Top Players and Games to Watch Along the Coast in Week 9

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 9 in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee and Lowcountry zones has all the earmarks of being the one teams look back on in a month.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite an extended regular season and all the successes and learning experiences to this point, a few regions will see some movement right here and now. The coaches know it, and the players do, too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now, it's up to the latter to make it count.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the top games and players to watch along the coast this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>THIS WEEK'S TOP GAMES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CRESTWOOD (3-5, 1-3) AT DARLINGTON (4-4, 2-2)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Falcons haven't won more than four games since 2015 and earlier this year showed that with quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1411101' first='Jaylen' last='Augustus']</strong> and tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592270' first='Troy' last='Hailey']</strong> that it had enough in the tank to eclipse that. While we all way to see if Augustus (injured two games ago) returns this week, the Knights have their own designs of moving up the region standings behind powerhouses South Florence and Hartsville. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394990' first='Ladamien' last='Belton']</strong> (494 rushing yards, six touchdowns) and receivers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1291891' first='Jeremie' last='Richardson']</strong> (278 yards, four touchdowns) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467823' first='Jayden' last='Martin']</strong> (259 yards, two touchdowns) could throw a big ol' wrench in the Falcons' plans.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HAMPTON COUNTY (6-2, 2-1) AT WHALE BRANCH (4-3, 2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Hurricanes' loss to Barnwell last week makes a region title a massive improbability. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary']</strong> was held to 51 rushing yards on 11 carries and along with his teammates looked out so sorts thanks to the War Horses' defensive efforts. He needs to rebound quickly, because Whale Branch has yet to lose a region game itself. Quarterback <strong>Jermon Bowers</strong> has been taking advantage of a big offensive line and putting up consistent yards (125 or so per game).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>CAROLINA FOREST (3-3-1, 2-0) AT MYRTLE BEACH (4-3, 2-0)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those 232 yards Carolina Forest quarterbacks <strong>Patrick Mullen</strong> and <strong>Kam Long</strong> threw for two weeks ago against St. James? Yeah, don't expect to see that Friday at Myrtle Beach. The heart and soul of the Panthers' offense is again its running game. Junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox']</strong> 893 yards, nine touchdowns) and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1149046' first='Chris' last='Livingston']</strong> (253 yards, eight touchdowns) are there to move the ball and keep opposing offenses off the field. In what amounts to the Region VI-5A title game, Myrtle Beach might also take the same approach. The Seahawks have rushed for five touchdowns in each of the last two games relying on <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394751' first='Michael' last='Cohen']</strong> (589, four) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267229' first='Antonio' last='Brown']</strong> (252, 11) to help take some the pressure off <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe']</strong> at quarterback.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>LORIS (7-1, 3-0) AT MARLBORO COUNTY (6-1, 2-1)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marlboro took one on the chin last week against Dillon, not only losing 35-12 but also dropping what appears to be at least one starter in the process. Still, all is not lost for the Bulldogs. Quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='370006' first='Nydarion' last='Blackwell']</strong> has receivers <strong>Donovan Pauling-Outlaw</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1271463' first='Justin' last='Purvis']</strong> to throw to and future Power 4 safety <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1159887' first='Jakarrion' last='Kenan']</strong> (pictured) and defensive end [player_tooltip player_id='823896' first='Josiah' last='Dwyer'] (a pair of North-South selections) are still there, too. Loris, though, hasn't stayed atop the region for nothing. The only thing holding back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422632' first='Makel' last='Stephens']</strong> (607 yards, 12 touchdowns) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha']</strong> (473 yards, seven touchdowns) or quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] (1,167 yards, 14 touchdowns) from more production has been some heavily lopsided scores in six of their eight games. Any type of win - or a potential advantage in a three-way tie-breaker between these two teams and Dillon should Marlboro win - gives Loris the top overall seed in the Class 3A Lower State playoffs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PLAYERS TO WATCH&nbsp;</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams']</strong> RB, Hannah-Pamplico | With an all-important game against Latta likely to determine second place in Region VI-A, the Raiders will need Williams to move the chains and get into he end zone. He's done both this year, showing that he can break tackles in the back field and flash some acceleration to get past defenders.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon']</strong> LB, South Florence | The Bruins can attribute much of their recent roll to a collective defensive effort. They've allowed just 10.6 points per game during this five-game winning streak. Gordon has been instrumental in that. He's got 60 tackles, eight tackles for loss and three sacks this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1181027' first='Jaiden' last='Deweese']</strong> WR, Ashley Ridge | Just when we thought the Swamp Foxes were going to start spreading it around more, they've leaned into their hot hands. And those belong to Deweese. Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='402509' first='Trevor' last='Kalisz'] has thrown for 300-plus in two of his last three games. In both of those instances, Deweese finished north of 150 yards. His five-touchdown effort last week in the loss to Summerville (plus a return touchdown) gives us a glimpse back into 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578797' first='Tristen' last='Simmons']</strong> LB/RB, Hilton Head | Simmons has been a multi-faceted, blue-collar work horse for the Seahawks, and they'll need him to be again this week. Hilton Head finds itself smack dab in the middle of a tight region race. Simmons defense (he leads the team in tackles) and toughness in both carrying the ball and blocking for backfield mate [player_tooltip player_id='1013024' first='Troy' last='Timko'] could be the difference Friday.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165148' first='Jachin' last='Davis']</strong> QB, Stratford | The Knights junior will be looking for a strong bounce-back game after a bit of bad luck cost him and the rest of the team in a loss to Cane Bay last week. Davis - after throwing just one pick in his first seven games of the year - was intercepted three times, including two off tipped passes. That's not who he's been during his career, and he'll be looking to show that against Wando.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->