Save for Orangeburg-Wilkinson, who closes out this Friday at Richland Northeast, the regular season is over.

Now, only the T&D Region’s “Elite 11” teams remain in the hunt for state championships in the S.C. High School League and SCISA. It all kicks off with five home games involving local teams, with two teams road teams in Andrew Jackson Academy and Jefferson Davis Academy vying for a spot in the 8-man title game next week.

For the other nine teams, it’s a chance to either add to championship legacies like Blackville-Hilda, Bamberg-Ehrhardt and Dorchester Academy or to make new ones for schools like Hunter-Kinard-Tyler and Calhoun County, known for success in basketball.

Before looking ahead, here’s one more look back at Week 10 in this week’s Thursday Morning Quarterback.

Teams of the Week

S.C. High School League - Woodland

Just over a month ago, the Wolverines were 1-5 and appeared headed to take a step back following last year’s unprecedented school success. Four straight wins by a margin of 184-47 later, the Wolverines are playing host to a first-round playoff game for the second straight year.

SCISA - Dorchester Academy

The Raiders enter the postseason with the T&D Region’s longest winning streak at seven games In its last three games, Dorchester Academy has allowed an average of 6.3 points per game.

Players of the Week

S.C. HIGH SCHOOL LEAGUE - Freddie Martino (North)

The North-South All-Star selection helped the Eagles end a disappointing 3-7 season on a winning note with 255 rushing yards and four touchdowns and 101 passing yards and a score in a 54-50 win over Wagener-Salley.

SCISA - Justin Long (Andrew Jackson Academy)

The Confederate junior helped his team snap a three-game losing streak with 274 passing yards and three touchdowns and an interception in the 28-22 win over Jefferson Davis Academy. The victory set up an 8-man semifinal matchup at second-seed Patrick Henry on Friday.

Week 10 Gridiron Giants

A.J. Elkins (Andrew Jackson Academy) - 11 catches, 185 yards, three TDs

Javonta Middleton (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) - 14 tackles

Zep Grimes (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) - 10 tackles

Tyrone Fairey (Bethune-Bowman) - 15 carries, 100 yards, two TDs

Jayshaun Johnson (Bethune-Bowman) - 12 tackles

Shamier Jeffery (Calhoun County) - 20-30 passing, 251 yards, TD; two catches, 58 yards, two TDs; three rushes, 41 yards, three TDs

Brandon Golson (Calhoun County) - 11 tackles, three sacks

Antwane Whitmore and Jaquan Darby (both of Calhoun County) - 10 tackles each

Travis Spence (Holly Hill Academy) - 127 yards, TD reception

Montaurus Gleaton (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler) - 325 passing yards, TD

D’twane Fulmer (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler) - seven catches, 102 yards

Randy Brunson (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler) - 10 tackles, four sacks, fumble recovery

Will Barnes (Hunter-Kinard-Tyler) - 10 tackles

Devonte James (North) - 101 receiving yards, 80 kick return yards, two TDs

Cap Thackston (Orangeburg Prep) - 10-21 passing, 148 yards, TD

Walker Smith (Orangeburg Prep) - 31 carries, 122 yards

Joshua Charles (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) - 17-20 passing, 226 yards, three TDs

Troy Thompson (Orangeburg-Wilkinson) - six catches, 104 yards, TD

Nagui Wright (Woodland) - 11 carries, 103 yards, three TDs

Woodland offense - 495 total yards

Catching History

With five catches against White Knoll, Orangeburg-Wilkinson wide receiver Kintrell Disher became the second player officially in S.C. High School League history to catch 100 or more passes. He now needs four catches in the regular-season finale at Richland Northeast to break the SCHSL record held by J.F. Byrnes’ Jomar Wright.

By the Numbers

Dorchester Academy head coach Stanley Gruber owns the most victories by a T&D Region head football coach with 296...For the second straight year, none of the Orangeburg Consolidated District Five schools (Bethune-Bowman, North and Orangeburg-Wilkinson) will make the playoffs...Hunter-Kinard-Tyler’s eight wins are the most since 1981 when it played host to a post-season game against Lake View. The Trojans’ only other home playoff game prior to this Friday against McBee was in 1983 against Blackville-Hilda In both games, H-K-T was outscored by a combined score of 74-0... Blackville-Hilda’s four losses are the most since the 2000 season. Nevertheless, the Hawks will finish the decade as the T&D Region’s winningest football program with 110 victories. Calhoun County is second with 85 victories, followed by Bamberg-Ehrhardt with 81...Branchville was outscored 366-96 this season. Only O-W has allowed more points (394) among T&D Region teams, while H-K-T has scored the most points (406)...Edisto is 8-1 lifetime against first-round Class 2-A playoff opponent Woodland.

T&D Region Rankings

(SCHSL)

1. Calhoun County

2. Bamberg-Ehrhardt

3. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler

4. Woodland

5. Blackville-Hilda

(SCISA)

1. Dorchester Academy

2. Holly Hill Academy

3. Calhoun Academy

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