Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl North Roster Notes

Ian Guerin October 21, 2021 @ 08:00 AM

On Monday, the rosters for the Touchstone Energy Cooperative Bowl were released. The 88 South Carolina seniors selected for the game were in many ways a hybrid of past years, when the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas had first choice. With that game cancelled, the Touchstone Energy Bowl coaches had the top picks for this year’s all-star game. It led to scores of talent between the two teams. This is some of what jumps off the roster for the North squad nearly two months before the December 11th game takes place. AIR RAID For North head coach Wayne Farmer (Calhoun County) and his staff, the concentration on a specific style of quarterback play was apparent. In Daniel’s [player_tooltip player_id="153264" first="Trent" last="Pearman"] and Northwestern’s [player_tooltip player_id="89316" first="Will" last="Mattison"], Farmer will have at his disposal two of the most productive and yet still consistent Upper State quarterbacks this year. Pearman, one year after leading the Lions to the Class 3A championship - rather easily, we should point out - the senior signal caller hasn’t let up. He’s thrown for 2,027 yards and 26 touchdowns (with just three picks) while completing 74 percent of his passes. Mattison has also thrown for 26 touchdowns against three interceptions while notching 1,911 yards. These are two quarterbacks who utilize the spread to near perfection. DEFENSIVE BACKS? OH YEAH, THE NORTH HAS THEM One of the best position vs. position battles of this game is going to be the South’s receiving corp against the North’s defensive backs. Mauldin’s [player_tooltip player_id="59459" first="Jeadyn" last="Lukus"], Calhoun County’s Russell Brunson, Lewisville’s Anthony Wells and Catawba Ridge’s [player_tooltip player_id="153256" first="Jacobie" last="Henderson"] and [player_tooltip player_id="153257" first="Andre" last="Hodge"] will be charged with covering those standout receivers on the other side of the bal. But for as dynamic as the South’s pass catchers are, so, too, are these corners and safeties. The North also has a potential wild card in the mix, too. Mauldin’s [player_tooltip player_id="59476" first="Randy" last="Caldwell"] was picked for this game as a linebacker, but he can easily drop back in coverage, too. It will provide another boost for this unit come game time. SPEAKING OF WILD CARDS It is hard to find a player more crucial to his team’s success the last two years than [player_tooltip player_id="59469" first="Zan" last="Dunham"] is for Chester. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder stars as a dual-threat quarterback - he’s thrown for 545 yards, rushed for another 578 and recorded 10 touchdowns this year - and he’s typically playing on defense, too. There, you could call what he does “linebacker”, but really, it comes across as Swiss Army knife. He jams the line, covers the edge and can protect against the short pass. It’s why he has a bunch of NCAA Division-I offers, including one from the University of South Carolina. In the Touchstone Energy Bowl, he’ll have one more chance to impress all over the field. Don’t be surprised if the staff creates a couple gadget plays for him. EDITOR’S NOTE: Prep Red Zone South Carolina scout Ian Guerin serves as the media director for the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl. However, he had no role in choosing players or alternates for either roster.