Midlands Week 1 Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 1 of the regular season once again saw some outstanding performances from both offensive and defensive stars. Here is a look at over 30 names that caught the attention of us here at PRZ to award game balls or being named in the recap.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand']</strong> QB, Irmo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brand (pictured) accounted for all five Yellow Jacket touchdowns in a 35-27 victory over Byrnes. Brand was 22-of-29 for 305 yards and four touchdowns. He added 92 yards rushing and another touchdown on the ground. Two of Brand's top targets went over 100 yards receiving with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='377560' first='Donovan' last='Murph'] </strong>catching 11 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller']</strong> added seven catches for 115 yards and two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Malachi Butler</strong> RB, Columbia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Capitals moved to 2-0 on the season with a 35-22 win over Pelion and Butler accounted for three touchdowns. He had two touchdown runs and added a punt return for a score. Columbia jumped on top early and cruised. They only won three games last season, but Butler has given them a dynamic playmaker that will keep them in games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> RB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gamecocks rallied from a 33-13 deficit for a 43-40 double overtime win in a battle between a couple of top 10 Class 5A teams. Richardson (137 yards on 13 carries) and Peeples (134 yards on 25 attempts) accounted for four rushing touchdowns and Richardson threw a TD pass to <strong>A'Kye Workman</strong>. Richardson had three on the night. That comeback set the stage for <strong>Alex Krivejko</strong> to kick a 32-yard field in overtime for the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='595702' first='Anthony' last='Addison']</strong> DE and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1359132' first='Jeremiah' last='Burson'] </strong>LB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumter doesn't have a chance for overtime victory if not for the efforts of Addison and his defensive teammates. They shut out the Timberwolves in the second half after allowing 33 first half points. Addison led the way with 14 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. Burson added 10 tackles and an interception in the second overtime to set the stage for the 32-yard field goal from Krivejko.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16568290/66d2b8cfc75e51314d2816d8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4da594c3fe"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gavin Kovac</strong> K, Lexington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kovac proved to be a big difference in the Wildcats 20-19 victory over North Augusta. He kicked two field goals and was true on two extra point attempts to help Lexington escape with the victory. His two field goals came from 33 and 21 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong> QB, <strong>Dillon Hughy</strong> WR and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='591391' first='Blake' last='Betette']</strong> WR, Richland Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This trio ended up being too much for Crestwood to handle in a 36-32 come-from-behind victory. Wilson officially threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns while adding 153 yards rushing and two other scores. He connected with Dillon (7 catches, 226 yards) on touchdowns of 79 and 21 yards and threw a 9-yarder to Betette (5 receptions, 103 yards) for the game-winner with 20 seconds remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575400' first='Wyatt' last='Thompson']</strong> QB, Camden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs rebounded from a season-opening loss for a 31-13 victory over rival Lugoff-Elgin. Camden committed six turnovers, but Thompson did enough. He threw for 50 yards and was the leading rusher with 70 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner']</strong> QB, Hammond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Turner came up big again this week with 315 yards passing and five touchdowns in the Skyhawks 48-14 victory over Pinewood Prep. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267282' first='Daylin' last='Haltiwanger']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157738' first='Mike' last='Tyler']</strong> each caught two of the scoring passes. Tyler finished with five catches for 129 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Johnny Collins</strong> QB, Blythewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals improved to 2-0 and Collins has been in a groove to start a season. In a 34-7 victory over Midland Valley, he threw for three touchdowns and 302 yards. Two of the scoring passes went to <strong>Ben Hendrix</strong> with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong> adding another TD catch. If Collins can continue his stellar play, Blythewood has a defense that will keep them in most games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Colione Martin</strong> RB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272715' first='Brady' last='Albro']</strong> QB, Chapin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chapin is one of the highest scoring teams in the state after two weeks, averaging 54.5 points per game. Martin was key in a 62-21 victory over AC Flora on Friday. He ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries and added seven receptions for another 97 yards. Albro broke school records for career passing yards and touchdowns after throwing for 369 yards and two touchdowns in the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier']</strong> WR, Fairfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have Grier listed as a wide receiver but he's also seeing time at running back this season. In a 52-6 win over Union County, he accounted for four touchdowns, giving him six on the season. With the transfer of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473002' first='Cameron' last='McMillon']</strong> in the offseason, Grier is going to have to be a vocal point of the offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16899269/66d32c69a44e6223a74367a7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4da594c436"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks'] </strong>ATH, Ben Lippen</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crooks has done a little bit of everything for the Falcons this season. He has seven catches and a rushing touchdown on offense with three interceptions on defense, including two of those being returned for touchdowns. In a 20-0 win over Trinity Collegiate, he had an interception return for a score and added a rushing touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chase Alley</strong> DB, Swansea</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers improved to 2-0 thanks to a solid defensive effort in a 38-6 victory over Denmark-Olar. Alley recorded an interception and scooped up a blocked field goal and returned it for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sergio Samuel </strong>LB, Lower Richland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lower Richland rebounded from its season-opening loss thanks in part to the play of Samuel. He recorded four sacks to go along with eight tackles and he returned a fumble 40 yards for a touchdown. That assisted the efforts of <strong>Chad Wilson</strong> (70-yard kickoff return TD) and <strong>Christian Wilson</strong> (three touchdowns).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong> RB, Batesburg-Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wooden scored three touchdowns and added 190 yards rushing to lead the Panthers to a season-opening win over Ridge-Spring Monetta. Wooden will be a key offensive component when Batesburg-Leesville moves into a rough Region 2-2A region schedule that includes Saluda and Strom Thurmond.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17915869/66d3105bfd21aa0a5c76370e' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d4da594c459"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> QB, Saluda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams threw for 126 yards and two touchdowns and added 60 yards rushing and another score in a 42-0 win over Ridge-Spring Monetta. He opened the scoring with a 2-yard run and later added a 13-yard touchdown pass to <strong>Victavis Gaines</strong> and an 18-yarder to <strong>Josh Uhlar.</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> WB, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murray was efficient in the Gators 41-21 win over Brookland-Cayce. He was 15-of-17 for 175 yards and a 39-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1360145' first='Aaron' last='Griffin']. River Bluff has scored 89 points in two games with Murray being the trigger man and the running of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592250' first='Hayden' last='Myers'] </strong>being the catalyst. Myers had 130 yards and touchdowns of 1 and 24 yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->