WHAT WE SAW: Myrtle Beach 58, Socastee 21

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MYRTLE BEACH | They might call this the <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington']</strong> game for some time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Myrtle Beach's junior's tailback-turned-cornerback-turned-tailback had his career night in a 33-carry, 259-yard, five-touchdown performance during the Seahawks' 58-21 win at Socastee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>How big was his night?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Consider that even though he entered Friday with back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances, he still had 267 yards prior to his huge game against the Braves. What we're clear about, though, is that the potential for Washington's breakout type of performance has been there since the beginning of last season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even as a sophomore, Washington led the team in rushing yards (758), carries (140) and tied for the team lead in rushing scores (seven). And over the course of the last 15 games, he's gone for at least 100 rushing yards seven times.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>None of his previous games, though, could touch Friday's against Socastee. In the third quarter alone, he ran for 115 yards on seven carries. He started off the second off by ripping off a 55-yarder and followed it up on the very next play with a nine-yard touchdown run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He ended the night with five carries of 12 yards or more.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He also hauled in two passes for 39 yards, giving him 298 yards of total offense against the Braves.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>Washington's Career 100-Yard Rushing Games</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2022:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Friday: 259 yards vs. Socastee</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 2: 111 yards vs. St. James</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 1: 116 yards vs. Conway</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2021:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 4: 116 vs. Darlington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 7: 144 vs. Hartsville (previous career-high 25 carries)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 8: 100 yards vs. Wilson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playoffs, first round: 109 yards vs. Midland Valley&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OTHER MYRTLE BEACH STANDOUTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='58826' first='Trey' last='Dunn']</strong> is clearly still learning the ropes for an offense that is highly complex in terms of passing schemes. However, despite transferring into the program in June and missing significant time over the summer and into the regular season with a shoulder injury, Dunn's program is showing real signs of development.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior quarterback attempted only 13 passes (completing five). But those five completions went for 98 yards and a touchdown to the team's more reliable target, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336119' first='Jake' last='Doty']</strong>. (Doty stretched out in the back corner of the end zone to make the grab.)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunn also ran for 56 yards, giving him close to 300 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensively, senior hybrid safety/linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336149' first='Mike' last='Gillard']</strong> is proving himself to be among the biggest hitters on the Grand Strand. Gillard had (unofficially) eight tackles in the game, none more impressive than a second-quarter lick on Socastee quarterback <strong>Quadir Scott</strong> - not exactly a small dude by any stretch of the imagination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But if you're searching new name to follow, look no further than Myrtle Beach freshman corner <strong>Jeremiah Favorite</strong>. The lone first-year high schooler on the Seahawks' varsity not only picked off a second-quarter pass attempt by jumping a route in one-on-one coverage, he almost added a second interception later in the game. Favorite has Myrtle Beach football in his blood. His talent at an early age seems to supersede even that.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>SOCASTEE STANDOUTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scott's second varsity start at quarterback had its bad moments. There was that interception and a botched handoff that gave Myrtle Beach the ball and he completed just three of his first nine attempts. But there were also flashes of the spectacular that Socastee hopes will become more of the norm in the next few weeks as he acclimates the position change.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the third quarter, Scott launched a clean pass down the seam that receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336144' first='Steven' last='Greene']</strong> plucked out of the air for a 73-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Scott then connected on an absolute bomb to <strong>Trae Grant</strong> for a 52-yard scoring strike. The pass hit Grant in stride and was among the prettier passes in recent Socastee football history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of Greene, Braves coach Ben Hampton has found creative ways to get the ball into his hands. Greene was in on specials teams and gave Socastee favorable field position there. But he's also always in motion on offense. He took three carries for 26 yards and even ran a power sweep a couple times in which he then pitched the ball to tailback Omari Taylor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->