Five Biggest Unsung Players in the GSPD

The progression of our look at the Grand Strand & Pee Dee started with our <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/gspds-best-zones-top-10-players/">Top 10 players for the zone</a>.   Then, it was time to address some of the <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/07/gspds-15-biggest-player-storylines/">bigger individual storylines</a>.   Now, we wrap up our collective look at the Lowcountry with the third leg of our series.   The unsung players. The glue guys. The dudes who propel away from the headlines.    Each of these five players can be called a driving force for their respective squads. They are good ball players, of course, and we believe each of them will be years to come. But what they bring to the table in terms of leadership – both physical and verbally – changes the entire dynamic of their teams.   When we looked at every team in the zone, we kept coming back to these five: A third-year starting quarterback and four of the most diverse player roles you're going to see along the northeastern corridor of the state.   What these five players bring to their respective squads can't be overlooked. Each of them is a driving force.   [player_tooltip player_id='1592198' first='Jontavious' last='Canty'] ATH, Manning   During the Monarchs' run to the Class 2A Lower State title game last fall, Canty was everywhere. The middle linebacker version of him racked up 97 total tackles to go along with 15 tackles for loss, a pair of sacks, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and a defensive touchdowns. He blocked three kicks. At tailback, Canty ran for 769 yards and nine touchdowns. He handled the bulk of the Monarchs' punting responsibilities. He caught three passes, one of which went for a touchdown while one of the other two made good on a two-point conversion.   So, how has he not become a bigger household name?    For starters, Canty was on a squad full of two-way players. Second, he's not the type of player to constantly sound his own alarm. He is - easily, we might add - one of the most productive returning players in all of Class 2A football this fall. And Manning knows this.    Manning coach Reggie Kennedy: “He's our heart and soul right now. He's our starting tailback, he's our leading tackler on defense. He's our punter. He just sets the pace, the heartbeat for our football team on and off the field. He's a leader in the locker room. He's a leader in the classroom. He comes early, he stays late. He's just one of those kinds of kids. He's a quiet kid. I talked to him about that in the offseason to be more vocal. Kids just look up to him with what he does on and off the field.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1145762' first='Hayes' last='Cochrane'] LB/H-Back/LS, St. James   We all knew when the SCHSL passed its newest transfer policy that some lower-end programs around the state were going to struggle to hold on to some of their best players. And after an 0-10 finish in 2024 (and only three wins in 2023), the Sharks were certainly on alert for just that.   Yet, when we look at the roster, the attrition issues were almost entirely based upon graduations, not transfers. We believe that had a lot to do with Cochrane. He is walking proof that opportunities he's gotten might not play out so well elsewhere. He's started games in at least five different positions, more if you look at them on a micro level.   More importantly, other St. James athletes have followed his lead by staying put, trying to replicate what he's done. Which, by the way, includes leading this team in tackles last fall by a wide margin.   St. James coach Tommy Norwood: “Hayes has played center, defensive end and linebacker, along with being a long snapper. He has been willing to do anything we ask of him. Hayes, as you can see, is very versatile. This season, he will also play some H-back/tight end. You won't find many high school players that versatile and willing to do all of that for the team.”   [player_tooltip player_id='473025' first='Andre' last='Grate'] ATH, Waccamaw   In Pawleys Island, the Grate name is not going to be soon forgotten. While Andre (pictured) and twin brother AJ have stood out in other sports over the years, what they've done on the football filed is next level for a program that hasn't had a ton of sustained leaders over the years.   While we've already used part of this series to illuminate even more folks on AJ, Andre's leadership qualities, primarily as the team's quarterback, are part of what has made coach Amondre Johnson's seemingly (at times) impossible task feel a little more doable. After playing a much more diverse role as a freshman and sophomore, he took over the QB job as a junior and hasn't given Johnson any reason to change direction.   Grate is capable of running the Warriors' ground attack while occasionally airing out a few passes. And while he hasn't been asked to play a ton of defense to this point, it sounds as if that's about to change.   Waccamaw coach Amondre Johnson: “Going into year four as a starter, Andre has been the heartbeat of the team. Not only is he a tremendous athlete, he also is an outstanding leader. Never misses a day in the weight room, always at 100% effort, a pillar in the community and a 4.0 student. He is everything every high school coach wants out of a player. On the field he is the general. He knows where everyone is supposed to be at all times. He makes everyone around him better as he constantly is teaching, mentoring and pushing those around him.”   [player_tooltip player_id='473018' first='Landon' last='Conner'] DL/LB, Loris   When Conner hit a 600-pound squat not all that long ago, nobody on the Lions coaching staff or roster was all that surprised by it. Frankly, Conner has been so good for so long that his ability to surprise his Loris brethren has started to come with a steep asking price.   It doesn't matter that he's hovering around 5-foot-10 and 225 pounds; he rushes the passer from the edge like he's much taller. He takes on offensive tackles like he's much bigger. And he plays a variety of spots on the field without question.   Need an example? After years of defensive and special teams responsibilities, he's going to add offensive guard to the mix as a senior. