Which Midlands football teams have the most to gain or lose in final week of season
The final week of the regular season in South Carolina high school football is here.
After early-season challenges with COVID-19, teams have navigated their ways for the most part to full region schedules — and there are some things yet to be decided.
Playoff picture
Here are all the matchups in the Midlands this week with playoff implications on the line:
A.C. Flora at Dreher, Irmo at Lugoff-Elgin, Richland Northeast at Westwood: These three games will help decide the Region 4-4A standings. The top three teams — A.C. Flora, Irmo and Westwood — are in the playoffs and tied for first at 3-1. The bottom three teams — Dreher, Lugoff-Elgin and Richland Northeast — are tied at 1-3 for the final spot, with only one team getting in the playoffs. If the top three teams all win and the bottom three all lose, the seeding for the playoffs will be A.C. Flora, Westwood and Irmo, and then RNE would be the fourth seed. But any other combination and things would change. Bezjak’s prediction: AC Flora, Irmo and Westwood
Chapin at Lexington: Both teams are ranked in this week’s Class 5A poll and are locked into the playoffs. But the winner of the game will host a playoff game, with the loser headed to Carolina Forest. Chapin running back Bennett Galloway needs 130 yards for 1,000 on the season. Lexington’s defense has forced 20 turnovers in nine games this season. Bezjak’s prediction: Lexington
White Knoll at River Bluff: The winner of this game earns a spot in the postseason and heads to Sumter next week, while the loser misses out on the playoffs. White Knoll has a six-game losing streak while the Gators enter with a five-game losing streak. Bezjak’s prediction: River Bluff
Newberry at Gray Collegiate: With the Saluda and Batesburg-Leesville game canceled this week, the winner of this game will be the Region 3-2A champion. If Newberry loses, the Bulldogs will be a No. 3 seed behind Saluda. The War Eagles have Mr. Football finalist KZ Adams and an offense that is averaging 42 points a game. Newberry counters with running back KJ Robinson — and it will be the final regular-season game of Phil Strickland’s career. Bezjak’s prediction: Gray Collegiate
Orangeburg-Wilkinson at Brookland-Cayce: No one has more to lose in the area this week than B-C. A win and the Bearcats are region champions — but with a loss, they could be the No. 4 seed with a first-round trip to Dillon on the horizon. B-C defeated O-W last year 24-0. Bezjak’s prediction: Brookland-Cayce
Ridge View at Blythewood: Playoff implications are riding between the Richland 2 rivals. Ridge View earns the No. 3 seed from Region 4-5A and eliminates Blythewood from the postseason with a win. A Blythewood win and a Rock Hill victory over Northwestern, and RV misses out on the playoffs. If Blythewood wins and Rock Hill loses, the final two playoff spots will be decided by points allowed in all region games. Bezjak’s prediction: Ridge View
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE, PICKS
All games at 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Ben Lippen at Augusta Christian
Bezjak’s prediction: Augusta Christian
Cardinal Newman at Trinity Collegiate
Bezjak’s prediction: Trinity Collegiate
Central at North Central
Bezjak’s prediction: North Central
Eau Claire at Columbia
Bezjak’s prediction: Columbia
Gilbert at Swansea
Bezjak’s prediction: Gilbert
Heathwood Hall at Hammond
Bezjak’s prediction: Hammond
Laurens Academy at Newberry Academy
Bezjak’s prediction: Newberry Academy
McBee at CA Johnson
Bezjak’s prediction: CA Johnson
Pelion at Edisto
Bezjak’s prediction: Pelion
Richard Winn at Wardlaw Academy
Bezjak’s prediction: Richard Winn
WW King at Jefferson Davis
Bezjak’s prediction: WW King
Canceled: Saluda at Batesburg-Leesville
Last Week: 21-3
Season Totals: 179-46
