WHAT WE SAW: Socastee 21, Silver Bluff 0

Ian Guerin August 26, 2022 @ 11:58 PM

Socastee won the game.   [player_tooltip player_id='139299' first='Jordan' last='Boyd'] proved how good he was - even without a hit that may have altered the trajectory of this Braves team.   The 21-0 Socastee win helped usher in major stadium upgrades but lost some of its excitement when Boyd's third-quarter hit took out Braves junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='139313' first='Rocco' last='Wojcik']. The three-year starter (also a two-year starter, so far, for the school's baseball team) was in a shotgun formation when he tried to corral a high snap. He brought he down and slung a pass to his right, but as he was releasing, Boyd was there and made contact. Wojcik stayed down for an extended period and needed considerable help to leave the field.   After the game, Socastee coach Ben Hampton said he believed Wojcik broke his collarbone, an injury that would almost assuredly end Wojcik's season. Further tests will be run, and the results won't be known for days.   However, given the first half the junior had, even a few weeks is a huge blow for a team that has started 2-0 for the first time in five years.   On just the second play from scrimmage, a Wojcik dump off to Quadir Scott (remember that name, he's about to be the team's starting quarterback), turned into a 64-yard touchdown pass. Ten players later, Wojcik rolled out of the pocket and hit [player_tooltip player_id='336144' first='Steven' last='Greene'] for a 52-yard strike.   Socastee's first six offensive plays and two PATs netted 153 yards of offense, four first downs and 14 points. And in 26 first-half plays, the Braves recorded 11 first downs.   This was exactly what coach Ben Hampton was looking for, especially with as well as the offense was spreading it around.   Starting tailback [player_tooltip player_id='340389' first='Caden' last='O'Keefe'] had 67 yards on seven first-half carries.   Receiver Josh Brown, just a sophomore, had two receptions for 29 yards. One catch was for a first down. The other a touchdown.   The team's receiver sweeps were also working. Greene, in addition to his touchdown catch, had four runs for 25 yards. Trae Grant had four for 16 yards, too.   DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS   Three names need to be on everyone's Oh-Boy! list for the rest of the 2022 season.   *Clearly, Boyd (pictured) is going to be a terror for any opponent who crosses Silver Bluff's path the rest of the way. Last year, while Vernon Lawrence and Jaden McLeod were wrecking opposing offenses, Boyd quietly put up 55.5 tackles, four sacks and 13 TFL.   Against the Braves, he had nine tackles, three sacks and two tackles for loss. On five occasions chased down some of the the fastest or shiftiest players on the Socastee roster with ease. This guy is for real. If he's not on any radar you're looking at on 2024 prospects, your radar is busted.   *[player_tooltip player_id='410680' first='Keron' last='starks'] missed time all week in practice with a family situation. On Friday, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Socastee defensive tackle proved he could stuff the run against double teams with ease. While he played only roughly half the defensive snaps (the Braves rotate considerably in the defensive trenches), he was a huge part of a collective effort that allowed 3.56 yards per carry (31 carries, 114 yards) to a team that dominated on the ground a year ago. Starks is huge, and he's only going to keep getting better.   *Silver Bluff quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='91161' first='Maleik' last='Williams'] is fast. At several times Friday, Socastee linebacker Arber Lekani looked like he was faster. The senior middle linebacker was covering ground left, right and forward unlike he's done in the past. During the offseason, he made the switch from outside backer to Mike, and it's starting to look like a really wise decision from the coaching staff. Lekani is a pursuit monster who embarrassed his own 4.85 40 time from the Palmetto Combine back in May.

Socastee won the game.