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 BattleContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. After a bye week, both undefeated Irmo and Dutch Fork return to action Friday to begin Region 4-5A. The Yellow Jackets (5-0) will travel to Lexington (4-1) in a revival of the “Battle of the Dam” series. They have lost the last six meetings with theContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Non-region play ended last Friday with both Irmo and defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork emerging with perfect records. Both teams posted dominant home victorious last Friday. The Yellow Jackets and Silver Foxes will now head into a bye week and return to action in RegionContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Posting a second straight shutout victory and 21st since 2016 would fully please most head coaches. Dutch Fork’s Tom Knotts is not one of them. The 35-0 win over Gray Collegiate Academy drew a blunt mixed reaction from the head coaching legend. “They (the defense) wereContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Both Irmo-based teams look to continue their winning ways in week 3. Irmo High School travels to Carolina Forest, while defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork plays its home opener against Gray Collegiate Academy. The Yellow Jackets (3-0) are coming off a 35-34 overtime road winContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Week 1 of the S.C. High School League football season was a sweep for the Irmo teams. Both defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork and Irmo were victorious in high-profile non-region matchups this past Friday. The Silver Foxes headed to Spartanburg for its season-opener. This wasContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The offensive and defensive lines are blending in new talent and teams are putting a higher emphasis on defending All-State wide receiver Donovan Murph. The one constant on the Irmo High School football team for this year remains quarterback A.J. Brand. In the 35-7 season-opening winContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. Irmo football closed out the preseason with two scrimmage victories over Lowcountry schools. On Monday, the fifth-ranked Yellow Jackets rolled past Goose Creek 49-14 at home. Senior quarterback AJ Brand threw five touchdowns, two to fellow All-State selection wide receiver Donovan Murph. Four nights later, IrmoContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The expectations are high for Irmo High School football. The Yellow Jackets return key starters from last year’s undefeated regular season team that reached the Class 4A Lower State final. Monday night at A.C. Hawkins Stadium, players like Virginia Tech commit and Lower State Offensive PlayerContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. The Chapin Kickoff Classic not only marks the close of preseason high school football for Chapin High School. The event’s return Friday to Cecil Woolbright Field Stadium highlights a “new era” for the school. A year ago, renovations to the seating and press box resulting inContinue Reading
By Thomas Grant Jr. After 15 seasons as Dutch Fork head coach and 15 state titles won in the Carolinas over five decades, Tom Knotts is as motivated as ever. Following Monday’s first practice for the upcoming season, Knotts said his defending state champions are still entering the new seasonContinue Reading