Here are five observations or things that stood out in the fourth week of high school football in the Midlands:
IRMO, BLYTHEWOOD OVERCOME LOSSES TO TOP PLAYERS
Irmo and Blythewood overcame the losses of their top players in wins Friday night.
Irmo played without Kendrell Flowers, a Wake Forest commit and one of the top prospects in the state, against Brookland-Cayce. Flowers is nursing an ankle injury.
Yellow Jackets coach Reggie Kennedy moved Omarion Dolleson from receiver to running back in Flowers’ place and he had 224 yards from scrimmage and a TD in the 28-14 win.
Blythewood, which is already without quarterback Quinton Patten for the season, played North Augusta without top defensive player Patrick Godbolt (ankle) and also Trent Row. The Bengals overcame those injuries and a slow start in the 15-12 win over the Yellow Jackets, who were ranked No. 9 in the Class 4A poll.
Blythewood trailed 12-0 in the fourth quarter and also was outgained 380-136.
SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY
Hammond’s Reece Holbrook made his first varsity start Friday night.
The sophomore started in the 41-7 win over Pinewood Prep. Holbrook’s first start comes 14 years after he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia as a 2-year old Sept. 7, 2004.
Holbrook spent seven days in the hospital and underwent chemotherapy treatments for the next 3 ½ years. He also dealt with nerve damage in his eyes and couldn’t track moving objects.
But Holbrook’s leukemia is in remission and he has blossomed into a two-sport athlete. He is a baseball standout and is committed to North Carolina.
MULTIPLE OPTIONS FOR CHAPIN
Chapin might not have one of those big-name players on offense like it has had in the past with the likes of Logan Bailey and Xavion Gordon.
But the Eagles have a variety of players capable of producing and it showed in Friday’s 37-22 win over Newberry.
Quarterback Roger Pedroni showed the ability throw on the run and also take off with the ball when needed.
Three Chapin backs – Trey Lyles, Taison Thomas and Connor Evans – combined to rush for 172 yards and averaged 7.1 yards a carry behind the Eagles’ improving offensive line.
Jason Graves and Gio Macaluso have emerged as targets in the passing game.
DUTCH FORK ON RECORD-SETTING PACE
The Dutch Fork football team is on a record-setting pace through three games this season.
The Silver Foxes have scored 184 points and have given up seven. The 184 points are the most in a three-game stretch in school history.
Dutch Fork could challenge offensive records despite having its opener against Mallard Creek canceled. The Silver Foxes’ most points scored in a single season came in 2013 when it put up 647.
DF’s highest points per game total came last season when it averaged 44.
Defensively, Dutch Fork’s best statistical year came in 2002 when it gave up 111 points, a 9.2 per game average.
CAMDEN OFF TO STRONG START
Through four games, Camden (3-1) already has equaled its win total from last season.
Camden went 3-8 in Brian Rimpf’s first season. The Class 3A Bulldogs have wins over Class 5A schools Lugoff-Elgin and Fort Mill.
Camden has won more than five games in a season just once since 2011.
TOP PERFORMERS
Shymeik Corbett, Camden –Rushed for 166 yards and caught three passes for 42 yards and TD in win over Fort Mill
Omarion Dolleson, Irmo – Rushed for 173 yards and caught 51-yard TD pass in win over Brookland-Cayce
Jamias Holloway, White Knoll – Rushed for 103 yards and 3 TDs and caught four passes for 69 yards in victory against Aiken
Jackson Muschamp, Hammond – 9-of-13 passing for 227 yards and 4 TDs (all in first half) in win over Pinewood Prep
Ty Olenchuk, Dutch Fork – Was 12-of-12 for 264 yards and 4 TDs in win over Boiling Springs.
Gage Zirke, Dutch Fork – Had six catches for 173 yards and 3 TDs in win over Boiling Springs
HOW MIDLANDS TOP 10 FARED
1. Dutch Fork (3-0) – Defeated Boiling Springs, 63-7
2. Hammond (4-0) – Defeated Pinewood Prep, 41-7
3. Westwood (3-0) – Off this week
4. Lexington (2-1) – Lost to South Aiken, 16-7
5. River Bluff (4-0) – Defeated Lugoff-Elgin, 28-18
6. Spring Valley (2-1) – Defeated Richland Northeast, 43-0
7. Gilbert (3-1) – Defeated Airport, 27-19
8. Brookland-Cayce (2-2) – Lost to Irmo, 28-14
9. Chapin (3-0) – Defeated Newberry, 37-22
10. White Knoll (3-1) – Defeated Aiken, 48-38
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE
Thursday McCormick at Eau Claire (At District Stadium at Keenan)
Friday Andrew Jackson at North Central Augusta Christian at Ben Lippen Blythewood at Dutch Fork CA Johnson at Pelion Calhoun County at Swansea Carolina Pride at Keenan Chapin at Spring Valley Columbia at Fox Creek Daniel at Ridge View Dreher at Gilbert Fairfield Central at Newberry First Baptist at Cardinal Newman Fort Mill at Lugoff-Elgin Gray Collegiate vs. White Knoll at Spirit Communications Park Lexington at Batesburg-Leesville Lower Richland at Airport Ninety-Six at Mid-Carolina Pinewood Prep at Heathwood Hall Richland Northeast at AC Flora (Site TBA) Richard Winn at Jefferson Davis River Bluff at Irmo South Aiken at Westwood Thomas Sumter at Northside Christian West Florence at Camden Wilson Hall at Hammond WW King at Laurens
September 9, 2018 | State, The (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: 15 1030 127 1045BY LOU BEZJAK lbezjak@thestate.com | Page: 23 | Section: Sports