This just in – Class A football in the T&D Region is very good. The proof is in the records as defending Class A champion Blackville-Hilda, Lower State runner-up Bamberg-Ehrhardt and classification newcomer Allendale-Fairfax are now the lone remaining local undefeated teams. This week, all three teams are ranked one, two and four, respectively, in the Associated Press’ Top 10 Class A polls.

It’s also no coincidence this perfect trio all compete in Region 5-A, considered among the toughest in the entire S.C. High School League.

In fact, it now holds the distinction of being the only region in the SCHSL with three undefeated teams. This will change in the coming weeks when all three teams square off against each other in highly-anticipated region matchups.

It could conceivably end this week as all three teams square off against foes from Region 5-AA. After holding off H-K-T to keep its winning streaks alive, Blackville-Hilda faces Wade Hampton, while Bamberg-Ehrhardt renews its Highway 301 rivalry with Edisto.

As for surprising Allendale-Fairfax, it looks to extend one of its best starts in school history and improve to 4-0 against its former region when it travels to Barnwell.

On the flipside, both Lake Marion and North are still looking for its first victories. Meanwhile, Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Dorchester Academy try to rebound from suffering its first losses of the season in non-conference home games.

Speaking of region contests, Calhoun Academy is one of the first non-Eight-Man teams to open region play this week when it travels to Richard Winn Academy. For most of the other local SCHSL and SCISAA teams, thoughts about playoff seedings and region championships will begin in earnest next week.

It’s the “calm before the storm” in Week Five and Thursday Morning Quarterback is there to provide the highlights.

TEAMS OF THE WEEK

S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE

Allendale-Fairfax

To think, if the Tigers had stayed in Region 5-AA this year, it would be in first place with a 3-0 record. Instead, second-year head coach Wayne Farmer has A-F in position to start 5-0 for the first time since 1995.

SCISAA

Clarendon Hall

The Saints took full advantage of mistake-prone play by former SCISAA power Wardlaw Academy to earn their first victory of the season. The 58-0 rout over the Patriots saw eight different players score touchdowns and Clarendon Hall capitalize on seven turnovers.

TMQ PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE

Broderick Raysor

(Blackville-Hilda)

The Hawks needed all three touchdowns the senior tailback scored as they held off a strong challenge from Hunter-Kinard-Tyler in winning 20-13. He finished with 19 carries for a career-high 158 yards, surpassing his total through three games this season.

HONORABLE MENTION

Tyquan Mickens

(Bethune-Bowman)

After a quiet past three weeks, the “Elite 11” standout returned to form with 256 yards and three TDs in leading the Mohawks to a Region 6-A win over Academic Magnet.

SCISAA

Wesley Bilton

(Bowman Academy)

The Bulldog quarterback had a perfect night throwing the football, completing all seven of his passes for 100 yards and one TD and rushed for 155 yards on 15 carries and scoring twice in the victory over The Kings’ Academy.

WEEK 4 GRIDIRON GIANTS

n Bamberg-Ehrhardt defense – held Burke to 47 total yards.

n Blackville-Hilda defense – held Hunter-Kinard-Tyler to -69 rushing yards.

n Shaquan Mayes (Bethune-Bowman) – 10 tackles, two sacks

n Jordan Gunnels (Bowman Academy) – 15 carries, 155 yards, two TDs; 7-7 passing, 100 yards, one TD

n Tripp Looper (Bowman Academy) – 7-8 passing, 170 yards, one TD; 28-yard TD catch

n Taeon Canty (Clarendon Hall) – 13 carries, 114 yards, one TD

n Shane Belanger (Holly Hill Academy) – 30 carries, 108 yards; two catches, 13 yards, two TDs

n Clint Westbury (Holly Hill Academy) – 9-18 passing, 178 yards, three TDs

n Chance Shelley (Holly Hill Academy) – 10 tackles

n Ben Watkins (Holly Hill Academy) – five catches, 128 yards, one TD; 12 tackles.

n Montaurus Gleaton (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler) – 22-41 passing, 211 yards, two TDs

n Chaz Williams (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler) – nine catches, 112 yards

n Zack Huggins (Orangeburg Prep) – 99-yard interception return TD

n Devin Frederick (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) – 17-35 passing for 237 yards, three TDs

n Kendall Lockard (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) – six catches, 131 yards, two TDs

n Derek Frasier (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) – 12 tackles

n Jody Balaam (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) – 10 tackles

n Josh Albert (Swansea) – 148 rushing yards, three TDs

n Dionzo Dease (Swansea) – 107 rushing yards and one TD

n Desmond Muller (Swansea) – 107 passing yards, one passing TD, one rushing TD

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Calhoun County head coach Walter Wilson – six pounds, three ounces (newborn son William Wilson born two weeks ago).

THE STREAKS CONTINUE

With Friday’s win over Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Blackville-Hilda extended its regular-season winning streak to 39 games. The Hawks own the second-longest active winning streak in the Palmetto State behind J.F. Byrnes at 19 consecutive victories. In addition, B-H has not lost a regular-season road game since the 2001 season against Barnwell ... With Dorchester Academy’s loss to Laurence Manning, Bamberg-Ehrhardt now owns the T&D Region’s second-longest regular-season winning streak at seven straight. Conversely, Lake Marion has dropped 19 straight games dating back to the 2004 season.

BY THE NUMBERS

Orangeburg-Wilkinson quarterback Devin Frederick has thrown three touchdowns in each of his first four games this season ... The last time Allendale-Fairfax started 4-0 was in the 2000 season ... Hunter-Kinard-Tyler was seeking to defeat Blackville-Hilda for the first time since 1978 ... During its 39-game regular-season winning streak, B-H’s average margin of victory is 27.03 points. The last three games, the average margin of victory is only 10 points ... The combined record of Edisto’s first four opponents is 11-5 ... Bamberg-Ehrhardt is averaging 40.6 points per game and has scored 46 points in two consecutive games ... Four of the five T&D Region Eight Man teams are averaging 32 or more points per game this season.

QUOTABLES

“If he didn’t coach. He wouldn’t have anything to do. He doesn’t play golf. He doesn’t go play tennis or anything or sit around. He’s always active. Getting the blood pressure up at practice – coming out here and getting on his feet and using all of his functions. If he were to have to wake up and have nothing to do, it would be the end of him. But as long as he has something to do and keep active, he’s going to keep going. There’s no slowing him.” – Summerville receivers’ coach Joe Call about his grandfather and legendary Green Wave head coach John McKissick who turns 80 on Monday and picked up career win number 535 last Friday in defeating previously-undefeated Orangeburg-Wilkinson.

NOTE: Thurday Morning Quarterback will return on Oct. 5.

n T&D Senior Sports Writer Thomas Grant Jr. can be reached by office phone at 533-5547 or by e-mail at tgrant@timesanddemocrat.com.

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