TEC Bowl: Wednesday Practice Notes
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MYRTLE BEACH | In the hours before the start of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl week, the South team needed to replace an offensive lineman at the last minute. It picked up one of the biggest in the state. Lower…
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Continue ReadingMYRTLE BEACH | In the hours before the start of the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl week, the South team needed to replace an offensive lineman at the last minute.
It picked up one of the biggest in the state.
Lower Richland tackle Dakarai Sumter Dakarai Sumter 6'8" | 320 lbs | OL Lower Richland | 2024 State SC measured in Tuesday at 6-foot-7 and 397 pounds. As such, he was an instant talking point during Wednesday’s opening practices. Sumter was the biggest player on either field, and it’s not like the linemen from the two squads are small.
“I want the extra work and want to get better every day,” Sumter said. “It means a lot. I always dreamed about playing in North-South. I know I’m big; I know I’m bigger than everybody. But I just stay humble and go after it.”
Late addition or no – Sumter (pictured, middle) was added in place of Stratford’s Landon Stradcutter Landon Stradcutter 6'3" | 280 lbs | OL Stratford | 2024 State SC after the latter was ruled out Monday with an illness – the tackle fit right into the equation for a South squad that intends to revolve the rest of its offense around what it can do in the trenches. Sumter joined an offensive line that also features Richland Northeast’s Mark’Quelle Moser Mark’Quelle Moser 6'4" | 365 lbs | OL Richland Northeast | 2024 State SC (6-foot-4, 387 pounds), Carolina Forest’s Phil McLean (6-foot-4, 313 pounds) and Dillon’s Jayden Benjamin Jayden Benjamin 6'3" | 320 lbs | OL Dillon | 2024 State SC (6-foot-3, 344 pounds).
Needless to say, the South squad won’t be lacking any size this year.
Nor will it be lacking the type of players who have pave the way for plenty of production throughout the 2023 season.
In addition to the super-sized guys up front, Carter Rimpf Carter Rimpf 6'3" | 275 lbs | OL Camden | 2024 State SC (Camden), Andrew Tumbleston Andrew Tumbleston 6'4" | 285 lbs | OL Cane Bay | 2024 State SC (Cane Bay), Justin Joe Justin Joe 6'1" | 285 lbs | OL South Florence | 2024 State SC (South Florence) and Kamden Sox Kamden Sox 6'4" | 290 lbs | OL Brookland-Cayce | 2024 State SC (Brookland-Cayce) were all part of some dynamic offenses that ran very different systems this fall. Those eight and block-first tight ends Rodney Lesane Rodney Lesane 6'1" | 235 lbs | TE South Florence | 2024 State SC (South Florence) and Dwayne Simmons (Ashley Ridge) provide some massive bodies for the North squad to contend with during Saturday’s game. It is easily the biggest offensive line top-to-bottom at the Touchstone Energy Bowl in recent years.
AROUND WEDNESDAY’S PRACTICES
Crestwood linebacker Seneca Moore Seneca Moore 6'2" | 210 lbs | LB Crestwood | 2024 State SC and White Knoll receiver Austin Cunningham Austin Cunningham 6'0" | 175 lbs | ATH White Knoll | 2024 State SC were both removed from the game due to illness. Since they were in deeper positions, neither player was replaced.
However, after South kicker/punter Sam Crocker Sam Crocker 5'10" | 165 lbs | P Philip Simmons | 2024 State SC (Philip Simmons) was injured during the morning session, Chapin’s Chase Cline Chase Cline 6'0" | 170 lbs | K Chapin | 2024 State SC was brought in as an emergency kicker for the game.
Gray Collegiate offensive lineman JT Sowell JT Sowell 6'4" | 255 lbs | OL Gray Collegiate | 2024 State SC (injury) was ruled out of Saturday’s game after sustaining a hit Wednesday.
In the non-injury department, Crestwood’s Khalil Moody Khalil Moody 6'1" | 175 lbs | ATH Crestwood | 2024 State SC showed off some early skill with an interception along the sideline during the morning session. Moody, who could see some time at receiver after catching 13 passes for 452 yards (34.8 ypc) this year for the Knights, also led Crestwood with a pair of interceptions and finished with four for his career.