WHAT WE SAW: A.C. Flora 53, Hartsville 34
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Columbia | If the over 2,000 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns wasn’t enough to convince college recruiters to take a harder look at A.C. Flora’s Markel Townsend Markel Townsend 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2023 State…
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Continue ReadingColumbia | If the over 2,000 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns wasn’t enough to convince college recruiters to take a harder look at A.C. Flora’s Markel Townsend Markel Townsend 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2023 State SC , maybe his effort in the Falcons 53-34 victory over Hartsville in the second round of the Class 4A playoffs might do it.
The senior ran for 272 yards and four touchdowns on 26 carries while adding 46 receiving yards in what was a dominating performance, something that has become routine.
“He is one of the best in the state, there’s no doubt about it, in my opinion, he’s the best,” A.C. Flora coach Ken Floyd said. “He’s special. I do think he feels slighted, which sucks for him, but that motivation is helping propel us in the playoffs.”
Townsend now has 2,299 yards rushing this season. He’s quick to credit the guys in front of him that have been opening holes for him since they were winning middle school championships at Crayton Middle.
Townsend scored on runs of 15, 2, 16 and 38 yards. He was quick to give the praise to the guy’s up front – Alexander Koutrakos, Damaurius Baker, Kendarious Kinard, Zach Lott and Ben Holmes Ben Holmes 6'7" | 285 lbs | OL AC Flora | 2023 State SC . Townsend recently picked up an offer from Western Carolina and has several Ivy schools looking at him.
“My O-line is great,” Townsend said. “I’ve played with them since the seventh grade at Crayton. I know how they block and stuff. That’s how I get all my yardage, that O-line.”
But he wasn’t the only offense for the undefeated Falcons. Sophomore Aiden Mosley Aiden Mosley 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB AC Flora | 2025 State SC added 56 yards rushing and TD runs of 3 and 9 yards. Senior WR Chris Lofton Chris Lofton 5'10" | 165 lbs | WR AC Flora | 2023 State SC threw a 42-yard TD pass to Jack Purdy Jack Purdy 6'4" | 195 lbs | WR A.C. Flora | 2023 SC and later added a 48-yard scoring reception from Carew Bates Carew Bates 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH AC Flora | 2023 State SC . On his TD catch, Lofton caught an out-pattern just in front of the A.C. Falcon sideline, tight-roped the out of bounds line for several yards before cutting back and scoring with ease.
Hartsville came in with a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in junior Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC and J’Shawn Anderson J’Shawn Anderson 6'0" | 185 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2023 State SC , a Touchstone Energy North-South selection and Georgia Southern commit.
McDaniel ran for 129 yards and scored from 28 and 6 yards. He also caught an 18-yard TD. Anderson added 128 yards rushing and a 2-yard touchdown. Hartsville junior QB McKendrie Douglas McKendrie Douglas 6'3" | 195 lbs | QB Hartsville | 2024 State SC was 8-of-11 for 115 yards and threw two touchdowns – the 18-yarder to McDaniel and a 26-yard TD to Antuan Segars.
But the Red Foxes were done in by turnovers. The game was played in a driving rain and Hartsville fumbled on two kickoffs, had a snap go over the punter’s head to give A.C. Flora the ball inside the 10-yard line and another fumble.