Top-ranked Saluda, Batesburg-Leesville meet. Plus, breaking down area playoff scenarios
It’s No. 1 vs. No. 2 and small-town football at its best Friday when Batesburg-Leesville travels to face Saluda.
The matchup features the top-ranked teams in Class 2A — both undefeated, with No. 1 Batesburg-Leesville coming in at 8-0 and Saluda at 7-0. The result will go a long way in deciding the Region 2-2A title. Saluda is in the driver’s seat with a win and has American Leadership Academy left on its schedule.
Batesburg-Leesville needs to win Friday, then beat Strom Thurmond (2-1 region) next week. Strom Thurmond is still in the mix for the region race and plays Ninety-Six this week.
Ninety-Six (2-2) has clinched a playoff spot and can finish third with a win over Strom Thurmond Friday, and if ST loses next week.
The fifth and final spot in the region will be decided between Friday’s Pelion (0-4) and American Leadership (0-3) matchup.
That region race is one of several to look at involving Midlands teams as we head to the final two weeks of the regular season (region records in parentheses):
Region 4-5A
All six teams in the region have clinched spots in the Class 5A Division 1 or 2 playoffs. The region finish and RPI will help determine seeding.
Dutch Fork (3-0) and Irmo (3-0) are tied for first in the region and close the regular season, likely for the region title, next week in a game at Dutch Fork. The Silver Foxes are at River Bluff (2-1) this Friday, while Yellow Jackets have Chapin.
If Dutch Fork wins the region, they will be the No. 1 seed with home-field advantage in the 5A Division I Upper State playoffs because of their RPI strength. Irmo would be the No. 1 seed in 5A Division II Lower State playoffs, if it wins the region. If it doesn’t, the Yellow Jackets still will be a high seed because of its RPI.
River Bluff can wrap up third with a win in its final two games against Dutch Fork or Lexington (1-2). The Gators are in the running for a bye (top four seeds) in Division I 5A Upper State. The Wildcats can get third if they beat White Knoll on Friday and River Bluff next week.
The fifth and sixth spots will be decided next week when Chapin and White Knoll play. But the two teams can finish higher with wins this week.
Region 5-5A
Six of the seven teams here have likely wrapped up playoff spots, with a chance that all seven region teams can get it in.
Sumter (4-0) and Ridge View (4-0) are tied for first and will decide the region title next week. Each has a game this week, with Sumter facing Westwood (3-2) and Ridge View facing rival Blythewood (3-2).
West Florence (3-2) can lock up third in the region and a possible bye in the 5A Division II playoffs with a win over Spring Valley (0-5) next week. Westwood has clinched fourth and Blythewood fifth for the final automatic playoff spots in the region.
Lugoff-Elgin (1-5) is done in the regular season, but the Demons are in the playoffs because of their RPI.
There is a chance that even if Spring Valley doesn’t win next week, the Vikings will make the playoffs as a winless team. Only one of the 13 teams in 5A Division I Lower State will miss the playoffs, and the Vikings’ RPI is higher than Stall, another winless team.
Region 3-4A
South Pointe (5-0) has clinched the region title and will be a top-three seed in the 4A Upper State playoffs.
A.C. Flora (4-1) will be second if it defeats Camden (3-2) on Friday. If Camden wins and Richland Northeast (3-2) loses against South Pointe, the Bulldogs are the second seed. If RNE wins and Camden beats Flora, there will be a three-way tie for second and the tiebreaker will determine seeds two through four.
The winner of York (1-4) and Lancaster (1-4) will clinch the fifth and final automatic spot from the region. The loser and Dreher (1-5), whose regular-season is complete, might still get an at-large playoff spot based on their RPI.
Region 4-4A
Five of the seven teams in the region are guaranteed a playoff spot. Gray Collegiate (5-0) and North Augusta (5-0) are tied for region lead and play next week for the region title.
Midland Valley (4-2) has locked in the third spot and plays North Augusta this week.
Gilbert (3-2) is fourth now and plays Gray this week, then Aiken (0-5) next week. Brookland-Cayce (2-4) locks in fifth with a win over Airport and can finish fourth if Gilbert loses its last two games.
Airport (1-4) and South Aiken (1-4) play next Thursday and could decide the final automatic spot. Both are in running for at-large spots as well. Aiken (0-5) is in eighth right now.
