Week Zero Game Balls: Midlands

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The stars are already beginning to shine, and we have several new faces in the crowd as football in the Midlands got off to a solid start to the season this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>These are names you will need to know quickly. This is just the beginning. Expect to see several Game Balls given out over the next 10 weeks of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='568697' first='Stone' last='Furrey']</strong> WR and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149052' first='Khalen' last='Bostick']</strong> WR, Chapin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Albro threw for nearly 3,000 yards last season and started 2024 in grand style. He was 24-of-40 for 301 yards and four touchdowns in a 47-37 win over Catawba Ridge. Furrey transferred in and led the way with seven receptions for 124 yards and two scores. Bostick also snagged seven passes for 112 yards and two scores. Chapin's offense should keep them in most games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='876560' first='Tymaries' last='Thompson-DuRant']</strong> LB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior recorded nine tackles. 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the Gamecocks 48-0 victory over Lakewood Friday night. Sumter added interceptions from<strong> W'adar Williams</strong>, <strong>Terrence Burgess</strong>, <strong>Omari Parker</strong> and <strong>Brian Wilson</strong> in holding the Gators to 88 total yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272707' first='Caleb' last='Ford']</strong> RB, Cardinal Newman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cardinals running back has started the season on a tear. In Friday's 40-30 loss to St. Joseph's, he ran for 302 yards and three touchdowns on 33 carries. In two games this season, the 5-foot-10, 225-pounder has rushed for 706 yards and six scores. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21757520/66ca2326b6781565da859d1e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cba71e8c4d3"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360145' first='Aaron' last='Griffin']</strong> WR and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464880' first='Stephen' last='Collier']</strong> ATH, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Griffin accounted for 230 all-purpose yards in a 48-34 win over Rock Hill. He had 10 yards rushing, 81 receiving yards and 139 yards on three kickoff returns. He ran the opening kickoff back 99 yards for a score. Collier (pictured) recorded two of the five Gator interceptions. He returned one of them 83 yards for a touchdown. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adis Jamison</strong> DB and <strong>Brewer LaMotte </strong>DB, Hammond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hammond's defense was tasked with trying to slow two-time defending Class A champion Christ Church's offense. It was impossible to stop completely but thanks to the play of a stingy secondary, the Skyhawks came up with a 56-28 victory. Jamison was instrumental in slowing the Cavaliers [player_tooltip player_id='1012637' first='Jackson' last='Repp'], the No. 3 ranked receiver in the 2025 Class. He limited Repp to eight catches for 60 yards but hardly any yards after catch. Jamison finished with 6 tackles, two assisted tackles, two tackles for loss and a pass breakup. LaMotte added two interceptions including one he turned 75 yards for a score just before the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17806606/66c9faa3922f7c8e9dbc700a' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cba71e8c507"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1249778' first='Jordan' last='Joe']</strong> ATH, North Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joe had three interceptions and hauled in a touchdown pass from Ashton Brazell in a season-opening 56-14 victory over Great Falls. He picked off seven passes in 2023 and has the ability to be a threat at receiver for a team that frankly doesn't throw it much.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jayden Martin</strong> WR, Crestwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Knights freshman made a splash in his first-ever varsity game. He finished with 125 yards receiving on five catches with a touchdown in the 17-14 victory over Manning. Crestwood is revamping its offense with a new starting quarterback and Martin could end up playing a huge factor this season</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>EJ Richardson</strong> ATH and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq']</strong> WR, Lugoff-Elgin – Richardson is just a sophomore that will do a lot of things for the Demons. In Friday's 35-34 win over Lower Richland, he threw the game-winning 41-yard TD pass to Saadiq with 16 seconds remaining. It came on a fourth-and-35 play. Richardson added two other touchdowns. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18062422/66c9da65172a8dc8131d4bb7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66cba71e8c528"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> RB, Saluda – Williams scored two touchdowns while rushing for 49 yards and catching two passes for an additional 73 yards. He opened the scoring with a 68-yard D reception from <strong>Drew Arant </strong>and later added a 1-yard touchdown run as part of a 20-6 victory over Crescent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Wilson</strong> RB, Lower Richland – The Diamonds came out on the short end of a 35-34 loss to Lugoff-Elgin, but Wilson helped Lower Richland rush for 273 yards with 84 of those yards on 18 carries with three touchdowns.<strong> Aden Jones </strong>added 68 yards on four carries and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1403282' first='Amari' last='Fisher']</strong> chipped in with 70 yards on 10 attempts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> QB, Richland Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The North Carolina State commit accounted for five touchdowns in a 45-13 blasting of Spring Valley. Wilson threw for three scores and added two rushing touchdowns to open his 2024 campaign. Wilson combined for over 3,800 yards of total offense last season and must have a huge season for the Cavaliers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->