Lower State Game Balls: GSPD, Lowcountry
In this article:
From one of the state’s top senior offensive weapons this season to a freshman showing off his flashy future, the Game Balls from the Lower State championship games ran the gamut in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee and Lowcountry. …
Access all of Prep Redzone
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFrom one of the state’s top senior offensive weapons this season to a freshman showing off his flashy future, the Game Balls from the Lower State championship games ran the gamut in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee and Lowcountry.
Four of these players helped punch their teams’ tickets to the state finals.
The last put up the type of effort that should still be recognized in a loss.
Yannick Smith Yannick Smith 6'3" | 190 lbs | WR Summerville | 2024 State SC WR, Summerville
The Green Wave receiver put up one more solid effort in a Summerville jersey in the Class 5A Lower State loss to White Knoll. Smith’s stat line was impressive, giving that it came against one of the state’s best defenses. He finished with six receptions for 100 yards, making him the only receiver this season to hit triple figures against the Timberwolves’ first-stringers. He also rushed 10 time for 72 yards – the bulk of which came on a 55-yard run that set up the Green Wave’s first points of the game – and added 39 yards on kickoff returns.
Syree Livingston RB, South Florence
Another week, another Game Ball for Livingston. En route to another two rushing scores (and a two-point conversion run) against Irmo, the senior went off for 164 yards – including the 49-yarder that set up his second touchdown midway through the first quarter. Most of his damage came in that opening quarter, when he had 143 yards on just eight carries. He only got nine more carries the rest of the way, thanks to the next guy on this list.
Zion Gilbert Zion Gilbert 6'0" | 195 lbs | RB South Florence | 2025 State SC RB, South Florence
While Livingston was responsible for setting up the early lead, Gilbert’s efforts made sure it stuck. The junior tailback ended the win over Imro with 18 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown. Gilbert (pictured) had seven carries that covered at least 11 yards, compared to just one rush that lost yardage. His big dog of the night was a 35-yard touchdown run with 3:20 left in the third quarter that marked South’s final points of the game.
Malik Shippy Malik Shippy 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Johnsonville | 2024 State SC QB, Johnsonville
When Shippy is on, Johnsonville has a chance. The duel-threat quarterback was on against Bamberg-Ehrhardt. After getting the Flashes on the board just before halftime with a long touchdown pass to Travis Wilson Travis Wilson 6'2" | 220 lbs | DL Johnsonville | 2024 State SC , Shippy freelanced his way to a third-quarter rushing score that put Johnsonville ahead for the first time and then iced it with a short-yardage rushing touchdown. The effort elevated the Flashes to a Class A championship game rematch with Christ Church.
Aiden Manavian Aiden Manavian 6'0" | 185 lbs | QB Oceanside Collegiate | 2027 State SC QB, Oceanside Collegiate
Chad Wilkes has been high on Manavian for some time, knowing the future at the position would be just fine. The 5-foot-10, 165-pound freshman showed the future could be now. Against Hampton County, Manavian completed nine-of-16 passes for 230 yards and four passes, making some throws that not too many freshmen are capable of making – especially in that type of high-pressure situation.