GSPD Game Balls: Playoffs First Round

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Want a first-round feel-good story?&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Look no further than Hartsville senior tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel']</strong>. We're breaking our normal routine for Game Balls this week and leading off this post specifically about him. What he did Friday was too meaningful not to.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As most know by now, McDaniel was carted off the field on September 29 at South Florence after a huge hit left him unconscious. He was placed on a stretcher and spent a couple days in the hospital being evaluated for everything. After his release, he was then sent to a specialist and needed to pass several more tests before he had any chance to return.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At certain points during the last five weeks, there were questions whether or not he would ever play another high school snap.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Needless to say, then, his return in the first-round win over AC Flora was emotional.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was also productive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wearing No. 5 for the first time - the staff had to change his number for the playoffs after his normal No. 1 road jersey was cut off by medical staff on September 29 - McDaniel rushed for 180 yards and three scores in the victory. It was clearly a big boost for Hartsville, but also a welcome sign for one of the state's top tailbacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>THIS WEEK'S GAME BALLS</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012592' first='Hakeem' last='Watters']</strong> RB, Hartsville - Watters is going to enter the Red Foxes' second-round game at James Island just 20 yards shy of 1,500 for the season. And combined with his 20 rushing touchdowns, he's clearly made the most of his playing time. That included Friday's win against AC Flora, when he - like McDaniel - needed only 10 carries to reach 180 rushing yards. He reached the end zone twice to aid in the super-sized offensive output against the Falcons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1142820' first='Ethan' last='Hamilton']</strong> QB, Carolina Forest - The Panthers' senior isn't asked to throw much. In fact, he's averaged just eight attempts per game during this year's run-first campaign. But in the lopsided win over St. James, Hamilton completed five of his nine attempts for 60 yards and two touchdowns to <strong>Finn Mahood</strong>. It was a nice complement to a night that also included his one-yard rushing touchdown, his 15th ground touchdown of the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Xavier Anderson</strong> LB, Andrews - Against a North Central team that showed off some serious chops with the run game this year, Anderson showed up at just the right time. His eight total tackles, two tackles of loss, forced fumble and fumble recovery helped slow down the opponent and allow the Yellow Jackets' own productive running game to get out to a lead and then roll to a 50-18 victory and a trip to the second round.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Syree Livingston</strong> RB, South Florence - The Bruins are getting a much needed offensive boost from a player who was relatively low on the totem pole earlier in the season. Livingston had a nice stretch to end the regular season but went off against Lugoff-Elgin. On Friday, the senior had 17 carries for 246 yards and a season-high four touchdowns. That gives him 12 rushing touchdowns in the last five games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington']</strong> Myrtle Beach - During the first part of the year, the Myrtle Beach offense was all about what Washington could do with his legs. Now, the Seahawk backfield mates are definitely building off one another. While Washington pumped out another 154 yards and two touchdowns in the opening-round win over May River, Goodroe completed 12-of-17 passes for 194 yards and three touchdowns. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165108' first='Zori' last='Pierce']</strong> QB, Lamar - The Silver Foxes' sophomore quarterback just gave future opponents another concentration point that hadn't really been on the table before. In the win over Branchville, Pierce used eight carries to pile up 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He's normally more of a pass-first type, and while he did throw the first interception of his career Friday, one pick every 118 passes isn't going to prevent the staff from relying on his arm - and now his legs, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->