What We Saw: South Carolina Tops North Carolina in Shrine Bowl

Brandon Stockdale December 16, 2023 @ 03:59 PM

SPARTANBURG | Marion DB [player_tooltip player_id='771088' first='Quay'Sheed' last='Scott'] brought down the ball carrier deep in North Carolina territory on the opening kickoff. If you want a tone setter for the 87th Shrine Bowl, that was it.   The defenses took center stage, but it was the Sandlapper offense that came alive in the second half in the 87th Shrine Bowl as South Carolina defeated North Carolina 24-0 on Saturday afternoon.    After a Tar Heel punt on their opening possession, Crestwood QB [player_tooltip player_id='589009' first='Javion' last='Martin'] connected with Summerville WR [player_tooltip player_id='771065' first='Yannick' last='Smith'] on an impressive jump ball into North Carolina territory again, leading to James Island K [player_tooltip player_id='91354' first='Coleman' last='Franzone'] connecting on a 33-yard field goal to put the Sandlappers up, 3-0 with 10:56 to play in the first quarter.    That would be the only points of the first half.   There was a muffed punt but an inverted whistle forced a re-kick. And then the punt was muffed again, giving North Carolina a golden opportunity to get points with under 8 minutes to play in the opening quarter. But they couldn't capitalize as Hough K Nolan Hauser missed the field goal with 6:56 to play in the first quarter.    The second quarter featured more defensive highlights as St. Pauls LB [player_tooltip player_id='1251135' first='Jamarcus' last='Smith'] plugged up the hole right where the run was supposed to go on 3rd and short, forcing a punt with 11:47 to play before the half.   South Pointe DB [player_tooltip player_id='589016' first='Zantwan' last='Nelson'] (pictured left) walked away with MVP honors defensively for the Sandlappers, finishing with four tackles including a TFL late second quarter where he limited the gain on the screen pass.   The one highlight offensively was when Hillcrest WR [player_tooltip player_id='267431' first='Avery' last='McFadden'] beat his man one-on-one to bring the Sandlappers near midfield but they could not get any points out of it.   Whichever offense could find any footing would be the winner.   The scoring drought was broken in the second half as Rock Hill QB [player_tooltip player_id='139293' first='Matthew' last='Wilson'] (pictured right) connected with Calhoun County WR [player_tooltip player_id='771220' first='Christian' last='Zachary'] for a 43-yard TD reception, giving the Sandlappers a 10-0 lead with 3:31 to play in the third quarter. He would find Strom Thurmond WR [player_tooltip player_id='208338' first='Braylon' last='Staley'] from 41 yards out to put South Carolina up 17-0 with 2:10 to play in the fourth quarter as well.   Wilson, who is committed to App State and will enroll in January, finished 8-of-14 for 163 yards and the two scores.   “We found something before halftime. We were getting it going, we just had little mental mistakes that cost us and we knew that if we took away the mental mistakes and kept doing what we were doing that we were going to find our way to the end zone, which we did,” Wilson said.   Scott's excellent day defensively continued with an interception in the fourth quarter before Midland Valley's [player_tooltip player_id='91348' first='Traevon' last='Dunbar'] scored from 1 yard out to close the scoring. Scott finished 6 tackles on the afternoon.

SPARTANBURG | Marion DB Quay’Sheed Scott Quay’Sheed Scott 6'0" | 185 lbs | ATH Marion | 2024 State SC brought down the ball carrier deep in North Carolina territory on the opening kickoff. If you want a tone setter for the 87th Shrine Bowl, that was it.