By Thomas Grant Jr.
Head football coach Aaron Brand is not a fan of bye weeks.
It’s especially true this season when his Irmo team is on an undefeated roll. This past Friday, the Yellow Jackets dominated Myrtle Beach 59-21 in the Grand Strand to give them a 5-0 record for the third straight year.
Irmo’s play finally earned it a spot usually reserved for its arch rival town neighbors. For the first time in program history, the Yellow Jackets are number one in the S.C. Prep Football Media Class 5A poll.
The Yellow Jackets claimed 18 of the 21 first-place votes ahead of Northwestern, whom they lost to in last year’s Division II final.
“We dig it and we appreciate it, but we’ve got a load of stuff to get better and a work to do if we’re going to continue in this region and continue in this state as being a top dog,” Brand said. “We’ve won a bunch of games in a row, home games. Regular season games, you take away the Dutch Fork game (a 28-14 loss last season) away, we’ve won all but that one.
“But any team that rests on their laurels, any coach that lets his team rest on what they’ve done is just not setting the right example for the ball team.”
Irmo’s ascent became possible after defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork had its 24-game winning streak end on the campus of Charleston Southern University.
Class 3A defending champion and fourth-ranked Oceanside Collegiate stunned the Silver Foxes 24-20 as quarterback Aiden Maravian threw three touchdowns, two to Terrance Johnson, and Cole Gasper intercepted a Jaxon Knotts’ pass at the goal line with nine seconds left to hold off the Silver Foxes.
Knotts threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns to Brayden Johnson in the loss.
Ironically, Irmo opened the season with a 35-28 win at Oceanside Collegiate.
“I think those guys have got a Top 5 roster in the state at Oceanside,” Brand said. “So it’s no real surprise that they played well against Dutch Fork or played well with Dutch Fork. It is a bit of a surprise that they did come away with a victory over Dutch Fork, but no surprise whatsoever that they played their guts out and coach LaPrad goes a good job there.”
New Irmo starting quarterback Drevon Dopson wears the number one ranking with pride. Fully healthy and encouraged strongly by Brand and the coaching staff, the senior has thrown for 1,293 yards and 15 touchdowns.
More important, he’s played with a confidence and professionalism that has helped fill the void of losing All-State quarterback A.J. Brand to graduation.
“It’s kind of surreal coming into a new system, a new team, new coaching staff,” Dopson said. “They’ve pushed me hard to get where I’m at right now.”
Dopson said it’s helped to be surrounded by playmakers. Whether it’s Maleek or Corey Miller, Demarion Arrington or Ethan Singletary at wide receiver or Amire White out of the backfield, he’s blessed to have teammates who are a threat to score in open space.
Irmo opens region play October 3 at W.C. Hawkins Stadium with the annual “Battle of the Dam” matchup against Lexington. The Yellow Jackets snapped a 6-game losing streak to the Wildcats last year with a 34-8 road win.
Dutch Fork is also idle this week. It also opens region play at home October 3 against Chapin. The Silver Foxes have won all 12 meetings against the Eagles.
S.C. Prep Football Media Poll
Class 5A
1. Irmo (18) (5-0), 2. Northwestern (3) (4-1), 3. Dutch Fork (3-1), 4. Summerville (3-1), 5. James Island (4-0), 6. J.F. Byrnes (3-1), 7. Dorman (3-1), 8. Greenwood (3-1), 9. Ridge View (2-2), 10. Gaffney (2-2)
Others receiving votes: TL Hanna, White Knoll, Sumter, Greenville, Westwood, Stratford, Indian Land, Catawba Ridge
Class 3A
1. Belton Honea Path (13) (5-0)
2. Woodruff (3) (4-0)
3. Newberry (1) (5-0)
4. Oceanside Collegiate (4) (3-2)
5. Mountain View Prep (5-0)
6. Loris (5-0)
7. Dillon (3-2)
8. Orangeburg-Wilkinson (4-0)
9. Marlboro County (4-1)
10. Swansea (5-0)
Others receiving votes: Powdersville, Christ Church, Fox Creek, Southside Christian
Feature photo of Irmo football team entrance. Photo by GoFlashwin.com
