By Thomas Grant, Jr. One game at a time. For all the success enjoyed by both head coaches Tom Knotts of Dutch Fork and Aaron Brand of Irmo, this mantra has remained the centerpiece of their weekly approach. Home wins Friday night moved the two teams a week closer toContinue Reading
Special to The New Chapin NewsBy Thomas Grant Jr. The University of South Carolina made history Sunday, retiring its first-ever women’s soccer jersey at Stone Stadium. The honor went to Savannah McCaskill, a Chapin native and former Irmo High School standout whose number 7 jersey now joins an elite group of Gamecock legends. TheContinue Reading
IRMO – One of the Midlands’ biggest high school football rivalries is set to light up W.C. Hawkins Stadium on Friday, October 31, when Irmo High hosts Dutch Fork High under the lights. School District Five expects a capacity crowd for the varsity matchup and has outlined parking and safetyContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Heading into the fourth quarter at White Knoll, some ominous negative signs were in the air last Friday night for third-ranked Dutch Fork. The Timberwolves led 24-20. It was two years ago in Red Bank when they held on for the 17-14 victory that snapped DutchContinue Reading
(Photos by GoFlashwin.com) By Thomas Grant Jr. Another week, another dominating performance on both sides of the football for top-ranked Irmo. The Yellow Jackets entered The Swamp last week and emerged with a 56-14 win. Quarterback Dre’Von Dopson completed 11-16 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Both were caughtContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. There was something more intimidating to Irmo head coach Aaron Brand last Friday than visiting rival Lexington — the dreaded bye week. Despite Irmo’s dominant 35-0 win over the Wildcats in the annual Battle of the Dam, Brand wasn’t celebrating the break that lies ahead. “TheContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts doesn’t forget. Friday’s road trip to White Knoll (5-1, 1-0) is more than just another region matchup — it’s a return to the site of Dutch Fork’s last Region 4-5A loss, a 17-14 setback on Oct. 6, 2023. Even afterContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. On one side, Dutch Fork has had over two weeks to simmer over its first loss in two years. About eight miles away, rival Irmo has had the time to get accustomed to its number-one ranking in Class 5A. On Friday, both teams return to actionContinue Reading
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 recordContinue Reading
Irmo High School honored its 2025 Hall of Fame class during halftime of the September 12 home football game against Carolina Forest. This year’s inductees included: Photo by GoFlashwin.comContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. It’s an Irmo world in Class 5A football once again. Both 3-time Division I champion Dutch Fork and Division II runner-up Irmo sit 1-2 in this week’s S.C. Prep Football Media rankings. They were in a similar position near the end of last season when bothContinue Reading