Third Round Game Balls: Spartanburg and Cherokee
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Two teams from the Spartanburg-Cherokee-Laurens area entered the third round of the playoffs with a shot to earn a berth in state title games, and two of them survived. Here’s a look at some outstanding individual performances worthy of Prep Redzone game balls.
[player_tooltip player_id="89339" first="Raheim" last="Jeter"] just kept rolling as Spartanburg beat Ridge View in a thriller. Jeter threw three touchdown passes, leading the Vikings’ comeback victory, and directed the team to its first Upper State final since 2016.
<strong>Drek Carter</strong> played a huge role for the Vikings, with a lot of it coming in the crucial fourth quarter. Carter had an 18-yard score to give the Vikings a 26-22 lead early in the period, and scored what proved to be the game-winner on a 22-yard catch-and-run. He had more than 150 total offensive yards on the night.
Gaffney’s [player_tooltip player_id="31310" first="Tyler" last="Smith"] didn’t have his usual 100-yard rushing night, but with the game on the line, the Vikings’ turned his way. After holding Northwestern to a field goal on the Trojans’ opening possession of overtime, Smith touched the ball on every play for the Indians on their possession, scoring from a yard out on second down for the win. His first TD of the game came in the fourth quarter and tied the game. Smith finished with 46 yards and the two scores to lead Gaffney.
<strong>Carlos Lopez</strong> stepped up big for Gaffney on defense. The Indians held the powerful Northwestern offense in check, allowing fewer than 300 yards and just 13 points. Lopez had a lot to do with that, notching 8 solo tackles on the night.
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