Week 8 Midlands Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the games become more important, players are stepping up to finish the regular season strong.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 8 was filled with plenty of superlative performances fitting of earning Game Balls:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> and <strong>Daniel Williams</strong> LBs and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1254033' first='Derek' last='Smith']</strong> DB, all of Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Silver Foxes' defense continued their dominance in a 42-0 win over Lexington. It was their fifth shutout of the year and 25^th dating back to 2016. The linebacking duo and senior cornerback each accounted for six tackles and combined for three of the team's six sacks.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16201606/670a7e467735344ee00f37e7' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e812f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> QB, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Clemson University baseball commit (pictured) continues to hit the mark for the Silver Foxes. He completed 19-28 passes for 308 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller']</strong> RB, Irmo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore has emerged as another playmaker for the Yellow Jackets' offense. He rushed for two touchdowns and had a kickoff return for a score in finishing with 265 total yards in the 35-21 win over White Knoll.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360203' first='Desmond' last='Washington']</strong> QB, Keenan</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior quarterback drew closer to reaching 2,000 yards on the season. He threw for 250 yards and three touchdowns in the 44-14 win over Fox Creek.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/20130200/6714f21f1b4193b984160fa9' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e815c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cooper James</strong> QB, Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first-year starter proved clutch in the fourth quarter of the 50-49 comeback win over Brookland-Cayce. He completed 13-17 passes for 236 yards and a career-high six touchdowns. This included the game-winning 17-yard touchdown pass to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson']</strong> and 2-point conversion to<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1249788' first='Connor' last='Gooding']</strong> with 49 seconds left to win the game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012653' first='Jaylen' last='Jay']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson']</strong> RBs, both of Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians' backfield combined for 252 yards and three touchdowns, all by Williamson, against Brookland-Cayce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Drevon' last='Dopson']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1537086' first='Tyree' last='Johnson']</strong> WR, Brookland-Cayce</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior transfer continues to establish himself as the offensive leader of Brookland-Cayce. He completed 14-16 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns. He also accounted for three rushing touchdowns to match Gilbert quarterback Cooper James' scoring total. His main target was Johnson, who had seven receptions for 198 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21891556/670df44437226bdf3adf5828' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e817c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> QB, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior made his return from injury and threw for 114 yards and a touchdown in the 30-6 win over Chapin.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603902' first='Angelo' last='Rios']</strong> RB, Westwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 5-foot-5 sophomore kept the Redhawks in the game against Lugoff-Elgin. He rushed for 228 yards and two touchdowns in the 30-24 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22430188/670ca2a6db34049bfa3422b5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e8198"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Angel Garcia</strong> RB, Batesburg-Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior tailback rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown in the 45-0 win over American Leadership Academy.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> RB, Saluda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior tailback was a one-man offensive show for the Tigers. He rushed for 151 yards and three touchdowns and caught a touchdown in the 33-7 win over Ninety-Six.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592013' first='Akiem' last='Mills']</strong> LB, Saluda </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior middle linebacker tallied 12 tackles in the win over Ninety-Six. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> QB, Ridge View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers have not missed a beat without All-State wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron']. A big reason is the improved play of their sophomore quarterback. He threw for 109 yards and a touchdown and ran for another 87 yards and a score in the 41-16 road win over West Florence.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Spencer Bobian </strong>RB, Ridge View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore tailback had a career-best 205 rushing yards and a touchdown in the big region win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd']</strong> WR both of AC Flora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior quarterback threw five touchdown passes as the Falcons posted a season-high in points in a 70-35 win over Dreher. Byrd caught three of Wentzky's touchdown passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18256736/670fff12b80c2c1af7baee41' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e81b8"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575390' first='Willie' last='Smith']</strong> RB, Dreher</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Devil senior scored all three touchdowns for his team in the loss to AC Flora.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16690474/670d84bcf86204af951b0b3f' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e81d5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1418100' first='John' last='Henry Collins']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='473013' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong> WR, both of Blythewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior tandem connected on two touchdowns for the Bengals in the loss to undefeated Sumter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19559131/6714a38a0f7caf7de9b975ee' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e81f4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Wilson</strong> RB, Lower Richland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior “Freight Train” rushed for three touchdowns in the 53-6 rout of Lakewood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232668' first='Tyler' last='Waller']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158010' first='Zion' last='Job'] </strong>WR, both of Gray Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior War Eagle completed 10-11 passes for 185 yards and three touchdowns, two to Job, in the 63-13 win over South Aiken. It was the second straight win of 50 points by Gray Collegiate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012718' first='TyDarion' last='Grier']</strong> RB, Fairfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Shrine Bowl senior rushed for three touchdowns in the 62-3 win over Eau Claire.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16899269/670d4216864ff0418c40d2fa' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e8210"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> RB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior tailback accounted for five touchdowns, four rushing, one receiving, in the 49-30 win over Blythewood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16585180/6714ed17993016704a7ab859' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671564a4e822b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603974' first='Franklin' last='Richardson'] </strong>QB, and<strong> Jayden Kennedy </strong>RB, Sumter </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore was 7-10 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Blythewood. Kennedy had three receptions for 131 yards, including this 76-yard touchdown reception running out of the backfield. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19708165/6714f1b3993016704a7aed81' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671656466a7b7"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Anthony Addison</strong> DE, Sumter </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior defensive end and University of South Carolina commit led his current Gamecock team defense with 10 tackles and two sacks. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16568290/67134241c877cee2798a7776' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-671656466a7e4"} /-->