Lowcountry Week 5 Players To Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Weather again has caused multiple games across the Lowcountry to be rescheduled this week. We have games starting on Wednesday with some still scheduled for Friday and Saturday as well. Region play has started for some while others are having one final tune-up before region play begins next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at some of the players we expect to play big roles in some key matchups this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359137' first='Yasir' last='Smith']</strong> DE, Summerville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith had plenty of chances to attack the quarterback last week in the Green Wave victory over Chapin and he made the most of it. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, two pass breakups and five quarterback hurries. Not a bad night at the office. Now Smith and his defensive teammates must turn their attention to a Goose Creek team that likes to pound the football right at you. That will put added pressure on the likes of linebacker <strong>Eli Pressley</strong>, defensive lineman <strong>Nicholas Lincoln</strong> and defensive back <strong>Jadin Waring</strong> to step up and make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17687393/66f18acf4d3e1617f48d0814' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f3493871472"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402499' first='Kymani' last='Clary']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473027' first='Meliq' last='McGowan']</strong> RB, Goose Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators have had a week off and hope to build on the confidence they gained in a win over Beaufort. Clary is a dual-threat quarterback that can hurt teams with his legs or his arm. He's going to be instrumental going against a Summerville defense that has allowed its share of points this season. He also has a capable back to hand it off to in McGowan, a 6-foot, 190-pound bruiser. Summerville is allowing 29 points per game, and this could be one to get the Gators on track with region play looming.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis']</strong> QB, Stratford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis (pictured) has 618 passing yards and 239 rushing yards so far this season but only seven total touchdowns. He's going to need more help from the likes of running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253901' first='Kerwin' last='Squire']</strong> and wide receivers <strong>Freddie Alston</strong> and <strong>J'qwan Crosby</strong> in kick starting the offense. Stratford earned its only win of the season last time out and they certainly want to get things figure before opening region play at Berkeley next week.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>&nbsp;<strong>Galil Frazier</strong> QB, Colleton County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cougars have played two quarterbacks most of the season, but Frazier took the snaps the last time out on September 13. He threw for 98 yards and two touchdowns in that contest and will need to continue to develop as a passer. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1656653' first='Kenari' last='Koger']</strong> and <strong>Travarius Fraizer</strong> will need to get the running game going against a Stratford defense that has allowed some yards this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013024' first='Troy' last='Timko']</strong> RB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603740' first='Thaddeus' last='Czarnecki'] </strong>RB, Hilton Head</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Let's just say those two carried the load in an upset of Hampton County. Timko ran for 169 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries while Czarnecki added 120 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. It also helped that Czarnecki contributed 12 tackles on defense. If those two continue to run that way, the Seahawks might be better than many expected. QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski']</strong> ran and threw for a touchdown as well. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16156661/66eec8f9bf133c47ecf2ceb3' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f34938714ac"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664526' first='Malcolm' last='Gordon']</strong> LB, Bluffton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bobcats snapped a two-game losing streak last week and Gordon was a huge reason. The sophomore accounted for 19 tackles and a sack to give him a total of 28 tackles in three games. He's been a huge addition to the Bluffton attack at linebacker. Linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1574112' first='Kaleb' last='Gadson']</strong> has been the leader of the defense and has a team-best 48 tackles and with Gordon coming off an outstanding game, they will now try to slow the Hilton Head attack that ran for nearly 300 yards last week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jermon Bowers</strong> RB, Whale Branch</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bowers is the leading rusher for a Warriors team that relies on the run more than the pass. Bowers is also a threat in the secondary and had a game earlier this year in which he had two interceptions. &nbsp;<strong>Jayvion Harris </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='579278' first='Alonzo' last='Allen']</strong> each have shown flashes and Whale Branch is going to stop a two-game slide, they need those three to run the football successfully and keep the defense off the field. The next chance is against a Batter Creek that is coming off a loss as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ty'juan Simmons</strong> WR, Battery Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simmons is a threat in the slot and the Dolphins will get him a select number of carries per game as well. <strong>Derrick Smalls</strong> is another receiver that can make plays as he had two receiving touchdowns and a punt return score in a game earlier this season. <strong>Chase Olsen</strong> is the quarterback and if he can find his playmakers in space, Battery Creek can make plays.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wenson Smith</strong> RB, Ridgeland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith and his teammates will be in an odd position this week. Ridgeland plays on the road at Hardeeville and just a season ago, all those players were on the same team and finished with a 5-6 record. Smith has continued to shine with 451 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He's also added seven receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown to go along with seven tackles on defense</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Louis Gadson</strong> RB, Hardeeville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hurricanes have not won since the season-opener and have scored just three touchdowns in the last four games. But Gadson along with <strong>Camari Brown</strong> and <strong>Jamonte Roberts</strong> could change that if they are successful running the ball. Emotions should be high for the contest with Ridgeland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zachary Balog</strong> WR, Bishop England</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior receiver has been the Bishops best receiver this season with 178 yards and a touchdown on 15 catches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592310' first='Quinn' last='Mahoney']</strong> is having a solid season and is coming off a performance where he threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns in a loss to Porter-Gaud. Balog had six catches for 80 yards in that contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton']</strong> OL/DL and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360087' first='David' last='Wigfall']</strong> OL/DE, Cross</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans are strong up front, and Broughton and Wigfall help lead the way. They each have 23 tackles on defense with Broughton having three sacks and Wigfall adding one. Broughton has two fumble&nbsp;recoveries. On offense, they help lead the way for the likes of quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1604028' first='Tyler' last='Harris'], running back [player_tooltip player_id='1012859' first='Karmello' last='Jones'] and wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='473021' first='Caden' last='Ramsey'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb Smith</strong> RB/LB, <strong>Ashton Preast</strong> RB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360001' first='Khasean' last='Saldano']</strong> OL/DL, Branchville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets are undefeated thanks to the efforts of Smith in the backfield with Saldano leading the way upfront. Saldano is a load at 6-foot, 310 pounds and does a lot of good things on both sides of the ball. Smith typically starts and finishes their offense. Preast ran for 212 yards last week with Smith adding 111 yards. Branchville is averaging 36 points per game and allowing just 13 points per contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='463121' first='Austyn' last='Grady']</strong> QB, Northwood Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grady threw for 236 yards and two touchdowns last season but faces his toughest test to date with Hammond this coming week. Wide receiver <strong>Ayden Hogan</strong> and running back <strong>Keshon Singleton</strong> need to help with the offense against a Skyhawks defense that has been lights out for two consecutive weeks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16386856/66eb55f9916177b2c34f529b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66f34938714d9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615084' first='Tripp' last='Gallus']</strong> QB, Hanahan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hawks turned over the offense to Gallus, a freshman. He passed his first test by running for one score and throwing for another last week. He finished with 95 yards passing and added 39 yards rushing. He played calm and controlled in making his first start. He faces a strong Andrews team this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->