Week 2 CSRA Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A couple of themes have developed two weeks into the football season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Players to Watch list will either include emerging new talent or those who continue to justify their recognition. Week Two offers such a selection among the CSRA teams in action:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='766728' first='Drelyn' last='Brown']</strong> RB, Silver Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore has done his part for the 0-2 Bulldogs. He has rushed for 236 yards and three touchdowns in the first two games against South Aiken and Strom Thurmond. It does not get any easier for Brown and South Aiken as they play host to Hampton County this Friday. The Hurricanes are coming off a 33-0 shutout of Allendale-Fairfax and present challenges upfront with tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820423' first='Braydon' last='Blake']</strong> and 6-foot, 320-pound nose guard <strong>Tyjae Wright</strong>, middle linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823002' first='Malik' last='Terry']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820420' first='Jazmir' last='Goines']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher']</strong> and outside linebackers <strong>Donyae Russell</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809743' first='Mandrell' last='Sanders']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19484537/66d2c2f3fd75bc37bd6d2d1d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d7d972c502e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464885' first='Chanston' last='Crosby']</strong> Bamberg-Ehrhardt and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272720' first='Cameron' last='Austin']</strong> Barnwell, QBs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mac Weir Stadium will feature a Top 10 matchup featuring a pair of high-profile senior quarterbacks. Both Crosby, who's committed to North Carolina Central, and Austin, who plans to play baseball for the University of South Carolina, are dual threats. Crosby has thrown for four touchdowns and rushed for two in the Red Raiders' first two games operating in the new NASCAR high-tempo offense. The numbers have been reversed for Austin (pictured) in the two wins over county rivals [player_tooltip player_id='1856798' first='[player_tooltip player_id='1856799' first='Blackville-Hilda' last='']' last=''] and Barnwell. The key on both sides will be limiting turnovers against defenses which have each allowed just one touchdown. Bamberg-Ehrhardt is experienced upfront with <strong>Tristian Jenkins</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157986' first='Javaris' last='Logan']</strong> upfront, <strong>Robert Jamison</strong> at linebacker and two-way player <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816740' first='Marcus' last='Cann']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820479' first='Jaden' last='Milhouse']</strong> and <strong>Jalen Willis</strong> in the secondary. Linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254065' first='Lex' last='Thomas']</strong> and <strong>Logan Sturkie</strong> have led the Warhorses in tackles and defensive backs <strong>Jordan Peeples</strong> and <strong>Demajahi Devoe</strong> are active in the secondary.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16344401/66d32ac6ab2437bf1baedcb9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d7d972c505e"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1214944' first='Davion' last='McKinnis'],&nbsp;<u>[player_tooltip player_id='1254097' first='Deondre' last='Baskett'],</u>&nbsp;and [player_tooltip player_id='1536398' first='Simeon' last='Jones']</strong> DL, all of North Augusta</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The proverbial “Irresistible Force meets the Immovable Object” applies here in this Region 4-4A opener. For the Yellow Jacket trio, the task is simple – trying to slow down running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272702' first='Jevon' last='Edwards']</strong>. After opening the season with 303 yards and four touchdowns against Silver Bluff, Edwards was “limited” to 154 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Lakeside (Ga.). The senior runs behind an experienced offensive line in <strong>Santos Whitt</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Caden Eichelberger</strong>,&nbsp;<strong>Sebastian Galo</strong>,&nbsp;<strong><u>[player_tooltip player_id='1394751' first='Michael' last='Cohen'],</u>&nbsp;</strong>and&nbsp;<strong>Elijah Phillips</strong>. The Yellow Jackets had a similar task last week against a similar Lexington team and managed to hold their own in the 20-19 loss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16726500/66d3b68cbd4ec8f734e5367b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66d7d972c5080"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Joc'Quise Washington</strong> and <strong>Markel Brown</strong> RBs, both of Williston-Elko</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Devils look to rebound from last week's shutout loss to Barnwell. It was the senior backfield duo's production (164 rushing yards, three touchdowns) which propelled Williston-Elko to a season-opening win over Pelion. They face a Calhoun Falls Charter team which allowed 191 rushing yards in Week 0 to Greenwood Christian and held American Leadership Academy to just one touchdown in a 38-8 victory in Week 1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272712' first='Preston' last='McNair']</strong> RB, Midland Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having to follow Class 3A All-State running back <strong>Traevon Dunbar</strong> has not been easy for the senior. He rushed for 55 yards last week in the loss to Blythewood. Midland Valley returns home to face an undefeated Lexington team which needed a fourth down stand to stop North Augusta's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Michael' last='Doe']</strong> from scoring his fourth and the game-winning touchdown. The Wildcats present an aggressive defensive line with [player_tooltip player_id='1249786' first='Artem' last='Kalinkin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1676328' first='Isaiah' last='Saxon'] and speedy, hard-hitting linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='836316' first='Matthew' last='McAulay']</strong>, <strong>Ethan VanHouton</strong> and <strong>Nathan Escoe</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->