstanding back in his own right. We pride ourselves in making opposing teams cover the whole field. If the run game is stuffed, We count on A.J. making plays with his arm and finding Murph, (Telvin) Smith, or (Caleb) Alexander.”
River Bluff has outscored its first two opponents 103-20 and has found offensive success with a balanced attack. Quarterback Parker Murray has completed 77 percent of his passes and the Gators have used a “running back by committee” approach.
Defensively, River Bluff is holding opponents to 26 rushing yards a game. Brand believed his team was “average” defensively against Lancaster and they needed to remain focused and hungry for all 48 minutes.
Hough at Dutch Fork
The last time the Silver Foxes lost three straight games, head coach Tom Knotts was still coaching in North Carolina.
It was the 2009 season and Dutch Fork lost its final five games to finish 2-9. The following season, Knotts arrived and the rest is history.
If the Silver Foxes are to avoid its longest losing streak in 14 years, it must regain its offensive swagger. In two games, It has managed only two touchdowns and is averaging only 230 total yards a game.
This is a different Dutch Fork team that Hough is facing from a year ago. The Silver Foxes won 27-24 in last year’s matchup in Charlotte, NC., led offensively by running back Jarvis Green.
The Huskies are coming off a 13-10 win over Myers Park after losing to J.F. Byrne’s 24-9.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
S.C. Prep Football Media Poll
Class 5A
- Summerville (18) (1-0)
- Gaffney (1) (1-1)
- Fort Dorchester (1-0)
- Sumter (1) (2-0)
- TL Hanna (1) (2-0)
- Spartanburg (1) (1-1)
- Lexington (2-0)
- Hillcrest (2-0)
- Byrnes (1-1)
- Dutch Fork (0-2)
Others receiving votes: River Bluff, Dorman, JL Mann, West Ashley, Ashley Ridge
Class 4A
- South Florence (15) (2-0)
- South Pointe (5) (2-0)
- Northwestern (1) (1-1)
- Hartsville (1) (2-0)
- Greenville (1-1)
- James Island (2-0)
- Irmo (2-0)
- West Florence (1-1)
- Greenwood (1-1)
- AC Flora (1-1)
