By Thomas Grant, Jr.
The fourth-ranked Yellow Jackets opened the season on the road against defending Class 3A champion Oceanside Collegiate.
The first game without All-State quarterback A.J. Brand saw them trail early 6-0. In the second half, it outscored the Landsharks 21-14 for the 35-28 win.
The fifth-ranked Class 5A Yellow Jackets opened the post-A.J. Brand era with a road win over the top-ranked Class 3A and two-time state champion Landsharks.
Transfer Dre’von Dopson threw three touchdowns, all to wide receiver Damarion Arington, in his first game as a starter. All-State defensive back Jaiden Bryant had a rushing touchdown and safety Jamar Grissett had five tackles and two of Irmo’s four interceptions.
Junior Maleek Miller had a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
This week, it’s a Top 10 road matchup with eighth-ranked J.F. Byrnes. The Rebels opened the season with a 30-10 win over T.L. Hanna as running back Tre Segarra rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Caine Rogers threw for 237 yards and a score.
This is the third meeting between the two schools. They first met in the 2004 Class 4A Division II championship game won by the Rebels 35-7.
Irmo won last year’s meeting 35-27 at home.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA WEEK ONE POLL
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (16) (1-0)
2. Northwestern (1) (1-0)
3. Summerville (1-0)
4. Irmo (1-0)
5. Gaffney (0-1)
6. Greenwood (0-0)
7. Sumter (1-0)
8. Byrnes (1-0)
9. Ridge View (1-0)
10. Spartanburg (0-1)
Others receiving votes: Dorman, James Island, Hillcrest, Berkeley, Boiling Springs, Nation Ford, TL Hanna
Photo of Irmo quarterback Dre’von Dopson of Irmo (GoFlashwin.com)
