By Thomas Grant Jr.
Preparation for the Region 4-5A matchup with fellow unbeaten River Bluff was momentarily interrupted in the Aaron Brand household.
The official word was released Sunday afternoon by the Shrine Bowl. Irmo quarterback and Brand’s son A.J. Brand was selected to the 88th edition of the Battle of the Carolinas All-Star game set for Dec. 14 in Spartanburg.
The younger Brand was one of three quarterbacks selected by South Carolina head coach Reggie Kennedy of Kingstree.
“Just having this under your belt after having a pretty good career is just a blessing,” Brand said.
A three-year starter and the Class 4A Offensive Player of the Year last year, Brand has continued his success as a senior for the Yellow Jackets. Through six games, he’s thrown for 1,433 yards and 14 touchdowns and rushed for 615 yards and nine scores.
It was the18th straight win for Irmo (6-0, 1-0) and the first victory over the Wildcats since 2014.
Brand said his son’s selection was a “testament” to the turnaround the program has undertaken during his tenure.
“This is big for our community,” the elder Brand said. “Big for our school. It puts a punctuation mark on A.J.’s career.”
The Brands hope to continue the positive momentum going into Friday at W.C. Hawkins Stadium against the Gators. River Bluff (6-0, 1-0) is coming off a 24-21 overtime win over defending region champion White Knoll.
Hayden Myers rushed for 182 yards and a touchdown and Tripp Bryant kicked the game-winning field goal after Nathan Shuman’s interception.
Aaron Brand knows this is a different River Bluff team than the one it shut out 42-0 last year in The Swamp. The winner can either claim outright or maintain a share of first place in the region depending on the outcome of the Dutch Fork/White Knoll game.
Silver Foxes make Shrine Bowl
There were celebrations in another part of the town of Irmo as well.
Dutch Fork edge Josh Smith and defensive back Elgin Sessions were also selected to play in the Shrine Bowl.
The duo are a key part of a Silver Foxes’ defense which has allowed a total of 17 points in five games. In last week’s 63-10 win over Chapin, Sessions had an interception return for a touchdown and he and Smith each finished with five tackles.
A 3-yard touchdown by Gavin Stam in the second quarter did end the Silver Foxes’ streak of 15 straight scoreless quarters. Dutch Fork finished with six sacks and held Chapin to 176 total yards.
Offensively, running back Maurice Anderson rushed for 65 yards and five touchdowns. Quarterback and Clemson baseball commit Ethan Offing was 11-13 passing for 201 yards.
Dutch Fork (5-0, 1-0) now faces the Timberwolves in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A final. After losing in the regular season 17-14 and falling behind 6-0 at halftime of the final, the Silver Foxes rallied for a 21-6 victory over White Knoll.
S.C. High School League
pushes season back a week
As schools recover from the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene, the South Carolina High School League has agreed to adjust the remaining schedule.
A 9-4 vote by the Executive Committee approved the decision to extend the regular season by one week. This means the playoffs will begin Nov. 15 and the state championship games will take place Dec. 12-14 at South Carolina State University.
In addition, the Touchstone Energy Bowl in Myrtle Beach will now take place the same day as the Shrine Bowl in Spartanburg on Dec. 21.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
CLASS 5A
1.Dutch Fork, 2. Northwestern, 3. Gaffney, 4. Irmo, 5. Summerville, 6. Sumter, 7. J.L. Mann, 8. Hillcrest, 9. River Bluff, 10. Boiling Springs
Photos by GoFlashwn.com
