Midlands Week 7 Game Balls

When you glance at the list of Game Ball recipients from the Midlands for Week 7, you will see a lot of familiar names as the stars are starting to move to the forefront with region play starting. But you also will see some names that you need to get to know quickly. Those players are quickly emerging as key players as we head into the final month of the regular season.   Here are our selections for Week 7 Game Ball honorees from the Midlands.   Antoinio Adams WR, Lower Richland   Adams was the main receiving threat as the Diamonds hung on for a 23-20 victory over Wilson. Adams caught four of the nine completed passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. He seems to have a good connection with QB Aden Jones and that will be key down the stretch.    Drew Arant QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1592013' first='Akiem' last='Mills'] LB, Saluda   Arant returned from injury and was 6-og-9 for 177 yards passing and a 6-yard TD pass to Jah Foulks. Arant adds a different dynamic to the Tigers attack and could be used along with [player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams'] to form a nice 1-2 punch down the stretch. Arant will hurt you more throwing the ball and Williams has 291 yards rushing and 415 yards passing in filling in for Arant. Mills helped Saluda record the shutout with five tackles and three tackles for loss.   [player_tooltip player_id='272713' first='AJ' last='Brand'] QB, Irmo   In a battle of unbeatens. Brand showed why he was selected as one of the Shrine Bowl quarterbacks. The senior Virginia Tech commitment ran for 178 yards on 17 carries and finished 9-of-15 passing for 81 yards to help keep the Yellow Jackets perfect with the 35-14 victory. Brand scored on runs of 21, 10 and 20 yards. That gives him 615 yards on the ground and none rushing TD's.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360013' first='Sam' last='Burks'] RB, Northside Christian   The Crusaders have won four in a row and Burks is back after missing a couple of games. He ran for 150 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. BJ Suits added two rushing touchdowns as well. If Burks is healthy and can team with [player_tooltip player_id='1399629' first='JR' last='Kinard'] and Suits down the stretch, Northside Christian could be a factor come playoff time.   [player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd'] WR, AC Flora   The junior standout had 158 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a 44-7 victory over Richland Northeast. He was the favorite target of [player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky'], who threw for 271 yards and four touchdowns. Byrd and Wentzky will be key to the Falcons offensive success down the stretch.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267234' first='Kenton' last='Caldwell'] QB, Newberry   Caldwell had a total of three touchdowns – two passing and a rushing score – in a 47-0 victory over Fox Creek. The Bulldogs have been good all season on offense and the defense is starting to come around. If Caldwell continues his stellar play, Newberry could be in contention for a region title.    Brennan Carter QB, Lexington   The Wildcats rallied from a second-half deficit for a 33-32 win over Chapin when Carter connected with Nigel Lewis on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 43 seconds remaining. He finished 12-of-21 for 185 yards and two touchdowns and added 54 yards rushing on three attempts. He made big throws in the fourth quarter when Lexington overcame a 23-13 deficit.   [player_tooltip player_id='1574124' first='Jamerius' last='Clark'] ATH, Batesburg-Leesville   Caught 3 passes for 90 yards and two scores, returned a punt for a TD and had an interception in a 42-14 win over Ninety-Six. Clark had the first two touchdowns – a 29-yard pass from Tanner Watkins and then a 40-yard punt in the second quarter. Clark later added a 43-yard TD reception from Watkins. He later added one of the three Panther interceptions.   Josh Cobbs LB, Ben Lippen   Cobbs finished with 16 total tackles, three tackles for loss and .5 sacks as the Falcons defense dominated in a 10-6 win over Heathwood Hall. Ben Lippen finished with 15 tackles for loss with Austin Huff leading the way with five tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Kellen George also added 11 hurries as the Falcons harassed the Highlanders passing attack all night.     [player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier'] RB, Fairfield Central   Grier was at his best late, but the senior Shrine Bowl selection was pretty good the entire night in a 22-6 victory over Chester. He scored three touchdowns, two on runs of 64 and 26 yards, and finished with over 260 yards rushing. This comes on the heels over rushing over 300 yards the previous week.   [player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard'] QB and Darryl Spencer LB, Ridge View   Howard is making his second straight appearance on this list in leading the Blazers to their third straight win. He threw for four touchdowns and was 14-of-18 for 280 yards. Howard added 35 yards rushing as well. Spencer led a spirited defensive effort with five total tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks in the 50-0 win over Lugoff-Elgin.   Cooper James QB, Gilbert   James helped the Indians pick up a 35-28 victory over Midland Valley with 14 fourth quarter points for the comeback victory. James connected with Chandler Guthrie on a 31-yard TD pass for the game-winner in the fourth quarter. He completed 13-of-20 for 253 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw a 90-yard TD pass to Conner Gooding and a 21-yarder to Tyzai Smith.   Quentin McGill RB, Westwood   The Redhawks improved to 4-3 on the season with a 26-0 win over Spring Valley. McGill had 134 all-purpose yards and scored two touchdowns to complement a defense that picked off three passes. [player_tooltip player_id='1603902' first='Angelo' last='Rios'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1312448' first='Jovan' last='Howard'] also added scoring runs.     [player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith'] LB and [player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing'] QB, Dutch Fork   I'm not sure what else we can say about this Silver Foxes defense. They recorded their fourth shutout of the season in a 38-0 win over White Knoll. Smith finished with 10 total tackles, a sack, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup. The defense limited the Timberwolves to 210 total yards and added a 55-yard pick-6 from [player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions']. Offing was steady in guiding the offense. The junior finished 15-of-20 for 202 yards and 45-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson']. Offing also scored a touchdown when he recovered a loose ball in the end zone.   [player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington'] QB, Keenan   Washington accounted for seven touchdowns in the Raiders 44-15 victory over Silver Bluff. He finished 16-of-21 for 360 yards and five scores while adding 48 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Washington connected with four different receivers on scoring tosses with Nykeim Hunter being the leading receiver with four catches for 150 yards and two TD's.

When you glance at the list of Game Ball recipients from the Midlands for Week 7, you will see a lot of familiar names as the stars are starting to move to the forefront with region play starting. But you also will see some names that you need to get to know quickly. Those players are quickly emerging as key players as we head into the final month of the regular season.