What We Saw: Socastee FCA 7-On-7

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>MYRTLE BEACH | <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff'] </strong>is back, and it appears the Loris football team's destiny might again be tied to the junior quarterback staying on the field.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Wednesday was any indication, the even bigger Huff certainly looks the part of a talented and strong-armed player. Huff was among the standouts at Socastee's FCA-hosted 7-on-7 that also included fellow Horry County programs Carolina Forest, Conway, St. James and Aynor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Huff is trying to make up for lost time.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"That's something I'm trying to be aware of, not trying to lose the rest of my season like I did last year with the injury," Huff said. "I couldn't stand that. I couldn't stand that at all. Things get real serious going into my junior year. I'm looking forward to being better than I was last year, improve every step I can."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After getting some quality reps the second half of his freshman year and claiming the job for good, he entered his sophomore season with a ton of promise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huff completed 58-percent of his passes for 961 yards and nine touchdowns. He had thrown only two interceptions (both in the loss to powerhouse Dillon) and put together real connection with his top receivers, including the now-departed <strong>Randall Bellamy</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>However, in the October 7 win over Waccamaw, Huff suffered a leg injury that derailed not only his season, but the team's. The Lions beat winless Georgetown in the first game without him, but then went on to lose their last three games, all by double digits, and scored only two offensive touchdowns in those three contests. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Senior tailback La'Ontray Knox (681 yards, 10 touchdowns last year) was unavailable Wednesday, but when the duo are together, it could propel the Lions to a start similar to last year's.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Huff is ready to hold up his end of that deal.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>OTHER EVENT STANDOUTS</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Taquawn Cox</strong> DB, Loris - The 6-foot, 160-pound safety was his normally fluent self between the hashes, breaking up passes and intercepting a couple more. That's par for his course, as he led the Lions with five interceptions last year while playing mostly corner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noah Bease</strong> WR, Conway - In what may have been the loudest reaction to any play on the day, Bease caught a 15-yard route and then put a defender on skates en route to a 30-yard touchdown. Bease, at 5-10 and 160 pounds, factors in to snag some targets from quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='208332' first='Devin' last='Grainger'] this season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Issiah Brown</strong> LB, St. James - Brown is going to get some reps at tailback like he did a season ago. But the Sharks' top tackler from a year ago looks even more refined in the middle of the defense. He stayed with receivers when he was asked to and kept his head on a swivel when he was roaming. Brown is every bit of 6-foot and 190 pounds and is moving even better than he did in 2022.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tramaine Hunter</strong> DB, Conway - Like he did during the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2023/06/next-crop-proves-ready-during-ccu-7-on-7/">CCU 7-on-7 back in June</a>, Hunter let folks know that even at 5-foot-8 and 130 pounds, he can make some plays. On a deep route, Hunter blanketed a receiver, got position and then out-jumped him at the pylon to make the interceptions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771237' first='Quadir' last='Scott']</strong> WR, Socastee - The word is definitely out on Scott, who was forced into the quarterback spot last year after [player_tooltip player_id='139313' first='Rocco' last='Wojcik'] went down early. Scott was again effective at receiver, but the Braves are now working in some sets where he comes into the backfield and Wojcik slips into the slot. The wrinkle works, since both players are adept at both spots, and it will be an interesting playbook addition in live games.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cole Johnson</strong> RB, Aynor - The Blue Jackets' offense is so run-heavy that it's always interesting to see what they do during 7-on-7s, especially with starting quarterback <strong>Rivers Johnson</strong> out of town at a baseball tournament. They didn't disappoint Wednesday, using some offensive linemen to run routes later in the morning. But Johnson has the physical size to impress. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound tailback moves well and should annihilate his 125-yard 2022 season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267465' first='Kalil' last='Johnson']</strong> and <strong>Quavious Draughn</strong> RBs, Carolina Forest - While not to the extent of Aynor, the Panthers are easing in a new quarterback in [player_tooltip player_id='1142820' first='Ethan' last='Hamilton'] and that means a likelier heavy workload for both Johnson and Draughn, the next two running backs in line after the departure of [player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert'] to South Florence. Both have cut their teeth in running sets, but Wednesday was further proof that each of them could see a lot of passes out of the backfield, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->