Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl: Thursday Practice Notes
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Under clear skies and temperatures crawling into the low 50s, everyone involved with the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl was much happier with the second day of practice. After getting forced inside on Day 1, the North and South squads could…
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Continue ReadingUnder clear skies and temperatures crawling into the low 50s, everyone involved with the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl was much happier with the second day of practice.
After getting forced inside on Day 1, the North and South squads could finally start implementing more of their offensive and defensive schemes with live action. These are the biggest things to come out of the two morning sessions on Thursday.
SAPP READY TO STAND OUT
Greenville H-Back Joshua Sapp Joshua Sapp 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE Greenville | 2022 State SC spent the bulk of 2021 making things difficult for opposing front sevens. He caught 50 passes for 836 yards and 10 touchdowns, making him an easy choice for several postseason awards and honors.
On Saturday, he may end up being among the most utilized pass catchers.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound tight end has already synced up with North quarterbacks Will Mattison Will Mattison 6'4" | 190 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2022 State SC and Trent Pearman Trent Pearman 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Daniel | 2022 State SC after just three practices. Mattison, who said that his high school team (Northwestern) didn’t use an H-Back, noted Sapp is much bigger than his normal targets across the middle. Both quarterbacks found the Greenville senior on designed plays Thursday.
The element of using him as a safety valve could also come into play.
POSITION SWAPS
A last-minute scratch of one two-way player gave the South coaching staff every reason to make another move.
Carolina Forest’s Luke Janack Luke Janack 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Carolina Forest | 2022 State SC , who was a starter for the Panthers at both linebacker and running back, was initially selected for the Touchstone Energy Bowl on defense. However, he has been moved to the offense and was playing there the last two days.
And while it appears he won’t be getting defensive snaps, the team has also elected to rely on his punting abilities.
Iowa commitment Drew Stevens Drew Stevens 6'1" | 175 lbs | K North Augusta | 2022 State SC will be used exclusively at kicker unless Janack goes down.
The moves came after West Ashley standout defensive back and running back Jahleel Porter Jahleel Porter 5'11" | 185 lbs | RB West Ashley | 2022 State SC suffered a foot injury last week and had to back out of the game.
JUST… HUGE
North offensive coordinator Bradley Adams (Woodruff) has stressed to his line this week how much trouble the South defensive line could pose.
On Thursday, the South offensive players found that out first-hand.
During the live action portion Thursday, the South offense struggled to move the ball against the various combinations its defense used. Among the most notable was a four-linemen defensive set that included the Fort Dorchester duo of Demetrius Watson Demetrius Watson 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC and Devin Geddis Devin Geddis 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC , Beaufort’s Alvin Wilson Alvin Wilson 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Beaufort | 2022 State SC and Ashley Ridge’s Nick Downing. Those four stuffed the South tailbacks behind the line on back-to-back-to-back plays.