GSPD Week 1 Game Balls

The Grand Strand and Pee Dee was full of highlights in Week 1.   There were huge rushing totals and some head-turning defensive performances and everything in between. The best part was all these games happened right here, providing a good bit of exciting film.   Aynor Offensive Line   JoJo Dollard (LT), Conner Rabon (LG), Mark Randall Singleton (C), Dalton Cooper (RG), Jose Morales (RT) and tight ends Josh Larrimore, Brandon Elliot and Ryan Goude did some work in helping the Blue Jackets to a 51-34 win over St. James. Now, let us tell you why those guys are all getting a Game Ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1269581' first='Austin' last='Tanyika'] rushed for 108 yards and five touchdowns on eight carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1188517' first='Matthew' last='Kerby'] had 106 yards on 17 carries. Devon Fore added 150 yards and a score on six carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1734403' first='Luke' last='McCracken'] had 76 yards and a touchdown. And Kam Harrell ended the night with 70 yards. Throw in a couple others, and Aynor racked up 524 yards on 57 carries against the Sharks.    [player_tooltip player_id='1025778' first='Domanick' last='Felton'] RB, Dillon   Felton's official rushing numbers were <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2024/08/what-we-saw-dillon-27-socastee-7/">slightly less than what we had him for live</a>. But the 157 yards Dillon credited him with weren't any less meaningful. The back-up tailback more than made up for how well Socastee was playing against starter [player_tooltip player_id='346196' first='Jamarion' last='Fling'] early in the game. Felton had all but about 30 or so of his yards in before halftime. His 50-yard scoring run with less than two minutes to go in the opening quarter was a thing of beauty, and it helped get the Wildcats going.    Curtis Jackson DB, Marlboro County    While we often see player picks off passes in back-to-back games, it's almost unheard of to see them do it on back-to-back days. That's exactly what Jackson did against Cheraw. On Friday night, he had a pick-six. The game was then suspended near the end of the first quarter. When the teams lined back up on Saturday, Jackson then intercepted two more passes. On his reel, Saturday's double-up come first, while Friday's closes it out.    [player_tooltip player_id='1253894' first='Zoom' last='Jackson'] WR, Lamar   As Silver Foxes coach Stephen Burris said, “It was a good day to be a [player_tooltip player_id='1253894' first='Zoom' last='Jackson'] fantasy owner.” Jackson (pictured) caught three passes for 80 yards against Green Sea Floyds. Better yet, all three receptions went for touchdowns. He was nearly four-for-four, but a 22-yard would-be touchdown reception was called back due to a penalty. After the slow passing start in a season-opening loss, Lamar getting that part of its offense going will pay dividends later on in the year.   [player_tooltip player_id='1013054' first='Brandon' last='Cumbee'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1395098' first='AJ' last='Lee'] RB, Andrews   The Yellow Jackets' tandem had themselves such a good first half against Georgetown they were able to force a running clock after halftime. They did just fine in limited game time. Cumbee rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns on 10 carries, while also throwing a short touchdowns pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1013038' first='Khalil' last='Dorsey'] in the third quarter. Lee rushed for 154 yards and a score on 10 carries while also returning a kickoff 88 yards to set up one of Cumbee's scoring runs.    [player_tooltip player_id='922678' first='Wade' last='Poston'] QB, Hannah-Pamplico   Poston and [player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams'] (16 carries, 183 yards, touchdown) are firing on all cylinders again after both missing time last year with injuries. Poston was 14-of-20 passing for 124 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Waccamaw. He also used 19 carries to rush for another 117 yards and two scores. Poston and Williams each came up big in the second half to lead the Raiders to the 32-27 victory.     [player_tooltip player_id='1411101' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus'] QB, Darlington   One week after propelling the Falcons to a season-opening win over Class A Lamar, Augustus was even better in the win 27-21 win over Class 5A North Myrtle Beach. The 6-foot-3 junior competed 12-of-21 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. What's more, he continued to show he can hurt teams with his legs now. He ended the win against the Chiefs with 184 yards and a touchdown. It's the second straight game where he has exceeded his entire rushing total from all of last year.    [player_tooltip player_id='1422632' first='Makel' last='Stephens'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha'] RBs, Loris   In the blowout win over Conway, Stephens and Purcha each maximized their production while turning around and watching the other do the same. Stephens had 14 carries for 120 yards and a touchdowns. Purcha, with only nine carries, finished the night with 118 yards and two scores. The most promising sign between them was that all three touchdowns were from at least 18 yards out. That ability break off longer runs is exactly what the Lions will need in region play.     [player_tooltip player_id='1578873' first='Coleman' last='Radcliff'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1012620' first='Web' last='Barnes'] LBs, Hartsville   In the 27-27 tie against Carolina Forest (the game was halted due to lightning in the fourth quarter and the staffs elected not to resume Saturday), Hartsville had to like a lot of what it saw from Barnes' return to the field after missing all of 2023, as well as how he and Radcliff worked together. Radcliff, who finished last season with 130 tackles, had 13 stops against Carolina Forest. And Barnes, who last played as a sophomore - when he had 101 tackles - had 11 of his own.

The Grand Strand and Pee Dee was full of highlights in Week 1.