Week 9 Players To Watch: The Midlands

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are two weeks remaining in the regular season and teams are jockeying for playoff seeding. Here is a look at a group of players across the Midlands that can make a difference for their respective teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575379' first='Jonathan' last='Clarkson']</strong> RB, North Central – The Knights are coming off a 20-6 loss to Cheraw but can still secure a home game in the playoffs if they win out. Clarkson has 470 rushing on 51 carries and has added 61 tackles on defense. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448988' first='Christian' last='Sexton']</strong> LB, Lexington – The North-South All-Star selection at linebacker has given the Wildcats an added boost in the running game as well. But he makes his mark on the defensive side of things and will need a strong finish to help the Wildcats secure a possible home first round playoff game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/15086844/652aa8a3ff0ca708a4232f9d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65305772336db"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks']</strong> WR, Ben Lippen – Crooks and fellow sophomore QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284134' first='Jayvon' last='Gilmore']</strong> provide a decent punch for the Falcons. Crooks is the leading receiver with 401 yards and four touchdowns on 19 receptions. Ben Lippen will need more from Crooks in the final two weeks of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin']</strong> QB, Crestwood – The Knights have only lost once this season and they have a showdown with Camden this week with the winner likely claiming the region title. Martin (pictured) has thrown for 1,779 yards and 17 touchdowns to go along with 310 yards rushing and 10 scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13994794/652fd3e2ff01ce0a081b7f67' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6530577233716"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139311' first='Grayson' last='White']</strong> QB, Camden – White has thrown for 2,005 yard and 22 touchdowns and added 361 yards rushing for the Bulldogs. Camden has a huge showdown with Crestwood this week and the winner will likely be the region winner.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/11720764/6529a17302bbb80bd0b1a3a8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6530577233743"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142804' first='KJ' last='Golden']</strong> WR, Fairfield Central – The Griffins are looking to close out the season strong and Golden has been one of the keys. He had four catches that resulted in three touchdowns last and added a 75-yard kickoff return for a score. He has 451 yards receiving this season and seven touchdowns on 27 receptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix']</strong> RB, Irmo – The Yellow Jackets are two wins from capping an unbeaten regular season. Allen-Hendrix was selected to the North-South All-Star Game behind his 1,385 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603881' first='Darius' last='Dixon']</strong> LB, Keenan – The Raiders have recorded back-to-back shutout and Dixon has played a huge roll in that. Last week, Dixon recorded nine tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss in a 53-0 win over Eau Claire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771221' first='Lamarion' last='Pearson']</strong> RB, Lower Richland – Lower Richland won for just the second time this season with Pearson rushing for 193 yards and two touchdowns in a 49-7 win over Swansea.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd']</strong> WR, AC Flora – The Falcons have stumbled in region play but Byrd and QB [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'] give hope for the future. Just a sophomore, Byrd has tallied 765 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns on 44 receptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158030' first='Bryant' last='Cherry']</strong> LB, Airport – Cherry now has 110 tackles on the season after his 13-tackle performance last week against South Aiken.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359164' first='Amarii' last='King']</strong> WR, Cardinal Newman – The Cardinals spread it around with five receivers having between 14 and 20 receptions. King leads the way with 20 catches for 383 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19699090/652169fea022cd0b744f4c88' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6530577233772"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>JT Lott</strong> DL, Saluda – The Tigers bounced back from a loss two weeks ago to Strom Thurmond with a 15-14 win over Silver Bluff. Lott leads the Saluda defensive effort with 59 stops, three sacks and two forced fumbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison']</strong> DE, Sumter – In a 17-14 loss to Carolina Forest, Addison registered 16 tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16568290/652a7c9702bb7306a40ce0c3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-653057723379d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='771224' first='Will' last='Young']</strong> Ath, Brookland-Cayce – Young finished off a 35-28 victory over Dreher with an overtime touchdown that proved to be the difference. He had 227 yards on 36 carries and four rushing scores on the night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->