It’s football crunch time with SCHSL region games in play in the Lowcountry, and May River, Bluffton and Ridgeland-Hardeeville have been heading in different directions.

May River, which won five of its first seven games, was still in the hunt for the Region 7-AAAA title entering Friday’s key game at Beaufort after press time.

Playing in big games isn’t anything new for the Sharks. Entering the season, May River had just two losses in region games over the previous two years. They have two region games remaining on their schedule, beginning with hosting Colleton County on Friday and closing at Hilton Head Island.

The Sharks, who earlier posted a 30-3 thumping of Bluffton, have been led all season by quarterback Garvin Douglas, one of the area’s more dynamic players who has made his presence felt with 1,300 yards rushing and more than 500 yards passing.

Running back Jaeon Allen has helped May River provide an effective tandem with Douglas, gaining more than 500 yards this season.

May River coach Rodney Summers is optimistic his team can rise to the occasion.

“I hope they accept that challenge and they want to be that guy and live up to that guy,” Summers said. “We have told them that they have to make their own number. They have handled everything that we have asked of them.”

Bluffton, which stumbled out to a 2-4 start, stayed in the running for the postseason entering Friday’s rivalry game against Hilton Head. The Bobcats have two region games remaining, hosting Beaufort on Friday and then closing out the regular season at James Island.

Junior quarterback Max Vonhohenstraeten has fueled the Bobcats’ offense through a prolific passing game throughout the season. Robert Brown, K.J. Frazier and Jaylin Lidner have been his consistent targets.

Defensively, D.J. Aiken, Jeremiah Curry and Ja’Quinn Williams have paced the unit.

Ridgeland-Hardeeville has been battling COVID-19 issues, and the Jaguars battled through their inexperience with losses in their first four games.

The Jaguars hoped to gain their first win since 2019, and they still had a flicker of keeping their region hopes alive Friday at Burke. They will host Lake Marion on Friday before they end the season at Philip Simmons in a region contest the following week.

Quarterback Maurice Brown along with running backs Xaiver Plowdeniz, Wenson Smith and Jayvon Grant have formed a young core that will help shape the future for new head coach Rodney Barr and his team.