<h3 style="text-align: center;"><i>Area football teams return to action after unexpected week off</i></h3>
After a week without high school football, the Friday night lights will return to the Lowcountry this week.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The threat of Hurricane Florence caused the cancellation of two games involving area teams last week, as Beaufort High’s trip to Valdosta (Ga.) was postponed and Beaufort Academy’s home game against Holly Hill Academy was canceled.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

BHS will make up its game at Valdosta on Sept. 28, while BA’s game will not be rescheduled after the S.C. Independent Schools Association determined it will not extend the regular season and will determine playoff seeding based on teams’ region records regardless of any games that were not played.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

The S.C. High School League’s Executive Committee met via conference call Tuesday morning and voted unanimously to extend its regular season by one week, allowing teams to make up games that were postponed last week either during a mutual bye week or during the week of Oct. 29-Nov. 2.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

Additionally, the football playoffs for all classifications will now begin on Nov. 9, and the state championships will now be scheduled for Dec. 7-8.<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span>

These changes did not affect Battery Creek or Whale Branch, both of whom had open dates on their schedule last week.

All four area teams return to action this Friday, but only Battery Creek is at home. The Dolphins will host Wade Hampton to open region play. Beaufort High travels to Blythewood, Whale Branch visits Philip Simmons, and Beaufort Academy travels to Faith/Ridge Christian for a region matchup.

<em>Photo at top&nbsp;by Andrea Fabian.</em>