The new Midlands Top 10 team rankings, playoffs outlook and this week’s game schedule
A look at this week’s Midlands Top 10 high school football power rankings as voted on by a panel at The State newspaper, upcoming football schedule for games Oct. 28-Nov.2 and playoff scenarios for area teams
1. Dutch Fork (5-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Spring Valley 21-0
Next Game: at South Pointe
2. AC Flora (4-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Dreher 63-0
Next Game: vs. Lugoff-Elgin (Nov. 6)
3. Camden (4-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Marlboro County 52-14
Next Game: vs. Lakewood
4. Gilbert (5-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Swansea 55-7
Next Game: at Laurens
5. Gray Collegiate (5-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Newberry 34-28
Next Game: at Oceanside Collegiate (at The Citadel)
6. Ridge View (4-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Blythewood 7-0
Next Game: vs. Mauldin
7. River Bluff (2-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Last Week’s Game: Defeated White Knoll 45-14
Next Game: vs. North Augusta
8. Fairfield Central (3-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Last Week’s Game: Off
Next Game: at Mid-Carolina (Nov. 7)
9. Irmo (4-1)
Last Week’s Ranking: NR
Last Week’s Game: Defeated Lugoff-Elgin 33-14
Next Game: at Chapin
10. North Central (3-0)
Last Week’s Ranking: T-10
Last Week’s Game: Off
Next Game: at Cheraw (Nov. 2)
Dropped Out: Newberry
Others receiving votes: Hammond, Pelion, Brookland-Cayce
This week’s game schedule
Game times 7:30 p.m. unless noted
Wednesday
Chester 57, Lower Richland 50
Mid-Carolina 21, Keenan 10
Thursday
Rock Hill at Blythewood
Friday
Airport at Brookland-Cayce
Augusta Christian at Ben Lippen
Batesburg-Leesville at Columbia
Dreher at Westwood
Dutch Fork at South Pointe
Gilbert at Laurens
Gray Collegiate vs Oceanside Collegiate (at The Citadel)
Hammond at Heathwood Hall
North Augusta at River Bluff, canceled
Irmo at Chapin
Jefferson Davis at WW King
Lakewood at Camden
Lugoff-Elgin at Richland Northeast (Harry Parone Stadium)
Newberry at Saluda
Northside at Palmetto Christian
Pelion at Silver Bluff
South Aiken at Lexington
Spring Valley at Northwestern
Swansea at Strom Thurmond
Trinity Collegiate at Cardinal Newman
Wardlaw at Richland Winn, canceled
Nov. 2
Mid-Carolina at Lower Richland
Cheraw North Central, 7 p.m.
The playoff picture for Midlands teams
With two weeks left in the high school football public school regular season, the playoff race is starting to take shape.
Under rules for the shortened 2020 season, only the top two teams in the regions earn automatic spots. In Class 2A and 4A, there is a chance for at-large berths because of the uneven amount of regions.
Here are the updated playoff scenarios for Midlands teams. Region records are in parentheses:
Class 5A
——Region 4——
Locks: Northwestern (3-0) has clinched the region title and Ridge View (3-1) will be the No. 2 seed.
Out: Blythewood, Rock Hill, Spring Valley
——Region 5——
Locks: Dutch Fork (4-0) has clinched the region and River Bluff (2-1) has clinched the No. 2 seed.
Out: White Knoll, Chapin, Lexington
Class 4A
——Region 4——
Locks: AC Flora (4-0) has clinched the region title.
In the mix: Irmo (3-1) clinches playoff spot with a win over Westwood on Nov. 6 or if Westwood loses to Dreher on Friday. Westwood (2-1) has to beat Dreher on Friday and Irmo on Nov. 6 to clinch a playoff spot.
Out: Dreher, Lugoff-Elgin, Richland Northeast
——Region 5——
Locks: North Augusta (4-0) clinched the region title and South Aiken the No. 2 seed.
In the mix: Airport (2-2) finished third and could get one of two at-large berths in lower state. The Eagles play Brookland-Cayce on Friday and Orangeburg-Wilkinson on Nov. 6.
Out: Midland Valley, Aiken
Class 3A
——Region 4——
Locks: The region title is still up for grabs but Fairfield Central (3-0) can win the region against Mid-Carolina on Nov. 7.
In the mix: Chester (3-1) is done with region play. Mid-Carolina (1-1) is still alive and plays Lower Richland on Monday and Fairfield Central on Nov. 7.
Out: Keenan, Lower Richland
——Region 5——
Locks: Gilbert (4-0) has clinched the region and Brookland-Cayce clinched No. 2 seed.
Out: Strom Thurmond, Orangeburg-Wilkinson, Swansea, Fox Creek
——Region 6——
Locks: Camden (4-0) has clinched the region title.
In the mix: Lake City (2-1) clinches a playoff spot by beating Manning on Friday and Marlboro County on Nov. 6.
Marlboro County (2-2) needs to beat Lake City to have a chance. Crestwood (3-2) can make it if Lake City loses both games.
If Crestwood, Lake City and Marlboro finished tied, it will go to a tiebreaker.
Out: Manning, Lakewood.
Class 2A
——Region 3——
Locks: Gray Collegiate (5-0) won the region title.
In the mix: Batesburg-Leesville (2-1) finishes second with wins over Columbia on Friday and Newberry on Nov. 6.
Newberry (1-1) is the No. 2 seed with wins over Saluda on Friday and and Batesburg-Leesville on Nov. 6.
Saluda (2-2) needs to beat Newberry and have Batesburg-Leesville lose its final two games.
The third-place finisher will be in running for an at-large berth in upper state.
Out: Eau Claire, Columbia
——Region 4——
Locks: No one has clinched a spot but North Central (3-0) can clinched a playoff spot and region by beating Cheraw on Nov. 2.
In the Mix: Cheraw (3-0) wins the region by beating North Central and Andrew Jackson. If Cheraw loses to North Central, it can still get No. 2 seed with win over Andrew Jackson or if AJ loses one ,ore more game.
Andrew Jackson (1-1) needs to beat Cheraw and Chesterfield to have a chance. The third-place finisher will be in the running for an at-large berth in the lower state.
Out: Buford, Central Chesterfield
——Region 5——
Locks: No one has clinched a playoff spot, but Pelion (2-0) controls its own fate. Panthers win the region by beating Silver Bluff (1-2) on Friday and Wade Hampton on Nov. 5.
In the mix: Barnwell (3-1) is done with region games and wins the region with two Pelion losses. Wade Hampton (2-1) is still alive and can finish second by beating Pelion and if Silver Bluff beats Pelion.
If Barnwell, Wade Hampton and Pelion finish in a three-way tie, the tiebreaker will be defensive points allowed between the three teams.
Out: Edisto, Silver Bluff
Class A
——Region 4——
Locks: Lamar (4-0) won the region and C.A. Johnson (3-1) finished second.
Out: Lewisville, Great Falls, McBee
This story was originally published October 26, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
