By Thomas Grant Jr.

Ridge View is already past the midway point of the football season.

As the Blazers focus on claiming the Region 5-5A title, it’s already a victory away from claiming the unofficial Richland School District Two Class 5A title.

Last Friday’s 44-0 win over Spring Valley marked the second straight win over a fellow district school. For the second straight week, the Blazers’ ground game overwhelmed the opposition.

Spencer Bobian rushed for 119 yards and four touchdowns and Adam Keefe had a rushing score on the ground. Ridge View quarterback Ashton Chapman also threw a touchdown to Ja’Lyiq Black.

The Ridge View defense held the Vikings scoreless for the third straight game and extended Spring Valley’s streak of scoreless quarters to 14. Linebackers Markeith Thomas Jr. and D’Juan Franklin both had 11 tackles

The Blazers (4-2, 2-0) can clinch both the district and possibly region title on Halloween night at home against Blythewood. Before then, they play two of the next three games on the road.

Spring Valley (2-5, 0-3) looks to snap its scoreless and 4-game losing streak Thursday against another District Two opponent. It plays host to Westwood (4-2, 1-1), who’s coming off a bye week following a 46-8 loss to Ridge View.

Blythewood (3-4, 1-2) also looks to get back on the winning track at home Friday against West Florence.

The Bengals fell 42-38 to Lugoff-Elgin. Quarterback James Veasey threw for 219 yards and two touchdowns, one to Chance Johnson who had 106 yards in kick returns, and rushed for one score.

Landyn Strong rushed for two touchdowns and linebackers Chris Long and Johnny Young led the defense with eight and seven tackles, respectively.

Cavaliers fall in 2OT

Despite three touchdowns by Isaiah Smalls, the Cavaliers remained winless on the season following the 36-30 double-overtime loss to Dreher.

It was the second straight overtime loss for Richland Northeast (0-7, 0-3). It led 23-17 in the fourth quarter before Walker Rowe caught a 12-yard touchdown pass on fourth down with three minutes left.

After Smalls and Pohlman traded touchdowns in the first overtime, Pohlman scored again to give the Blue Devils the lead. He then recovered a fumble on Richland Northeast’s possession to end the game.

In SCISA play, Cardinal Newman was shut out 63-0 by Northwood Academy to fall to 1-6 overall, 0-3 in the region.

RPI RATINGS

CLASS 5A

(Division I) Upper State Dorman, 5-1, 0.71917 Dutch Fork, 4-1, 0.70019 Ridge View, 4-2, 0.64486 Byrnes, 4-2, 0.62909 Rock Hill, 4-3, 0.58769 Clover, 4-3, 0.56507 Spartanburg, 3-3, 0.53069 Boiling Springs, 3-3, 0.50798 Mauldin, 2-4, 0.47333 Blythewood, 3-4, 0.46347 Spring Valley, 2-5, 0.40122 JL Mann, 1-5, 0.39972 Wade Hampton, 0-6, 0.26319

(Division II) Lower State Irmo, 6-0, 0.81071 White Knoll, 5-1, 0.65817 Lucy Beckham, 4-1, 0.65455 Myrtle Beach, 4-2, 0.61798 Berkeley, 4-2, 0.61172 Lugoff-Elgin, 4-3, 0.54463 Westwood, 4-2, 0.52419 St. James, 2-4, 0.47214 West Florence, 2-4, 0.46067 Conway, 2-4, 0.43881 North Myrtle Beach, 2-4, 0.43524 Socastee, 1-5, 0.39014 Chapin, 0-6, 0.34843 Goose Creek, 0-6, 0.28167

CLASS 4A

Upper State South Pointe, 5-1, 0.78125 Seneca, 6-1, 0.66811 Daniel, 5-1, 0.63738 Camden, 5-2, 0.63580 AC Flora, 6-1, 0.63369 Wren, 4-2, 0.62063 Fountain Inn, 4-2, 0.54575 Emerald, 3-3, 0.52726 Blue Ridge, 4-2, 0.52464 Westside, 2-4, 0.45036 Greer, 3-4, 0.43925 York, 2-4, 0.43881 Dreher, 3-4, 0.41133 Travelers Rest, 2-4, 0.38782 Lancaster, 1-5, 0.36694 Pickens, 2-5, 0.34218 Laurens, 0-6, 0.31421 Berea, 1-5, 0.27675 Richland Northeast, 0-7, 0.25473 Southside, 0-6, 0.22734

S.C PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL

Class 5A

1. Irmo (15) (6-0), 2. Northwestern (3) (6-1), 3. Dutch Fork (4-1), 4. Summerville (5-1), 5. James Island (6-0), 6. Dorman (5-1), 7. Greenwood (5-1), 8. Ridge View (4-2), 9. Byrnes (4-1), 10. White Knoll (5-1)

Others receiving votes: Gaffney, TL Hanna, Sumter, Greenville, Indian Land

(Photo by Thomas Grant Jr.)