MIDLANDS WEEKLY

Chapin · Lexington · Irmo · Columbia · Blythewood

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Midlands Weekly — Week 1

MIDLANDS WEEKLY

Chapin · Lexington · Irmo · Columbia · Blythewood

August 26, 2026 · Week 1

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🏈 Friday Night Lights

Matchup Score
River Bluff High School vs Gilbert
Lexington
38-17
White Knoll High School vs River Bluff
Lexington
24-21
Pelion High School vs Gilbert
Pelion
21-14
Brookland-Cayce High School vs Airport
Cayce
20-13
Batesburg-Leesville High School vs Pelion
Batesburg
60-14
Swansea High School vs Gilbert
Swansea
35-10
Chapin High School vs Lexington
Chapin
28-21
Irmo High School vs Dutch Fork
Irmo
35-14
Spring Valley High School vs Blythewood
Columbia
17-24
Ridge View High School vs Westwood
Columbia
31-10
Richland Northeast High School vs Spring Valley
Columbia
14-28

Game Stories

River Bluff High School 38-17 vs Gilbert

The Gators dominated from start to finish in a 38-17 statement win over Gilbert. River Bluff High School controlled both lines of scrimmage and never let the Gilbert offense find a rhythm. This was the kind of complete performance that sends a message to the rest of the Midlands.

White Knoll High School 24-21 vs River Bluff

In a nail-biter that came down to the final minutes, the Timberwolves edged River Bluff 24-21. White Knoll High School made the plays that mattered when it counted — a goal-line stand and a clutch fourth-quarter drive sealed the victory in front of a packed stadium.

Pelion High School 21-14 vs Gilbert

In a nail-biter that came down to the final minutes, the Panthers edged Gilbert 21-14. Pelion High School made the plays that mattered when it counted — a goal-line stand and a clutch fourth-quarter drive sealed the victory in front of a packed stadium.

Brookland-Cayce High School 20-13 vs Airport

In a nail-biter that came down to the final minutes, the Bearcats edged Airport 20-13. Brookland-Cayce High School made the plays that mattered when it counted — a goal-line stand and a clutch fourth-quarter drive sealed the victory in front of a packed stadium.

Batesburg-Leesville High School 60-14 vs Pelion

The Panthers dominated from start to finish in a 60-14 statement win over Pelion. Batesburg-Leesville High School controlled both lines of scrimmage and never let the Pelion offense find a rhythm. This was the kind of complete performance that sends a message to the rest of the Midlands.

Swansea High School 35-10 vs Gilbert

The Tigers dominated from start to finish in a 35-10 statement win over Gilbert. Swansea High School controlled both lines of scrimmage and never let the Gilbert offense find a rhythm. This was the kind of complete performance that sends a message to the rest of the Midlands.

Chapin High School 28-21 vs Lexington

In a nail-biter that came down to the final minutes, the Eagles edged Lexington 28-21. Chapin High School made the plays that mattered when it counted — a goal-line stand and a clutch fourth-quarter drive sealed the victory in front of a packed stadium.

Irmo High School 35-14 vs Dutch Fork

The Yellow Jackets dominated from start to finish in a 35-14 statement win over Dutch Fork. Irmo High School controlled both lines of scrimmage and never let the Dutch Fork offense find a rhythm. This was the kind of complete performance that sends a message to the rest of the Midlands.

Spring Valley High School 17-24 vs Blythewood

Despite a valiant effort, the Vikings fell just short in a 24-17 heartbreaker against Blythewood. Spring Valley High School had opportunities late but couldn't convert when it mattered most. The fight this team showed will serve them well going forward.

Ridge View High School 31-10 vs Westwood

The Blazers dominated from start to finish in a 31-10 statement win over Westwood. Ridge View High School controlled both lines of scrimmage and never let the Westwood offense find a rhythm. This was the kind of complete performance that sends a message to the rest of the Midlands.

Richland Northeast High School 14-28 vs Spring Valley

It was a tough night for the Cavaliers, falling 28-14 to Spring Valley. Richland Northeast High School struggled to contain the Spring Valley attack and will look to regroup before next week's matchup.

⭐ Players of the Week

One standout from each Midlands football district.

Lexington District 1 Offense

Jaylen Brooks · RB

River Bluff High School

22 carries, 178 yds, 2 TD

Brooks powered River Bluff's ground attack with breakaway runs that flipped field position and kept the Gators in control all night.

