Touchstone Energy Bowl Breakdown: Upstate Offensive Selections

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>More than half the North All-Star roster - 25 guys - for the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl hail from the Upstate. There are difference-makers on both sides of the ball, and the Upstate will be well-represented in 76th annual game, to be played December 9 at Myrtle Beach's Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at the 11 offense-first Upstate players who were chosen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Backs</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two offensive backs from the Upstate on the North squad, and they've got a running style in common. Chapman QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='998700' first='Coleman' last='Gray']</strong> brings a fullback's mentality when he takes off with the ball. He's quick and agile enough to spring away from defenders, but he's also physical enough to run right through you (and sometimes it seems like he'd rather). He leads the Panthers in rushing with 592 yards and nine touchdowns despite splitting carries with two other talented backs. Oh, and he's got nearly 1,500 passing yards and 14 touchdowns while completing 60 percent of his passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton-Honea Path is another team with an embarrassment of riches at running back, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144034' first='Shaheem' last='Robbs']</strong> is a vital piece of the puzzle. He's the change-of-pace guy, and head coach Russell Blackston calls him "a rolling bundle of butcher knives". Robbs lives up to that description, with 924 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a per-carry average of nearly seven yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wide Receivers</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want to talk about some big-play guys? There are six from the Upstate on the North team, and every one of them is electric.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapman's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142680' first='Rashawn' last='Cunningham']</strong> has 50 catches for more than 700 yards, and has caught six touchdowns. he's done a lot of it in limited time, as the Panthers have been rolling over Region III-3A opponents. Another 3A guy making his mark is <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='949764' first='Kadon' last='Crawford']</strong>. Listed as a TE, he's shifted into a true receiver role for the Red Devils as the offense has been re-tooled due to injuries. All he's done is set the Clinton single-game receptions mark and turned into a true vertical threat for the Devils.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of 4A guys will look to shine at WR as well. Greer's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448976' first='Chase' last='Byrd']</strong> has 442 yards and three TDs in just seven games, and he seems to make a big play whenever the Jackets need it, including a game-decider over Eastside in region play. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139314' first='Josh' last='Williams']</strong>, meanwhile, does a bunch of things for Westside, including kick returns and time at corner. His main job is as [player_tooltip player_id='346189' first='Cutter' last='Woods']' favorite target and as a game-breaking receiver, where he's got 41 catches for 798 yards and nine scores - an average of 19.5 yards per catch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Two 5A receivers from the area also made the North squad, with Gaffney's<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='448239' first='Emazon' last='Littlejohn']</strong> coming in as one of the top guys. He's got 646 yards and nine TDs on the season for the Indians, and is a dangerous kick returner as well. J.L. Mann's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142457' first='Mikel' last='McClellan']</strong> helped pace the Patriots to one of the best starts in school history. He's fast, he runs great routes, and he's a threat to get it to the house every time he touches it.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Offensive Linemen</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Up front, the upstate contingent is led by T.L. Hanna's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144047' first='Chase' last='Gregorek']</strong>. The 6-foot-5, 290-pound Furman commit is a monster, and he looks especially suited to the Yellow Jackets' run-heavy offense. Gregorek has helped pace an offense that's chewed up yards and clock, and that seems to take delight into grinding opposing defenses down. Greenwood's <strong>AJ Ross</strong> is a key member of a line that's got the Eagles back on track and in line for a playoff spot. And Broome's <strong>Steven O'Dell</strong> is a tackle who runs like a tight end, blocks sideline-to-sideline as well as he does upfield, and who helps open holes for one of the Upstate's most dynamic backfields. He'll soon join Gregorek at Furman, which is not something the Paladins' opponents should be looking forward to.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->