2022 Non-Region Games To Watch: The Pee Dee & Grand Strand
In this article:
The first few weeks of the season don’t mean much in terms of the playoffs. That doesn’t mean the Pee Dee and Grand Strand won’t give us reason to tune in early. Four games in particular that are being squeezed…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe first few weeks of the season don’t mean much in terms of the playoffs.
That doesn’t mean the Pee Dee and Grand Strand won’t give us reason to tune in early.
Four games in particular that are being squeezed into the first several Fridays of the 2022 regular season will be packed with the type of individual talent storylines that may just outweigh the meaning of a non-region game that won’t affect any standings.
Myrtle Beach at Camden (Aug. 19)
One of the bigger name-recognition games in the state will take place at Camden to kick things off, when the defending Class 3A state runners-up take on one of the state’s most prominent Class 4A programs. And this one could shape up to be a rare low-scoring affair. Myrtle Beach will bring returning defensive starters Vinnie Cavalante, Cam Ward Cam Ward 5'4" | 170 lbs | LB Myrtle Beach | 2023 State SC , Ricky Escobar Ricky Escobar 5'10" | 200 lbs | LB Myrtle Beach | 2024 State SC – some of the team’s best tackler to town. The Bulldogs will counter with one of the state’s most recruited defensive tackles in Xzavier McLeod Xzavier McLeod 6'5" | 320 lbs | DL Camden | 2023 State SC and fellow defensive lineman David Copley David Copley 6'1" | 210 lbs | LB Camden | 2023 State SC and Grayson White Grayson White 6'0" | 240 lbs | QB Camden | 2024 State SC .
Kingstree at Aynor (Aug. 26)
In 2022, Aynor’s heavy package will be led by quarterback Daniel Stanley (585 yards, four TDs last year) and new starting running backs Emmanuel Deas and Wyatt Cody – the next men up in Jason Allen’s offense. In ‘new’ Kingstree, though, there is an unknown after the the combination of the old Kingstree and C.E. Murray. Coach Brian Smith will take over the combined venture, and he’ll have six elite athletes at his disposal: TE/DE Nic Brown Nic Brown 6'4" | 220 lbs | ATH Kingstree | 2023 State SC , WR/DB Amond Myers Amond Myers 6'1" | 175 lbs | ATH C E Murray | 2023 State SC , OL Taylor Wilson and Jafari Slay and receivers Khamis Wilson and Henry Evans, the last two who are each 6-foot-4 or taller.
Oceanside Collegiate at South Florence (Aug. 26)
You better believe college scouts will be lining up to see this one. And it’s not just because South Florence has easy access points to the state’s highways. Between quarterback LaNorris Sellers LaNorris Sellers 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2023 State SC , linebackers Trokel Prew Trokel Prew 5'8" | 185 lbs | LB South Florence | 2023 State SC and Jaylin William Davis Jaylin William Davis 5'11" | 220 lbs | LB South Florence | 2023 State SC and offensive lineman Hunter McClary, the Bruins will have some star power to counter the likes of Oceanside offensive lineman Monroe Freeling Monroe Freeling 6'7" | 285 lbs | OL Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC , tailback Vaughn Blue Vaughn Blue 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC and defensive lineman Tim Castain Tim Castain 6'1" | 240 lbs | DL Oceanside Collegiate | 2023 State SC .
Dillon at Hartsville (Sept. 9)
By now, we know that Dillon finds ways to reload year after year, and that will be the case in 2022 after the departure of yet another strong senior class. The center piece of this offense, top-flight OL recruit Josiah Thompson Josiah Thompson 6'7" | 290 lbs | OL Dillon | 2024 State SC , will be encircled by relative newcomers or expected standouts like Jamarion Fling at tailback and Rahmond Hamilton at quarterback. Hartsville, meanwhile, is believed to be well-positioned to challenge for another huge year behind quarterback McKendrie Douglas McKendrie Douglas 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Hartsville | 2024 State SC , tailbacks Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC and J’Shawn Anderson J’Shawn Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2023 State SC and offensive lineman Slayton Stokes Slayton Stokes 6'5" | 325 lbs | OL Hartsville | 2024 State SC .