Region 5-4A
Hartsville (5-0) and South Florence (5-0) are tied for first and play for the region title on Friday.
The rest of the region is up for grabs. Lower Richland (3-3) has finished its regular season and would be third if Darlington (2-3) loses to Wilson (0-5).
If Crestwood (2-3) defeats Lakewood (1-4) and Darlington wins, there will be a three-way tie for third.
Region 4-3A
Newberry (2-0) leads the region and wins it by defeating Swansea (2-1) on Friday and Silver Bluff (1-1) next week.
Swansea could win the region with a win Friday and a Silver Bluff loss to Newberry next week. Silver Bluff (1-1) wins the region with wins over Fox Creek (0-3) and Newberry.
Keenan (2-2) has clinched a playoff spot, and its regular season is complete.
Region 3-2A
Fairfield Central (2-0) leads the region and clinches the No. 1 seed with wins in the final two games against Columbia (1-2) and Mid-Carolina (1-1).
Chester (3-1) has locked up a playoff spot, and its regular season is complete. Mid-Carolina (1-1) clinches a playoff spot with a win over Eau Claire on Friday. Columbia has already clinched a playoff spot.
Region 4-2A
Cheraw (4-0) has clinched the region championship. Central (3-1) has locked up second.
The region’s three other automatic spots are between Andrew Jackson (2-2), North Central, Chesterfield (1-3) and Buford (1-3).
Region 2-A
Lewisville (4-0) and Lamar (4-0) will play for the region title on Friday.
Lee Central (2-2) has clinched a playoff spot and can be third with a win over C.A. Johnson (1-3).
CAJ, McBee and Great Falls are battling for the final two automatic playoff spots.
SCISA
In Class 4A, Hammond has clinched homefield advantage up until the championship game. Ben Lippen, Heathwood Hall and Cardinal Newman also have earned playoff spots.
In Class 3A, Northside Christian has wrapped up a playoff spot.
In 8-man, Richard Winn has wrapped up the top seed.
Game schedule, predictions
(Winner picks in bold face caps)
Friday
AC FLORA at Camden
Airport at BROOKLAND-CAYCE
American Leadership at PELION
Batesburg-Leesville at SALUDA
BEN LIPPEN at Augusta Christian
CA Johnson at LEE CENTRAL
Camden Military at NORTHSIDE CHRISTIAN
Chapin at IRMO
DUTCH FORK at River Bluff
Eau Claire at MID-CAROLINA
FAIRFIELD CENTRAL at Columbia
GRAY COLLEGIATE at Gilbert
HAMMOND at Cardinal Newman
LAURENS ACADEMY at WW King
Lexington at WHITE KNOLL
NEWBERRY at Swansea
NEWBERRY ACADEMY at Oakbrook Prep
NORTHWOOD at Heathwood Hall
North Central at CENTRAL
RIDGE VIEW at Blythewood
SOUTH POINTE at Richland Northeast
Wardlaw at RICHARD WINN
Westwood at SUMTER
Last Week: 20-4
This Season: 193-41
Midlands Power Rankings
Here are the area’s power rankings by The State Newspaper’s Staff. A look at the top 10 teams in the area and those just on the outside.
1. Dutch Fork (7-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 1
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at River Bluff
2. Irmo (8-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 2
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at Chapin
3. Hammond (8-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 3
- Last Week: Defeated Ben Lippen, 49-17
- This Week: at Cardinal Newman
4. Saluda (7-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 4
- Last Week: Defeated Strom Thurmond, 35-25
- This Week: vs. Batesburg-Leesville
5. Batesburg Leesville (8-0)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 5
- Last Week: Defeated Pelion, 48-0
- This Week: at Saluda
6. River Bluff (6-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 6
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: vs. Dutch Fork
7. Fairfield Central (7-1)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 7
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at Columbia
8. AC Flora (7-2)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 8
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at Camden
9. Gray Collegiate (6-2)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 9
- Last Week: Defeated Aiken, 55-0
- This Week: at Gilbert
10. Ridge View (5-3)
- Last Week’s Ranking: 10
- Last Week: Off
- This Week: at Blythewood
Dropped out: None
Others considered: Swansea, Keenan, Lexington, Richland Northeast
This story was originally published October 31, 2024 at 9:59 AM.
