GSPD Week 7 Games and Players To Watch
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Another week of huge games with November implications is on the horizon. What players will ensure their teams end up on the right side of the next round of make-or-break contests? We have some ideas. Amid the squads along the…
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Continue ReadingAnother week of huge games with November implications is on the horizon.
What players will ensure their teams end up on the right side of the next round of make-or-break contests? We have some ideas.
Amid the squads along the Grand Strand and Pee Dee jostling for playoff positioning, it’s still the faces behind the facemarks that will ultimately deliver.
MARION (6-1, 1-0) AT KINGSTREE (2-4, 0-0)
In a nice sense of football scheduling irony, Marion will be going on the road with the right to stay at home later on resting in the balance. The Region VIII-2A winner will have home-field advantage right on through the Class 2A Lower State championship game. And the Blazers are the last thing standing in the Swamp Foxes’ way. Quarterback Gabe Cusack Gabe Cusack 6'1" | 190 lbs | QB Marion | 2024 State SC returned to form against Andrews last week, and now the impetus to keep him on the field rests squarely in the hands of quarterback Ja’Shaun Dorsey (381 rushing yards) and tailbacks Chiquan Giles (166 yards, two touchdowns in two weeks of time in the backfield) and Rodney Bryant (258 yards, four touchdowns this season). Kingstree needs to be able to move the sticks.
HANNAH-PAMPLICO (2-4, 0-0) AT LATTA (6-1, 0-1)
While game has certainly lost some of its star power, the playoff ties to it haven’t been watered down much. Red Raiders tailback Jamarcus Williams Jamarcus Williams 5'10" | 190 lbs | RB Hannah-Pamplico | 2025 State SC (knee) is out for the year. Quarterback Wade Poston Wade Poston 5'11" | 165 lbs | QB Hannah Pamplico | 2025 State SC and two other offensive starters are doubtful with ankle issues. If that wasn’t enough, Latta standout senior running back Jamarion Jones Jamarion Jones 6'0" | 170 lbs | RB Latta | 2024 State SC is also unlikely to play after dealing with an ankle injury of his own. In his place, the Vikings are going to need Kartrell Townsend Kartrell Townsend 6'2" | 170 lbs | ATH Latta | 2024 State SC to step in at tailback, with Amir Rogers Amir Rogers 6'2" | 185 lbs | ATH Latta | 2025 State SC and X’Mari Bethea – two regular defensive starters – also expected to help carry the load. And don’t forget about quarterback LaBron Cobb LaBron Cobb 6'3" | 180 lbs | QB Latta | 2024 State SC and his 12 total touchdowns or nearly 1,000 yards of combined offense.
WACCAMAW (3-3, 1-0) AT LORIS (3-2, 0-1)
The Warriors have not defeated Loris since 2007, a stretch of 13 straight games. Waccamaw’s Brothers Grate would love to change that. Andre Grate Andre Grate 5'11" | 185 lbs | ATH Waccamaw | 2026 State SC has been a focal point for Amondre Johnson’s team all season, taking over the quarterback position in this run-based offense. Last week in the win over Georgetown, he put up 87 rushing yards, including a 53 yards. Twin brother AJ Grate – recently back from an offseason injury – resumed his duties on both sides of the ball, rushing for 35 yards and a score on offense and picking off a pass and recording 2.5 total tackles on defense. The Lions are going to counter with their own rushing attack, led by senior La’Ontray Knox (467 yards, six touchdowns). Neither offense has been explosive, so every offensive series will be vital.
HARTSVILLE (4-2, 0-1) AT MYRTLE BEACH (5-1, 1-0)
As if Hartsville junior Da’Marion Coe Da’Marion Coe 5'9" | 175 lbs | DB Hartsville | 2025 State SC wasn’t already going to have his hands full trying to help slow down Myrtle Beach tailback Malachi Washington Malachi Washington 6'2" | 185 lbs | DL SC (988 yards, 14 touchdowns, five straight 100-yards games), Coe is going to be part of the solution to replacing running back Carmello McDaniel Carmello McDaniel 5'8" | 175 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2024 State SC , who at best is considered week-to-week after leaving last week’s game against South Florence. Coe, freshman Reggie Smith and receiver EJ Smith will all likely get carries alongside Hakeem Watters Hakeem Watters 5'6" | 170 lbs | RB Hartsville | 2025 State SC (707 yards, 11 touchdowns, pictured). What that means is an even bigger role on defense for the likes Coleman Radcliff (54 tackles) and Jaquez Coe (28 tackles) attempting to quell Washington’s big-play potential.
NORTH MYRTLE BEACH (2-4, 0-1) AT WEST FLORENCE (3-3, 0-1)
Want to see two teams fired up and looking for retribution this week? Look no further than North Myrtle and West, a pair of squads coming off dramatic, last-second, one-point losses to open region play a week ago. We mention that first, because whichever team is able to settle into what it wants to do without raw emotion this week probably avoids the hangover from last week. The Chiefs are starting to look significantly more fluid on offense, with Evans Bellamy (135 yards) and Drew Prince (127 yards touchdown) both getting quality yards on the ground last week against Wilson. Meanwhile, West is trying yet another player on offense to create opportunities without entirely spiting the other side of the ball. Bobby Patterson has joined Kelvin Hunter Kelvin Hunter 6'1" | 185 lbs | DB West Florence | 2024 State SC and Franklin Emerson Franklin Emerson 6'0" | 220 lbs | ATH West Florence | 2024 State SC in the backfield, and Patterson rushed for 123 yards in the loss to Myrtle Beach.
PLAYER NOTABLES
Zori Pierce Zori Pierce 6'0" | 160 lbs | QB Lamar | 2026 State SC QB, Lamar
The Silvers Foxes’ young quarterback doesn’t need to be lights out – as evidenced by his four-of-14 passing performance in the win over Latta last week. However, against the rest of the region, Lamar’s chances to win are much higher if he keeps his passing percentage closer to what it’s been the rest of the season (62.5%).
Kalil Johnson Kalil Johnson 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Carolina Forest | 2024 State SC RB, Carolina Forest
There’s no other way to say it: Johnson has started his senior season on a tear. Despite facing a highly respectable schedule, the Panthers’ senior has rushed for 820 yards and nine scores while averaging 8.5 yards per carry. After getting gashed early and often, allowing a 100-yard rusher in each of it four of its first five games, Conway has held its last two opponents (Aynor and St. James) relatively in check on the ground.
Ryan Largin Ryan Largin 6'0" | 170 lbs | DB St. James | 2024 State SC DB, St. James
While Largin (49.5 total stops) has been the Sharks’ top tackler, his job this week will include keeping Socastee receivers Josh Brown Josh Brown 6'1" | 190 lbs | WR Socastee | 2025 State SC and Quadir Scott Quadir Scott 6'1" | 170 lbs | ATH Socastee | 2024 State SC from breaking the type of big plays have that have allowed the Braves a semblance of offensive production this year. Socastee will find unconventional ways to get the ball into their hands, and Largin will have to be the ultimately spy by keeping his head on a swivel.