First Round Game Balls: Greenville, Anderson, Pickens Area

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the playoffs got started on Friday, there were a ton of top performances and a bunch of guys worthy of Prep Redzone helmet stickers. Here's a look at players in the Greenville, Anderson, and Pickens areas who turned in top performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013068' first='Tucker' last='Hendrix']</strong> QB, Christ Church</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hendrix only threw 15 passes on Friday, and only completed seven. But five of those were for TDs, as the defending 1A champions got rolling with a 49-0 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Thomas Stanley</strong> RB, Hillcrest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stanley was an absolute workhorse for the Rams in a road win at Nation Ford. He rushed 39 times, setting a single-game school record with 248 carries, eclipsing a mark that was set in 1981. He scored three times in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013066' first='Brayden' last='Johnson']</strong> RB, St. Joseph's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Knights' first round victory, Johnson put them on his back. He carried 30 times for 188 yards and scored twice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157743' first='KD' last='Patterson']</strong> and <strong>Vashun Burton </strong>RBs, T.L. Hanna</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Patterson and Burton were the bulk of T.L. Hanna's offense early in a 53-9 win over Fort Mill in a short night for the starters. Patterson ran for three touchdowns on only six carries and totaled 57 yards, while Burton also carried just six times - for 112 yards and another score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283891' first='Noah' last='Thomas']</strong> QB, Belton-Honea Path</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas has a very special set of things he's called on to do in BHP's run-heavy offense. That doesn't mean he can't do other things. Take Friday night, for example. He completed a modest 9 passes for 106 yards. But FIVE of those went for TDs as the Bears thumped Emerald.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Hall</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='448976' first='Chase' last='Byrd']</strong> WR, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012565' first='LaDainnian' last='Martin']</strong> RB, Greer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Greer's big three on offense had a big night when the Yellow Jackets needed it most. In a last-second, 29-28 win over Indian Land, Byrd had one of his best nights in the air, finishing 14-for-18 for 221 yards and three touchdowns. Byrd caught seven balls for 144 yards and two of the scores. Martin led the way on the ground as usual, piling up 196 yards on 21 carries and scoring a fourth-quarter TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->