Here are five things to keep an eye on this week in Midlands high school football action:
TITLE GAME REMATCH
Nationally ranked Dutch Fork looks to continue its blazing start when it travels to Boiling Springs in a rematch of the 2016 Class 5A state title game.
The Silver Foxes won the championship game, 28-21, the first of back-to-back titles.
Dutch Fork is off to its best offensive two-game start of a season since Tom Knotts arrived in 2010. The Silver Foxes have outscored opponents 121-0.
It’s the first time the Silver Foxes have recorded back-to-back shutouts to start a year since 2011. Boiling Springs is 1-1 and coming off a 55-28 loss to Chapman.
SISTER SCHOOLS MEETING ON COLLEGE CAMPUS
Gray Collegiate and Oceanside Collegiate’s first football meeting will get college treatment.
The two sister charter schools meet at South Carolina State’s Oliver Dawson Stadium.
Oceanside Collegiate is coached by Chad Grier, who is the father of West Virginia quarterback Will Grier.
FAMILIAR OPPONENT FOR LR’S BARR
It might be Lower Richland’s first time facing Wilson, but it is an opponent LR coach Rodney Barr knows well.
Barr spent eight seasons at Wilson as an assistant football and head baseball coach. He was part of the Tigers’ coaching staff when they won the 2007 Class 3A championship.
RIVER BLUFF LOOKS TO ADD TO RECORD START
At 3-0, River Bluff is off to its best start in school history and will go for its fourth consecutive win against Lugoff-Elgin.
The Gators are averaging 52.3 points and 500 yards per game on offense. L-E is giving up 42.3 games per contest.
After this week, things get a little tougher for River Bluff, which faces Irmo, Gilbert and Dutch Fork in its next three games.
BEN LIPPEN LOOKS TO SLOW DOWN DUKES
After facing defending SCISA 3A champion Hammond last week, Ben Lip-pen gets a crack at last year’s 2A champion, First Baptist, this week.
First Baptist moved up to 3A this season and features one of the top tailbacks in the state in Mikey Dukes. The senior has rushed for 410 yards and 10 TDs in three games this season.
MIDLANDS TOP 10 POLL
1. Dutch Fork (2-0)
2. Hammond (3-0)
3. Westwood (3-0)
4. Lexington (2-0)
5. River Bluff (3-0)
6. Spring Valley (1-1)
7. Gilbert (2-1)
8. Brookland-Cayce (2-1)
9. Chapin (2-0)
10. White Knoll (2-1)
WEEK 4 PICKS
Thursday Ridge View at Northwestern Bezjak: Northwestern Dearing: Northwestern
Dreher vs. Eau Claire at District Stadium at Keenan Bezjak: Dreher Dearing: Dreher
Friday Aiken at White Knoll Bezjak: White Knoll Dearing: White Knoll
Airport at Gilbert Bezjak: Gilbert Dearing: Gilbert
Batesburg-Leesville at Mid-Carolina Bezjak: Batesburg-Leesville Dearing: Batesburg-Leesville
Ben Lippen at First Baptist Bezjak: First Baptist Dearing: First Baptist
CA Johnson at Keenan Bezjak: Keenan Dearing: Keenan
Camden at Fort Mill Bezjak: Camden Dearing: Fort Mill
Cardinal Newman at Augusta Christian Bezjak: Cardinal Newman Dearing: Augusta Christian
Dorchester Academy at Northside Christian Bezjak: Dorchester Dearing: Dorchester
Dutch Fork at Boiling Springs Bezjak: Dutch Fork Dearing: Dutch Fork
Fairfield Central at Calhoun County Bezjak: Fairfield Central Dearing: Fairfield Central
Irmo at Brookland-Cayce
Bezjak: Irmo
Dearing: Brookland-Cayce
Laurence Manning at Heathwood Hall
Bezjak: Laurence Manning
Dearing: Laurence Manning
Lower Richland vs. Wilson at Benedict College
Bezjak: Wilson
Dearing: Lower Richland
Lugoff-Elgin at River Bluff
Bezjak: River Bluff
Dearing: River Bluff
Newberry at Chapin (8 p.m.)
Bezjak: Chapin
Dearing: Newberry
North Augusta at Blythewood
Bezjak: North Augusta
Dearing: North Augusta
North Central at Lamar Bezjak: Lamar Dearing: Lamar
Oceanside vs. Gray Collegiate at S.C. State Bezjak: Gray Collegiate Dearing: Gray Collegiate
Palmetto at WW King Bezjak: Palmetto Dearing: Palmetto
Pinewood Prep at Hammond Bezjak: Hammond Dearing: Hammond
Richard Winn at Beaufort Academy Bezjak: Richard Winn Dearing: Richard Winn
Richland Northeast at Spring Valley Bezjak: Spring Valley Dearing: Spring Valley
Saluda at Pelion Bezjak: Saluda Dearing: Saluda
South Aiken at Lexington Bezjak: Lexington Dearing: South Aiken
Swansea at Wade Hampton (H) Bezjak: Wade Hampton Dearing: Wade Hampton
This Season’s Records Bezjak: 53-20 Dearing: 53-20
September 7, 2018 | State, The (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: 411 344 522 359BY LOU BEZJAK lbezjak@thestate.com | Page: 12 | Section: Sports