Breaking down the playoff scenarios for Midlands high school football teams
The high school football season is starting to wind down in South Carolina.
There is one week left left in the regular season and the playoff picture is starting to come into focus. Here is a look at where things stand for teams after the Oct. 24 games. Region records are in parentheses:
Class 5A
Region 4: Dutch Fork (4-0) and Irmo (4-0) are tied for the region lead, with the two teams playing on Oct. 31. Both teams also are in the running for the top seed in their respective playoffs. Dutch Fork is tops in RPI in Class 5A Division I Upper State, while Irmo is No. 1 in 5A Division II Lower State.
White Knoll (2-2) has wrapped up third in the region. River Bluff (1-3) and Lexington (1-3) are tied for fourth and play on Thursday. and White Knoll (1-2) are tied for third in the region. River Bluff plays Lexington next week, while Lexington and White Knoll play this week. All three teams will make the playoffs. Chapin (0-4) is last in the region and needs a win vs. White Knoll have consideration in the playoffs. The Eagles are 13th in RPI in 5A Division II Lower State; the top 12 make the playoffs.
Region 5: Sumter (5-0) has won the region title and Ridge View (4-1) will finish second.
Westwood (3-2) and West Florence (3-2) are tied for third with WF holding the tiebreaker. Lugoff-Elgin (2-4) is next followed by Blythewood (1-4) and Spring Valley (0-5). All should be in the playoffs.
Class 4A
Region 3: South Pointe (5-0) has won the region.
The battle for second is between AC Flora (4-1) and Camden (4-1). The two teams play on Friday. Lancaster (2-3) and York (2-3) are tied for fourth and the two teams play Friday. Dreher (1-5) is sixth and Richland Northeast (0-5) seventh. The top five teams are guaranteed playoff spots, with the other two teams considered for at-large spots.
Region 4: Gray Collegiate (6-0) is the region champion and North Augusta (5-1) has wrapped up second. Gray will be no worse than a No. 3 seed in Lower State playoffs.
Midland Valley (4-2) and Gilbert (4-2) are tied for third and Gilbert holds the tiebreaker over Midland Valley. Brookland-Cayce (2-4) and South Aiken (2-4) are tied for the fifth and final automatic playoff spot for the region. Brookland-Cayce holds the tiebreaker if it finishes tied with South Aiken. Aiken (1-5) is sixth and Airport (0-6) is seventh. The top six finishers are guaranteed a playoff berth, with the seventh-place finisher in line for an at-large berth.
Region 5: South Florence (5-0) and Hartsville (5-0) are tied for first and they play on Friday.
Lower Richland (3-3) is third, with Wilson (2-3) and Crestwood (2-3) tied for fourth. Wilson plays Darlington (1-4) next week while Crestwood (2-3) has Lakewood (0-5). The top five teams in the region are guaranteed a playoff spot.
Class 3A
Region 4: Newberry (3-0) is in first and will win the region with a victory over Swansea (2-1). If the Tigers win they are region champs. But if Swansea wins and Silver Bluff (2-1) wins over Fox Creek (0-3), there will be a three-way tie for region championship.
Keenan (1-2) is fourth and its regular season is over. All five teams in the region will make the playoffs.
Class 2A
Region 2: Strom Thurmond (4-0) is in first and wins the region by defeating Ninety-Six (2-2).
Batesburg-Leesville (3-1) is second by a game over Saluda and Ninety-Six. B-L and Saluda play this week. Pelion (1-3) is fifth by a game over American Leadership (0-4) and two teams play Thursday. The top five teams in the region make the playoffs.
Region 3: Chester (3-1) leads the region but its regular season is over.
Mid-Carolina (2-1) and Fairfield Central (2-1) are tied for second. MC has Eau Claire (1-2) left and Fairfield Central has Columbia (0-3). If three teams finish in a tie, it will be decided by a tiebreaker. Eau Claire has wrapped up fourth in the region.
The top three finishers in the region are guaranteed a home playoff game.
Region 4: Central (3-1), North Central (3-1) and Andrew Jackson (3-1) are tied for first place.
North Central plays Central and wins the region with a victory. If Central wins and Andrew Jackson beats Buford (0-4), AJ is region champion. Only way Central would win the region is with a win and AJ loss.
Cheraw (2-2) is fourth and Chesterfield (1-3) fifth.
The top five teams are guaranteed playoff spots, with the top three getting a home game. The third-place finisher will be in lower state playoffs, with the other four being in the upper state playoffs.
Class A
Region 2: Lamar (4-0) and Lewisville (4-0) are tied for first and play in the regular-season finale Friday.
CA Johnson (2-2) and Lee Central (2-2) are tied for third and play this week. Great Falls (0-4) and McBee (0-4) are tied for fourth and play this week. The top-five teams in region make the playoffs.
SCISA
Class 4A: Hammond, Heathwood Hall and Ben Lippen all have wrapped up playoff spots but first-place in region up for grabs. Northwood leads Hammond and Heathwood Hall by one game but Heathwood plays Northwood on Friday. If Heathwood wins and Hammond defeats Cardinal Newman, there will be a three-way tie and will go to a tiebreaker. Brackets will be released on Nov. 1.
Class 3A: Northside Christian has clinched a playoff spot. Brackets will be released on Nov. 1.
8-Man: WW King and Richard Winn also will be in the postseason and will get their opponents on Nov. 1.
This story was originally published October 24, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
