Week 1 Game Balls: Grand Strand & Pee Dee
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Most of the time, our Game Balls go to players who have those types of head-turning statistical nights that we remember for weeks, if not months. This time, we’re adding in those who unveiled a bigger picture. Each of this…
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Continue ReadingMost of the time, our Game Balls go to players who have those types of head-turning statistical nights that we remember for weeks, if not months.
This time, we’re adding in those who unveiled a bigger picture.
Each of this week’s recipients along the Grand Strand and Pee Dee had the type of games that could mean even bigger things for their teams, thus spurning further big nights down the line. After all, it’s not always just about the numbers.
Tremel Echols, QB, Wilson
The first-year starting signal caller just had his breakout game in his second varsity Friday under the lights with Wilson. The senior combined for eight scores in a win over Marion, rushing for 79 yards and two touchdowns on top of a passing performance that included 248 yards and six touchdowns. It’s been a nice start to his Tigers career after he and Timmonsville’s other players were absorbed into Wilson. With the Tigers’ crop of receivers, Echols is only just scratching the surface.
Devin Grainger Devin Grainger 6'1" | 170 lbs | QB Conway | 2024 State SC , QB, Conway
In back-to-back weeks, Grainger has shown just how malleable he can be for the Tigers’ offense. After rushing for 185 yards in a loss to Hartsville, Grainger went a little more arm-heavy in passing for 177 yards against Myrtle Beach in Saturday’s victory. He ran for 90, too, but his ability to get through his reads quickly allows Conway’s talented receiving corps to do their thing.
Markey Faulkner, LB/RB, St. James
Faulkner doesn’t get the luxury of leaving the field much for a Class 5A program that is being asked to play each of its first five games on the road while the school’s artificial turf projected is completed. Faulkner backed up the staff’s confidence him by recording 10 total tackles (four solo, 12 assisted) in a confidence-boosting double-overtime win at Philip Simmons. He also rushed for 55 yards on 11 carries.
Jackson Huff Jackson Huff 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Loris | 2025 State SC , QB, Loris
Huff ran for a touchdown midway through the first quarter of the Lion’s 15-7 win at North Myrtle Beach on Friday. But as the staff hoped, his arm is growing more important by the week. Huff completed 12-of-18 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown. May not seem like a ton, right? But considering that Loris has not had a quarterback throw for 200 yards since October 25, 2019 (Gage Conner, vs. Aynor), it was hard not to tip the cap to the sophomore signal caller after he spread it around to five different receivers.
Stephen Smalls, DB/WR, West Florence
The senior is quickly becoming a jack of all trades for the Knights. In a lopsided win over Lake City, he did it again, recording six tackles, a TFL, an interception and a sack on defense while catching two passes for 39 yards. Throw in his two PBUs, and his overall stat line on defense is looking pretty stout after just two games.