What We Saw: Gray Collegiate 62, Crestwood 60

WEST COLUMBIA | The second week of the regular season provided a potential "Game of the Year" candidate.   The combined rosters of both Gray Collegiate and Crestwood featured highly-talented college prospects and All-State players on both sides of the football.   Some of the names are quite familiar in recruiting circles. Headlining the group was Crestwood quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin'] - the state's top senior at his position.   On the Gray Collegiate side, you had Class 2A All-State players like linemen [player_tooltip player_id='1359251' first='Zeb' last='Taylor'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1001124' first='JT' last='Sowell'] and college commits like wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord'] (South Carolina State).   By the time the two teams finished combining for 122 points, Friday's contest revealed even more stellar talent beyond the marquee players.   OFFENSE   [player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin'] QB, Crestwood   The talk surrounding the 6-foot-1, 185-pound senior is well-justified. His quick release and strong arm was evident in his throws, even when he was running away from tacklers. His mobility was on display in the first quarter when he was credited with a 10-yard touchdown run during which it appeared to show him losing the football a couple of yards before reaching the end zone.   There was nothing controversial about his three touchdown passes, the first of which was a 74-yard bomb to Khalil Moody in the first half. In the second half, he threw a laser slant to [player_tooltip player_id='1012863' first='Jeremie' last='Richardson'] for a 45-yard touchdown and made a Houdini-like escape from a sack to find running back [player_tooltip player_id='997149' first='Azarian' last='Yates'], who turned it into a highlight reel 37-yard touchdown.   Martin finished 18-of-28 for 330 yards to go with 45 rushing yards.   "I was talking with his dad (Crestwood assistant coach Williemack Martin) and can't believe he's only got D-2 offers out there," Gray Collegiate head coach Adam Holmes said. "Some FCS, some Power Fives need to take a look at him. He makes all the throws. He has a strong arm. He's athletic. He makes good reads. He runs the RPO system very well. Just a great athlete. He kept them in this game and it all runs through him.   "I think he's one of the best quarterbacks in the state. He's the best I've seen just playing against him and really watching film. He did a great job tonight."   Martin said he's more focused on leading his team to a state championship right now.   "The offers will come," he said of a deep playoff run.   [player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller'] QB, Gray Collegiate   The sophomore quarterback continues to show the poise and composure of a veteran in just his second career start. Having explosive playmakers on opposite sides in Offord and [player_tooltip player_id='91353' first='Jamarious' last='Lockett'] allows he and fellow sophomore Dre'von Dopson to make accurate downfield passes.   "During the off-season, keep grinding in learning the playbook during all the spring game stuff," Waller said. "Doing what you're told, doing what you can do on the field and battling through no matter what comes along."   [player_tooltip player_id='997149' first='Azarian' last='Yates'] RB, Crestwood   In the preseason, Crestwood head coach Roosevelt Nelson talked about the importance of Yates to his team. He, along with Martin, helped the Knights stay in the game as he displayed speed, strength and toughness running for three touchdowns against the physical Gray Collegiate defense.   Yates' touchdown reception in the fourth quarter, his fourth score of the evening, saw him make an over the shoulder catch while fighting off six War Eagles tacklers as he rumbled down the sidelines.   Yates finished with 82 rushing yards and two receptions for 62 yards. At six-feet and 211 pounds, Yates runs with power and is difficult to bring down.   [player_tooltip player_id='605529' first='BJ' last='Montgomery'] RB, Gray Collegiate   For the second straight week, the senior returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He had a 78-yard scamper to open the second half and added two rushing scores. While his offensive line had its share of challenges against Crestwood's front, Montgomery managed to convert a pair of first downs in the final minutes to clinch the victory.   Khalil Moody WR, Crestwood   The 6-foot-1, 175-pound senior is a threat to score whenever he touches the football. He raced past the Gray Collegiate defender on his 74-yard touchdown reception and turned on the speed on his kickoff return for a touchdown. Moody was also one of several players to see action on both sides of the football while battling through cramps caused from playing in the humid conditions.   [player_tooltip player_id='91353' first='Jamarious' last='Lockett'] WR, Gray Collegiate   Lockett was the star of the night with four touchdown receptions from two different quarterbacks. While Crestwood's secondary focused on teammate [player_tooltip player_id='139316' first='Zai' last='Offord'], Lockett made the most of his opportunities. He made a leaping grab over two Crestwood defenders and proceeded to outrun them into the end zone and had a long touchdown catch on which he was draped by a cornerback before breaking away for the score.   "I have a mentality that I'm going to win every rep, so I've got to do it," he said. "I know I've got a good quarterback that's going to throw it to me, so I've just got to go get it."   DEFENSE   [player_tooltip player_id='473010' first='Michael' last='Boulware'] LB, Gray Collegiate   The sophomore made two of the biggest defensive plays of the game. Both occurred on two-point conversions which could have either tied or given the Knights the lead. On the first stop, he singlehandedly took on the Crestwood runner, impeding his progress at the goalline and forcing the football away. After Crestwood got within two in the fourth quarter, Boulware managed to get Martin one-on-one and brought him down before he could throw the football to Yates.   "What's great about Michael is that he plays with a motor," Holmes said. "He doesn't stop. He runs to every pile. He goes full speed on every single play and that's why he's out there on the field right now, playing and making those plays. He's just only going to get better. Give him a year on the varsity level, a year in the weight room and just sees what he grows into his junior and senior year."   [player_tooltip player_id='448977' first='Seneca' last='Moore'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1142845' first='Brandon' last='Cowell'] LBs, Crestwood   Both linebackers were cited by Holmes with creating difficulties for Gray Collegiate's running game. Moore also had a two-point conversion run and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown.   [player_tooltip player_id='1359251' first='Zeb' last='Taylor'] DL, Gray Collegiate   On a night when Gray Collegiate struggled with its punting, resulting in two touchdowns for Crestwood, Taylor turned the tables on the Knights. He fielded a blocked punt by [player_tooltip player_id='997269' first='Kaine' last='Williams'] and returned it for a touchdown to give the War Eagles a 41-28 lead.   It was critical since the Knights went on to score 20 unanswered points to reclaim the lead. Taylor was also part of an active defensive line with Charles Scarborough, [player_tooltip player_id='1001124' first='JT' last='Sowell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1359229' first='Trequan' last='Singleton'] making plays.   Aiden Leeger DB, Gray Collegiate   The sophomore cornerback turned a potential completion by Martin into an interception return for a touchdown. On the play, Leeger managed to strip away the football from the wide receiver and outrun potential tacklers across the goal line.

WEST COLUMBIA | The second week of the regular season provided a potential "Game of the Year" candidate.