Touchstone Energy Bowl: North Team Notes

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MYRTLE BEACH | Saturday's Touchstone Energy Bowl had a little bit of everything: Shot plays, blocked punts and turnovers. The defenses were constant throughout the afternoon as Spring Valley's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146359' first='Evan' last='Javis'] </strong>(pictured above)<strong> </strong>sealed the win with an interception with 1:28 left as the North defeated the South, 22-14.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North coach Robin Bacon is stepping away from his position as head coach at Spring Valley and Javis made a promise to him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I told him (North coach Robin Bacon) a couple weeks ago, I wouldn't lose his last high school game so I had to make sure I held that promise,” Javis said.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's take a look at notes and standouts from the North Team:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Just enough offense</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hillcrest QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262574' first='Bennett' last='Judy'] </strong>got the start for the North team and he got going on the first snap. He connected with Laurens WR <strong>Cayson Elledge </strong>for a 35-yard reception. He ended the first quarter with a 36-yard completion to Powdersville WR <strong>Drake Sloan, </strong>which was<strong> </strong>his only reception of the day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Judy finished 10 of 14 for 140 yards. While he didn't throw a touchdown, the velocity on his throws were impressive and he didn't force things into coverage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton RB <strong>Bryson James </strong>ran hard late into the contest as crunch time came in the fourth quarter. He didn't go down after initial contact and finished his afternoon with 41 yards and one touchdown, increasing the North team's lead to 22-14 1:03 to play in the contest to close the scoring. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Denmark-Olar WR <strong>Keithan Washington </strong>was a weapon in the wildcat as he showed extra effort on one run in the third quarter. Washington finished with 15 yards rushing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Making plays on the ball</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blythewood DL <strong>Anthony Thurman </strong>was all over the place throughout the afternoon, whether it was closing on runs quickly or getting pressure on the quarterback. He finished with five total tackles and two TFLs. Hillcrest DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='443522' first='Jeb' last='Robinson'] </strong>finished with two sacks and Blythewood DB <strong>Jacob Gary </strong>registered 5 tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaffney DB <strong>Kaliber Hoey </strong>recorded an interception off of a tip early in the first quarter. Spring Valley DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146359' first='Evan' last='Javis'] </strong>did the same thing, ending a South drive as they were threatening right before the half to go along with the one he had to seal the victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greenwood DB <strong>Josiah Jeffery </strong>got into the backfield for a tackle for loss on the direct snap early in the first quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Northwestern DB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336118' first='Damien' last='Jackson'] </strong>sacked Fort Dorchester QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='89345' first='Zolten' last='Osborne'] </strong>right before the half. Jackson finished with two tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Spring Valley LB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202737' first='David' last='Wilson'] </strong>recovered a fumble to begin the second half as he finished the afternoon with four tackles and one sack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional scoring plays</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Abbeville K <strong>Addison Nickles </strong>knocked through a 30-yard field goal to get the South team on the board at 7-3 with 9:31 to play before the halftime break. He got his foot into his kicks for a kid his size and booted one into the end zone in the second quarter.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside DL <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='336117' first='Hunter' last='Puckett'] </strong>got his hands on a punt, blocking it into the endzone and forcing a safety to decrease the South team's deficit to 7-5 with 8:36 to play before the half. He had one tackle for loss to go along with the four he had on the afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nickles added a 48-yard field goal with 3:50 left in the third quarter, which gave the North team their first lead of the afternoon at 8-7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniel WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91140' first='Eli' last='Merck'] </strong>came up huge in the fourth quarter as he notched a 35-yard reception before Emerald's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='91151' first='Jaylen' last='Foster'] </strong>scored on a 1-yard TD run to increase the lead at 15-7 with 10:10 to play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->