Week 9 Game Balls: CSRA, Grand Strand & Pee Dee
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You remember a couple weeks ago when we gave Hartsville tailback Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC some serious attention for rushing for a school record 334 yards and six touchdowns?…
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Continue ReadingYou remember a couple weeks ago when we gave Hartsville tailback Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC some serious attention for rushing for a school record 334 yards and six touchdowns?
Yeah, someone from another Region VI-4A team just topped it and leads our list for the Week 9 games.
But, because defense was mostly optional during Moving Week, that leader in the clubhouse has got some good company that also made waves.
Darren Lloyd RB, West Florence
In no doubt what will be one of the best rushing performance all season in the state, Lloyd showed out against Hartsville. The senior tailback carried the ball 29 times for 386 yards (a 13.3 ypc clip) and six touchdowns. With next week’s Region VI-4A championship game against South Florence to go, Lloyd has run for 980 yards and 13 touchdowns against region foes and 1,495 yards and 19 touchdowns overall.
Zion Gilbert Zion Gilbert 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB South Florence | 2025 State SC RB, Carolina Forest
We pin-pointed Gilbert early Friday night. And seeking out a new head shot for him in pre-game only made us look smart (or lucky, maybe). Gilbert had a career game. Remember, while Socastee fell to 2-7 on the year after Gilbert’s 203-yard, three touchdowns performance, the Braves have mostly prevented opposing teams from putting up these types of rushing totals, thanks to a big interior line and strong linebacking crew.
Terrence Smith Terrence Smith 6'0" | 175 lbs | QB South Aiken | 2024 State SC QB, South Aiken
The Thoroughbreds had no choice but to be upstart Midland Valley to stay in the hunt for a top-two region finish. Smith, a junior, delivered another huge rushing night. His 21 carries accounted for 270 yards (12.9 ypc) and four touchdowns. He has now rushed for at least 100 yards in all nine games this season and has north of 1,600 yards and 22 touchdowns on the ground this year.
LaNorris Sellers LaNorris Sellers 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB South Florence | 2023 State SC QB, South Florence
In three quarters of football, Sellers kept himself in the conversation for South Carolina Mr. Football honors by throwing for 250 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for another 100 and a score. His 14 completions were spread among six different receivers and it helped the Bruins demolish one-win North Myrtle Beach 46-0. This was a get-in-and-get-out type of road game for South Florence, and Sellers did exactly that without committing any mistakes so he and his team can get ready for the showdown with rival West Florence.
Malachi Washington Malachi Washington 6'2" | 185 lbs | DL SC RB, Myrtle Beach
Washington doesn’t have the school’s single-game rushing record, but he’s now flirted with it twice this season. On Friday, in a much-needed win over Wilson that keeps the Seahawks in line for an automatic playoff berth, the junior tailback carried the ball 36 times for 263 yards and three touchdowns. He’s now up over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns this season with at least two more games to go.