Irmo is the real deal ... and other lessons learned from first-half of HS football season

The S.C. high school football season is hitting the halfway point. Non-region games are mostly complete. Region play is under way for some teams and will begin in full force next week.

A look at what’s stood out so far in 2023 in the Midlands:

Irmo is a state championship contender

There was a lot of hype around Irmo High School football coming into the season, and the Yellow Jackets have delivered on it so far.

Irmo is 4-0 and coming off a big road win over Hartsville. Junior quarterback AJ Brand has looked the part of a Division I prospect and has plenty of weapons around him with running back Jaden Allen-Hendrix and receivers Donovan Murph, Caleb Alexander and Telvin Smith.

The Yellow Jackets also have been strong on defense, allowing 42 points this season.

Irmo has big matchups with region teams Ridge View and A.C. Flora ahead, but there’s no reason it can’t make a deep run into the postseason in a very competitive Class 4A Lower State that features the likes of defending champion South Florence, Hartsville, West Florence and James Island.

Not a typical Dutch Fork year

Dutch Fork will have some work to do if it wants to make it to another title game and repeat as Class 5A champions.

The Silver Foxes started the year by losing three straight games and have a tough matchup with Weddington (N.C.) this week. They also dropped out of the Class 5A top 10 rankings.

The Silver Foxes lost starting quarterback Jon Hunt in the opener against Colquitt (Ga.). Sophomore Ethan Offing became the starter there, and the team has rotated its running backs.

Dutch Fork will need strong efforts from its defense as the offense tries to get things going for the second half of the year.

Can White Knoll capitalize off another strong start?

White Knoll plays Lancaster this week and is a win away from its second straight 5-0 start under coach Nick Pelham. Can the Timberwolves finish better than they did last year?

In 2022, White Knoll lost three in a row before beating Chapin and clinching a playoff spot.

This year, White Knoll has a balanced attack on offense and a defense that is among the state’s best in points allowed. The Timberwolves have allowed 28 points in four games.

Is Cardinal Newman ready to make a title run?

Cardinal Newman is 4-0 and off to its best start in more than two decades. Can they make a run at powerhouse Hammond? We’ll get that answer in a few weeks when the teams meet Oct. 6.

The Cardinals are loaded with offensive weapons and are averaging 50.2 points a game.

After a tough early schedule, Hammond has put together two straight wins but hasn’t been clicking yet on offense in the passing game. The Skyhawks have been playing three quarterbacks, but their strong running game and defense have been their strengths so far.

Forfeits, big wins highlight Gray Collegiate season

There has been plenty said and written about Gray Collegiate’s season.

On the field, the War Eagles are ranked No. 1 in Class 2A with a lone loss to St. John’s (D.C.). Gray has wins over Class A champion Christ Church as well as SCISA champ Hammond and 3A schools Crestwood and Camden.

Off the field, Gray has dealt with Region 4-2A opponents opting to forfeit games, forcing the War Eagles to scramble to find makeup opponents.

As of now, the War Eagles have two games scheduled against out-of-state teams and one possible in-state game before the postseason begins on Nov. 6.

The extra time off should mean the War Eagles are rested and healthy as they enter the playoffs. The 2A Upper State bracket will be a tough one with the likes of Abbeville, Silver Bluff, Fairfield Central, Saluda and Strom Thurmond.

Surprise teams, breakout players

There have been plenty of surprise teams and players who weren’t getting a lot of attention before the season.

▪ Chapin (4-1): The Eagles have already exceeded their win total (3) from last season and have put up some big numbers on offense. The big question is, can they keep the momentum once Region 5-5A play starts on Sept. 29?

▪ Airport (4-1): Shane Fidler has brought some excitement in his first year and the Eagles have the most wins in a season since they won nine in 2019. Airport will be in the mix for a high finish in Region 5-A.

▪ Brady Albro, QB: Chapin: Junior has put up some of the top passing numbers in the area with 1,250 yards in the air and 15 touchdowns.

▪ Roper Wentzky, QB, AC Flora: Sophomore took over starting QB duties in the fourth quarter of the opener and has performed well. Wentzky has thrown for more than 800 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

▪ Caleb Pearson, QB, CA Johnson: The senior has carried the load of the Green Hornets’ offense this season, already rushing for 1,002 yards and 10 touchdowns.

