What We Saw: Carolina Forest 49, North Myrtle Beach 24

Ian Guerin November 8, 2024 @ 10:00 PM

MYRTLE BEACH | Carolina Forest decided the home run ball was pretty fantastic after [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] hit one early.   [player_tooltip player_id='1149046' first='Chris' last='Livingston'] decided to hit one of his own, and then Patrick Mullen delivered one.   For good measure, Fox, the Panthers' starting tailback, added a fourth in the third quarter to put what was supposed to be the de facto Region VI-5A championship game out of reach.    Carolina Forest ran all over North Myrtle Beach, using those four long touchdown runs to spur a 49-24 win to close out the regular season.    “We just look back at our successes from past week and focus on what works and try to fix what doesn't work, improve what we can do,” Fox (pictured) said after another huge night just two weeks removed from his 357-yard outing against Myrtle Beach. “On the ground is our specialty, it's what's working.”   The junior pointed out left guard Tyler Dean, right tackle [player_tooltip player_id='1253897' first='Christian' last='Huynh'] and left tackle Johathan Buffon as having an exceptional night - one that led Fox to his 209 yards and three scores rushing against the Chiefs. But it wasn't just Fox, either.   The Panthers finished the game with 518 rushing yards. On top of Fox, Livingston had 109 yards and two scores on just six carries. Mullen finished with 85 yards and his touchdown on only four carries.   Third-string tailback Javier Higgins added 42 yards on five carries and lightly used back-up receiver Joao Ricci tacked on a 37-yard touchdown run on an end around longer after the game was in hand.    Simply, this was Carolina Forest doing what Carolina Forest has done since Marc Morris took the job in 2014: Overpower and wear down opponents with its running attack.   Now, the Panthers will see how it stacks up against the Class 5A, Division I Lower State playoff field. They should be in line for a first-round bye next week before opening at home in the second round.   That and more will all be finalized Saturday morning.    Until then, there's no secret what Carolina Forest will continue to try to do. And that's run the football as far as it will carry yet another region championship team.    “Once Saturday hits, it's a brand new week,” Fox said. “And we try to move on.”   OTHER PANTHERS' STANDOUTS   Patrick Mullen QB | While Mullen's legs were his biggest influence, it's also important to note that he competed a pair of first-half passes that both equated to first downs. The first was on the second play of the night when he hit Hayden Soles on a 10-yard route. The second was on a simple screen to Fox, who took it 27 yards for another first down. Carolina Forest eventually scored on both possessions.    Joseph Dial LB, Brody Bailey DB and [player_tooltip player_id='1149045' first='Charles' last='McCray'] DB | While North Myrtle Beach was able to move the ball steadily during the game, Dial and McCray took turns laying out some big hits that altered multiple Chiefs drives. Several of those were behind the line of scrimmage, including one from Bailey in which North Myrtle Beach had the ball inside the Panthers' 10-yard line but eventually missed a field goal.    NORTH MYRTLE BEACH STANDOUTS    [player_tooltip player_id='985097' first='Landon' last='Cloninger'] QB | The Chiefs senior was seven-of-17 passing for 130 yards. However, he was also as effective with his legs as he's been in any game this season. Cloninger had 13 carries for 89 yards and a late touchdown.    [player_tooltip player_id='929482' first='Kaden' last='Gore'] WR | Maybe the biggest news of the night was the Gore was on the field for all of one play before getting injured on the opening kickoff. Official word was that he was going to be evaluated further over the weekend. If he's not able to return that would be a big blow for the Chiefs in the playoffs. Gore leads the team in both receiving yards (527) and touchdowns (four).

MYRTLE BEACH | Carolina Forest decided the home run ball was pretty fantastic after Jaryn Fox Jaryn Fox 5'10" | 180 lbs | RB Carolina Forest | 2026 State SC hit one early.