Charleston’s Top Performances For Week 1
In this article:
There were several outstanding performances in week one of the Charleston area football season. Top stars in the area did their thing in style while some newcomers to the scene have started making a name for themselves as well. Fort…
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThere were several outstanding performances in week one of the Charleston area football season. Top stars in the area did their thing in style while some newcomers to the scene have started making a name for themselves as well.
Fort Dorchester (ranked No. 2 in 5A) senior quarterback Zolten Osborne Zolten Osborne 6'2" | 205 lbs | QB Fort Dorchester | 2023 State SC , the top signal caller in the area, kicked off his 2022 season with a touchdown pass and a touchdown run. The 6-2, 205-pound fourth-year starter completed 14-of-19 passes for 197 yards in a 21-6 win over Beaufort (ranked No. 6 in 3A).
Oceanside Collegiate (ranked No. 2 in 2A) senior running back Vaughn Blue Vaughn Blue 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Oceanside Collegiate Academy | 2023 State SC , a Charlotte commit, had a second straight big game for the Landsharks. Blue accounted for 227 all-purpose yards, including 178 yards rushing, and scored twice in a 29-28 loss to South Florence (ranked No. 5 in 4A).
Summerville running back Marquez Spells opened his season with 159 yards rushing and a touchdown as the Green Wave bounced Carolina Forest, 38-7. Spells is moving up the prospect list after a big summer in camps, earning an offer from Charleston Southern. Spells (5-9, 175) is extremely quick and could end up as a slot receiver on the college level.
Porter-Gaud sophomore quarterback Nolan Shuman is a first-year varsity starter but had a memorable offensive night in a 44-12 win over Burke. Shuman passed for 124 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 109 yards and a score in his team’s initial victory of the season.
Another first-year starting quarterback, Tavien Orellana Tavien Orellana 5'11" | 185 lbs | QB Philip Simmons | 2025 State SC of Philip Simmons, threw for 209 yards and three touchdowns in a 37-30 overtime loss to St. James. His top target with junior prospect Troy Stevenson Troy Stevenson 6'0" | 165 lbs | ATH Philip Simmons | 2024 State SC , who had 101 receiving yards, including an 88-yard touchdown reception. Stevenson is one of the state’s top defensive back prospects in the 2024 class.
Baptist Hill (ranked 6th in 1A) kicked off their season with a 26-8 over rival St. John’s. 2024 quarterback Harold Gathers Harold Gathers 6'2" | 220 lbs | QB Baptist Hill | 2024 State SC (6-2, 220) picked up where he left off in 2021 with an outstanding performance. Gathers completed 21-of-26 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Gathers threw for more than 2,300 yards and 30 touchdowns last fall.
Another 2024 running back, TJ Wright TJ Wright 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Woodland | 2024 State SC of Cane Bay, had a solid night in his team’s 30-20 win over Ashley Ridge. Wright, who gained more than 1,000 yards as a sophomore, went for 130 yards and a touchdown in his initial action of the 2022 season.
Lucy Beckham placekicker Jack Weil (2023) was the hero in the Bengals’ 8-6 win over city rival Wando. Weil booted two field goals, including a 46-yarder that proved to be the eventual game-winner. Lucy Beckham is a first-year varsity program, but Weil is one of the top legs in the state.