Week 0 Game Balls: Grand Strand and Pee Dee
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Despite some postponements and a few unexpected surprises along the way, the opening weekend of the South Carolina high school season undoubtedly included plenty of highlights. What better way to celebrate than to hand out some of our first Game…
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Continue ReadingDespite some postponements and a few unexpected surprises along the way, the opening weekend of the South Carolina high school season undoubtedly included plenty of highlights.
What better way to celebrate than to hand out some of our first Game Balls.
Players from the Pee Dee and Grand Strand were among those who more than earned theirs right off the bat. And we’re betting some of these names will be on our radar week after week after week.
Scott Saylor Scott Saylor 6'1" | 200 lbs | QB Carolina Forest | 2023 State SC , QB, Carolina Forest
Much like he did last year in the season opener against West Brunswick, Saylor was at it again at home versus the Trojans. The senior connected on nine-of-13 passes for 205 yards and 4 touchdowns and ran for another 118 yards on seven carries. Over the last two seasons against West Brunswick, he’s put up 601 combined yards of offense and accounted for 10 touchdowns.
LaNorris Sellers LaNorris Sellers 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2023 State SC , QB, South Florence
We’re going to preface this by saying Sellers didn’t take a snap in the second half of South Florence’s 53-9 demolition of Goose Creek. We’re also going to say that we’re operating under estimates from the coaching staff – who gauged Sellers’ five-touchdown half hitting 250 passing yards and another 75 on the ground. Think it’s safe to say he’s fully healed from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for the second half of the 2021 season.
La’Ontray Knox, RB, Loris
As expected, Knox got the bulk of the offensive touches for Loris against Green Sea Floyds, and the junior tailback didn’t disappoint. With 17 carries, he put up 113 yards and two scores (1 yard, 28 yards) and a two-point conversion carry. It was his third career 100-yard rushing performance. He also took a short pass and turned it into a 46-yard reception in helping the Lions to a 24-0 win.
Javon Johnson, DT, Loris
At 5-foot-11 and 245 pounds, Johnson is going to be (on most nights) the biggest dude on a Loris defense that it built around its speed – not sheer size. Yet, in his first game of 2022, the sophomore picked up right where he left off after his 52-tackle, 11-TFL freshman season. Against Green Sea Floyds, Johnson accounted for eight stops, three tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Want to have your players considered for future PRZ Game Balls for the Pee Dee and Grand Strand? Send your highlights and stats to ian@ianguerin.com each weekend.