Midlands football roundup: Dutch Fork fends off Irmo. AC Flora takes down Camden
For three quarters, the anticipated Dutch Fork and Irmo football game didn’t live up to the billing.
But the final nine minutes sure did.
Irmo rallied from 21 points down in the fourth quarter and had the ball on Dutch Fork’s 4-yard line with 30 seconds left and a chance to tie it.
But the Silver Foxes came up with the goal-line stand to beat the Yellow Jackets, 28-21, in front of a packed W.C. Hawkins Stadium.
“At 28-7, we were over there celebrating and I got a queasy feeling in my stomach,” Dutch Fork coach Tom Knotts said. “But they are too fast. They can score in a New York second and they did.
“But we held on. Goal line stands win championships.”
With the victory, Dutch Fork wins the Region 4-5A championship for the 15th time under Knotts. The Silver Foxes will be the No. 1 seed in the 5A Division I Upper State playoffs and have a first-round bye.
The loss snaps the Yellow Jackets’ 21-game home-winning streak. Despite the result, Irmo will be a No. 1 seed in the 5A Division II Lower State playoffs and have a first-round bye.
Dutch Fork dominated for three quarters and was up 28-7.
But backup quarterback Britton Davis replaced starter Drevon Dopson and provided the offense with a spark. The sophomore found freshman Corey Miller on a 42-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead to 28-14 with 5:42 left. The ball was tipped by a Dutch Fork defender and Miller had the concentration to haul it in for the TD.
Irmo’s defense came up with a turnover on Dutch Fork’s next possession and stripped quarterback Jaxon Knotts. Two plays later, Davis hit Maleek Miller on a 19-yard TD to cut the lead to 28-21 with four minutes left.
Davis was 4 of 6 passing for 125 yards and two touchdowns.
Irmo forced a punt on Dutch Fork’s next possession and got the ball back on its own 22 with 2:07 left. Davis hit Corey Miller on a 48-yard pass to the Dutch Fork 25.
The Yellow Jackets got to the 4-yard line and had 3rd-and-1 from there. But Davis threw two incompletions as the Silver Foxes held on for their 13th win in the last 14 games over their rivals.
Irmo head coach Aaron Brand took the blame for the loss and said he should have run the ball on third down at the end despite not having any timeouts left.
“When we get down there and preach accountability and the head coach is unaware of the situation,” Brand said. “I’m going to take that one on the chin and I want the world to know. This group fought like crazy, but the head coach has got to hold himself accountable.”
The game featured the usual pre-game trash talking between the two teams. That was heightened after an incident during the week. Knotts and Dutch Fork said someone from Irmo logged onto the Silver Foxes’ Hudl video account, which is used to watch game and practice film.
Whoever logged in from Irmo watched 18 hours of Dutch Fork practice film during the week, according to Knotts, including two hours Friday morning.
Knotts and Brand talked about the ordeal during Friday’s pre-game warmups.
“They broke into our Hudl account and watched all of our practices. That is bull crap,” Knotts said. “Somebody should pay for that.”
Brand said after the game he had no knowledge of the situation, and Knotts said he believed him. The two have a long history together of their days coaching together in North Carolina.
Irmo jumped out first as Dopson hit Corey Miller on a 79-yard pass on the second possession of the game to lead 7-0. Corey Miller finished with three catches for 169 yards.
But Dutch Fork dominated the rest of the half, holding the Yellow Jackets to 26 yards of offense the rest of the half. The Silver Foxes scored on their final possessions of the second quarter.
Quintin Wilson and Kyle Henry had TD runs, and Jaxon Knotts hit Stone Furrey for a 16-yard TD.
Knotts was 17 of 27 for 105 yards, two touchdown passes and a TD run. Henry rushed for 96 yards and had a TD catch.
Perfect season for Newberry
Newberry captured its seventh unbeaten regular season in school history with a 43-0 win over Swansea.
Quarterback Kenton Caldwell had two touchdown passes and backup Sincere Glymph had one. Cash Brown had a rushing touchdown and also caught a TD pass. Jamel Howse and Jason Dunbar caught TD passes while Dante Howse ran for one.
Batesburg-Leesville wins OT thriller
Amadre Wooden had a touchdown run in overtime and KD Whitt made the game-saving tackle on a two-point conversion to help Batesburg-Leesville to a 35-34 win over Saluda.
Batesburg-Leesville led 28-14 in the fourth quarter, but Saluda scored twice to force overtime.
In OT, Wooden scored on a 10-yard run. The senior finished with 199 yards rushing, one yard shy of his seventh straight 200-yard rushing game and three touchdowns.
On Saluda’s possession, Brayden Williams scored on a 1-yard run for his third touchdown of the game. After B-L was called for offsides, Saluda decided to go for the win. But Whitt tackled Williams by the goal line.
Tristan Daniels led Saluda with 153 yards rushing and a TD.
Around the Midlands
Ridge View 39, Blythewood 7: The Blazers won their sixth straight over their district rivals.
Quarterback Bijon Virgo threw touchdowns to Khristian Jackson and Carter Coleman and also ran for a TD. Spencer Bobian added a TD run for the Blazers.
Central 42, North Central 7: Central captured the region title with a win over the Knights.
Fairfield Central 44, Columbia 0: The Griffins recorded their fourth shutout of the year and earned No. 2 seed from Region 3-2A.
Mid-Carolina 20, Eau Claire 6: The Rebels defeated the Shamrocks to finish third in Region 3-2A.
Ryker Woolstenhulme had two TD runs for MC and freshman Akai Williams added one.
CA Johnson 30, Lee Central 20: The Green Hornets picked up the win and will finish third-place in the region. Stacey Isaac threw three touchdown passes for CAJ, two to Elijah Harper and one to Terrell Golson. Jeremiah Knighther added a TD run.
