Midlands Week 8 Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ground game is alive and well in the Midlands.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week's Game Balls has several running backs among the top contributors during Week 8:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='710430' first='Ahmir' last='Smith']</strong> RB, Calhoun County – The senior and Northern Illinois verbal commit rushed for four touchdowns in the 34-7 victory over Blackville-Hilda. The win keeps the Saints in the running for a Region IV-A title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/14932622/652af03e4bb2a808609be33a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652b55da2e452"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson']</strong> RB, Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the third consecutive week, this class of 2027 member surpassed 100 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns, this time in the lopsided region win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson. In three games, he's rushed for 467 yards and eight touchdowns to go with a receiving score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amadre Wooden</strong> RB, Batesburg-Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore running back had 165 yards and a touchdown in the win over Fox Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652b55da2e48e"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652b55da2e4b8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142785' first='Lincoln' last='Ilunga']</strong> DL, White Knoll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Playing upfront for the 9-0 Timberwolves, he was a tour de force in helping to shut down Lexington's offense. He finished with six tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery in the win to clinch the Region IV-5A title with a game to go.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15028505/652ab23fab9ce801ec981f86' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652b55da2e4de"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394968' first='Isaiah' last='Oree']</strong> DB, Brookland-Cayce</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior defensive back made two critical interceptions in the overtime victory over Dreher. He returned one for a touchdown in the first half and picked off the other to start the extra period which allowed the Bearcats to win on their first overtime possession.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bryce Nutall</strong> LB/SS, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior led a defense which held Chapin to 227 total yards, including 43 rushing. He also had a 62-yard interception return for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13771896/6529335690eeb1025c4b1ece' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-652b55da2e503"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> QB, Richland Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North Carolina State commit (pictured) had another big week, throwing for 352 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 133 yards and a score in the region victory against Lugoff-Elgin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Drew Arant</strong> QB, Saluda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arant came up big on the game-winning drive against fourth-ranked Silver Bluff. He completed a touchdown pass to <strong>KenMane Brunson</strong>, then completed a two-point conversion pass to <strong>Lane Ashley</strong> for the 15-14 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816750' first='Kaleb' last='Berry'] </strong>WR, Dreher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore wideout has developed into a major playmaker for the Blue Devils. He had a touchdown with .7 seconds left to help force overtime in the loss to Brookland-Cayce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon']</strong> LB, WJ Keenan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The freshman had nine tackles, two sacks and an interception in the 52-0 shutout win over Eau Claire. In the last two games, the Raiders have outscored the opposition 105-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->