▪ Jordon Gidron, WR, Ridge View: Sophomore has emerged as one of the Blazers’ top receivers with 23 catches for 434 yards and eight touchdowns.

▪ Jaylen Jay, RB, Gilbert: Jay is on pace for 1,000-yard season after filling in void for the Indians losing a pair of 1,000-yard rushers a year ago.

▪ Jaiden Kimble, LB, White Knoll: Senior is one of the leaders of White Knoll defense, second in tackles and leads team in tackles for loss with eight and three sacks. Was selected to Shrine Bowl of Carolinas all-star game.

▪ Jamarious Lockett, WR, Gray Collegiate: Senior has surpassed receiving totals from last year with more than 500 yards and seven touchdowns.

Five-must see games this week

▪ Chapin (4-1) at AC Flora (2-2): AC Flora has won four straight in the series including last year’s 47-21 victory. Chapin has won four straight games after a season-opening loss to Irmo and is averaging 41.5 points a game on offense during that span. Chapin quarterback Brady Albro has thrown for 1,250 yards and 15 touchdowns. Xavier Williams leads the Eagles with five sacks.

▪ Airport (4-1) at Irmo (4-0): Irmo holds a 23-9 series advantage including a 37-0 win last year. Irmo moved up to No. 3 in the latest Class 4A rankings after a 35-21 win at Hartsville. The Yellow Jackets are looking for their first 5-0 start since 2005. Airport quarterback Jesse Ray Hoover has thrown for 605 yards and eight touchdowns. Irmo QB AJ Brand has thrown for 789 yards and 13 touchdowns. Running back Jaden Allen-Hendrix rushed for 201 yards and four touchdowns last week and 756 yards for the season.

▪ Hampton County (5-0) at Brookland-Cayce (2-2): First meeting between the two schools. Hampton County is in its first year of existence after Estill and Wade Hampton schools merged. Hampton County is ranked No. 5 in Class 2A. B-C has lost two straight games to 5A Chapin and 4A AC Flora. B-C’s Will Young was selected to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas.

▪ Saluda (4-0) at Gilbert (4-0): Battle of unbeatens and teams ranked in their respective classifications. Gilbert is No. 4 in 3A and Saluda No. 6 in 2A. Saluda leads the all-time series, 10-7, including a 33-21 win last year. Gilbert quarterback Drake Braddock has thrown for 856 yards and nine touchdowns while Jaylen Jay has rushed for 575 yards and seven TDs. Gilbert’s defense had six sacks last week against Lexington.

▪ Weddington (NC) (4-1) at Dutch Fork (2-3): First meeting between the two schools. Dutch Fork has won two straight after a 0-3 start. Dutch Fork quarterback Ethan Offing has thrown for 726 yards and six touchdowns. Running back Maurice Anderson has two straight 100-yard games for DF and leads the team with 276 yards rushing. Peyton Betts leads the Silver Foxes with four interceptions and Deon Winsley leads the team with 41 tackles. DB Tyler Jones was picked to play in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. Weddington quarterback Tyler Budge is a Georgia Southern commit picked for NC team in Shrine Bowl of Carolinas. Weddington sophomore linebacker Thomas Davis Jr. is son of former Carolina Panthers standout Thomas Davis.

This Week’s Game Schedule

Airport at Irmo

Augusta Christian at Heathwood Hall

Ben Lippen at Cardinal Newman

CA Johnson at Hemingway

Chapin at AC Flora

Chester at Batesburg-Leesville

Conway Christian at Newberry Academy

Dorman at River Bluff

Eau Claire at Columbia

Hammond at Camden Military, 5 p.m.

Hampton County at Brookland-Cayce

Lake City at Camden

Nation Ford at Richland Northeast

Newberry at Keenan

Pelion at Ninety-Six

Saluda at Gilbert

Swansea at Midland Valley

Weddington (NC) at Dutch Fork

White Knoll at Lancaster

Williamsburg Academy at Northside Christian

WW King at Richard Winn