Northwood 39, Heathwood Hall 20: Northwood won the SCISA 4A region title and secured a first-round bye in the playoffs. Heathwood will host a first-round game next week.
Ben Lippen 28, Augusta Christian 0: The Falcons snapped a five-game losing streak and will play a first round game next week in the SCISA 4A playoffs. Stone Porter returned an interception for a touchdown and Sam Wilson blocked a punt for a TD. Zion Gaddist and Holden Parnell each TD runs.
Sumter 52, Westwood 27: Reggie Shannon and Frank Richardson each rushed for two touchdowns in Sumter’s win.
Richardson also threw a TD pass. Shannon finished with 143 yards rushing. Cleveland Pinckey had 164 yards and a TD. Sumter rushed for 404 yards.
Elye Owens threw two TD passes for Westwood. Jayden Boyd also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
Thursday Night Games
AC Flora wraps up second seed
A.C. Flora football is headed to the playoffs with a lot of momentum.
The Falcons started strong and held on Thursday night as they won their fifth straight game with a 40-28 win over Camden at Memorial Stadium.
With the win, A.C. Flora finishes second in Region 3-4A and is guaranteed at least one home playoff game and a chance for a second one. The Falcons’ only loss on the season came against top-ranked South Pointe, and they finished the regular season with five wins by 10 points or more.
“I think we are peaking,” A.C. Flora coach Ken Floyd said. “The guys are comfortable with what we are doing and are coachable. They are bought in. I am excited for our guys on senior night who got a win over a good football team.”
Quarterback Roper Wentzky threw touchdown passes to Joshua Davis and Charlie Scott. Running back Jalen Simmons added a pair of TD runs, including one in the fourth quarter, to seal the win. Azal Banag also had a 1-yard scoring run.
The Falcons scored on the first play of the game as Blake Betette returned the opening kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown and led 21-6 after the first quarter.
The lead grew to 34-6 when Wentzky hit Scott on a 63-yard TD pass with 4:56 in the second quarter. The senior was 13-of-21 passing for 223 yards.
Camden cut the lead to 34-14 on Navier Boykin’s touchdown run late in the half. Boyking led the Bulldogs with 88 yards rushing.
The Bulldogs dominated the third quarter and into the fourth as they cut into the Falcons’ lead.
Greyson Rimpf hit Bernard Green on a 74-yard touchdown pass. After Green picked off Wentzky, Rimpf hit Tylin Drakeford on a 53-yard pass to get the Bulldogs within 34-28 with nine minutes left.
Rimpf was 12-of-21 passing for 219 yards.
But the Falcons turned to their running game and big offensive line to put the game away. A.C. Flora scored on a 48-yard drive, capped off by Simmons’ 1-yard run with 3:39 left. Simmons rushed for 121 yards.
Camden (7-3, 5-2) finishes third in the regular season and will host a first-round playoff game next week.
Around the Midlands
Gray Collegiate 49, Gilbert 0: Trevon Williamson and Royce Williamson each had two rushing touchdowns in the War Eagles win.
Gray has wrapped up a top three seed in 4A playoffs, which begin next week. Xavier Wright and Tyler Waller threw TD passes to Corey Gleaton and Hiszari Gantt. Nate Dixon also had a scoring run.
Gilbert will open up the playoffs on the road next week.
River Bluff 38, Lexington 17: Senior Hayden Myers rushed for 300 yards and four touchdowns as the Gators won the battle for fourth place in Region 4-5A. Jyree Grady also had a kickoff return for a touchdown for River Bluff.
Easton Crocker had a touchdown run for Lexington, who will be on the road next week in the playoffs. Markel Byrd rushed for 118 yards and also caught five passes for 69 yards and a TD.
White Knoll 42, Chapin 7: Tiyon Fanning had two touchdown runs, including a 96-yarder in the Timberwolves’ win. White Knoll will have a bye next week in the 5A Division II Lower State playoffs.
Jhais Mckiever, Jordan Keith and Christian Chism had TD runs for White Knoll.
Luke Cromer had a TD run for Chapin, which finishes the season at 0-10.
Hammond 57, Cardinal Newman 0: Levi Myers had three touchdown runs and Bubba Alexander had two in the Skyhawks’ win.
Kanye Reed had a kickoff return for a touchdown and Jackson Ross had a big game on defense and special teams. Ross blocked a punt that Jordan Boston returned for a score.
Hammond might have a bye in the SCISA 4A playoffs depending on Friday’s results. Cardinal Newman finishes the season at 1-9.
Brookland-Cayce 20, Airport 13: Andrew Frick threw touchdown passes to Barry Dixon and Mekhi Pringle in the win over the Eagles.
Avery King also had a TD run for BC, which finishes the regular season at 3-7 and will play a first-round playoff game next week.
Nolan O’Hara had a TD pass to Zayvion Williams, and offensive lineman Jonathan Brown scored on a hook-and-lateral for Airport, which finished the season at 0-10.
Pelion 50, American Leadership 7: Jai Chuniesingh went over 1,000 receiving yards and Tre Jackson eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards on the season in the win over ALA.
Chuniesingh caught three TD passes from Alan Moore and Jackson added two touchdown runs. Pelion finishes the regular season at 5-5 in Corey Helms’ first year. The five wins are most for the program since 2014. The Panthers will play a first-round playoff game next week.
ALA finishes the season at 2-8.
South Pointe 70, Richland Northeast 0: South Carolina commitment J’Zavien Currence had two touchdown passes and a rushing TD in the Stallions’ win.
SP will be the No. 1 seed in the 4A Upper State playoffs next week. RNE finishes the season at 0-10.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 11:30 PM.