Lexington District 2 Offense

Tyler Mason · QB

Brookland-Cayce High School

16/21, 214 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT

Mason delivered a steady performance in the Bearcats' rivalry win over Airport, hitting key third-down throws when the game was on the line.

Lexington District 3 Offense

Chris Whitt · RB

Batesburg-Leesville High School

19 carries, 156 yds, 3 TD

Whitt ran wild in Panther Stadium, sparking Batesburg-Leesville's explosive offensive showing against Pelion.

Lexington District 4 Offense

DeShawn Riley · WR

Swansea High School

7 rec, 132 yds, 2 TD

Riley was Swansea's big-play threat all night, stretching the defense vertically and setting the tone for the Tigers' win.

District Five Offense

Marcus Williams · QB

Irmo High School

18/24, 287 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT

Williams orchestrated a masterful aerial attack against Dutch Fork, spreading the ball to four receivers and keeping the Silver Foxes off balance.

Richland Two Defense

Malik Johnson · CB

Ridge View High School

3 PD, 1 INT, 6 tackles

Johnson shut down one side of the field for Ridge View, picking off a key pass and limiting Westwood's explosive receivers.

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📅 This Week's Schedule

  • Gilbert High School vs Pelion (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Gilbert
  • Lexington High School vs Dutch Fork (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Lexington
  • River Bluff High School vs White Knoll (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Lexington
  • Brookland-Cayce High School vs Airport (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Cayce
  • Swansea High School vs Batesburg-Leesville (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Swansea
  • Irmo High School vs Chapin (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Irmo
  • Blythewood High School vs Ridge View (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Blythewood
  • Westwood High School vs Spring Valley (Home)
    2026-08-21 · 7:30 PM · Blythewood

🍽️ Local Eats

The Local Palate NEW LOCAL

Southern Fusion · Columbia

Chef-owned spot featuring farm-to-table Lowcountry classics with a modern twist. Their shrimp and grits have already become a local favorite.

Main Street Tacos NEW LOCAL

Mexican · Lexington

Family-run taqueria bringing authentic Oaxacan flavors to Lexington. Locally sourced ingredients and house-made tortillas.

Chapin Coffee Co. NEW LOCAL

Coffee & Bakery · Chapin

Locally roasted beans and fresh-baked pastries. The perfect pre-game spot for Chapin Eagles fans.

Blythewood BBQ Pit LOCAL

BBQ · Blythewood

A Midlands staple for over a decade. Slow-smoked brisket and their signature mustard sauce keep regulars coming back every weekend.

Irmo Noodle House LOCAL

Asian Fusion · Irmo

Hand-pulled noodles and craft ramen bowls. Popular with Dutch Fork and Irmo families after Friday night games.

🚚 Food Trucks This Week

Lowcountry Lobster Roll Co. · Seafood
  • Tuesday: Lexington Medical Center, Lexington (11:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
  • Thursday: Irmo Town Park, Irmo (5:00 PM - 8:00 PM)
  • Saturday: Soda City Market, Columbia (9:00 AM - 1:00 PM)
Palmetto Plate · Southern Comfort
  • Monday: Blythewood Town Hall, Blythewood (11:30 AM - 1:30 PM)
  • Wednesday: Chapin Intermediate School, Chapin (11:00 AM - 2:00 PM)
  • Friday: Dutch Fork HS Parking Lot, Irmo (5:00 PM - 8:30 PM)

🏫 School Board Watch

Lexington-Richland Five Board Approves New Athletic Facility Funding

The board voted 6-1 to allocate $2.3M for upgraded weight rooms and turf maintenance across district high schools, with Chapin and Irmo receiving priority renovations this spring.

Lexington-Richland Five · Regional
Richland Two Considers Modified School Calendar for 2026-27

A proposal to shift the academic calendar to better align with state testing windows will be discussed at the September board meeting. Public comment period opens next week.

Richland School District Two · Columbia

🏛️ Local Politics

Blythewood Town Council Updates Zoning for Mixed-Use Development

Council approved rezoning along Blythewood Road to allow restaurant and retail spaces, potentially bringing new dining options to the area.

Town of Blythewood · Blythewood
Lexington County Passes Small Business Grant Program

New $500K grant fund aims to support locally owned restaurants and food trucks in the Chapin-Lexington corridor. Applications open October 1.

Lexington County Council · Lexington
Columbia City Council Debates Lake Murray Boulevard Expansion

Council members are weighing a $4.5M road widening project that would affect traffic patterns between Irmo and Chapin. A public hearing is scheduled for September 12.

City of Columbia · Columbia
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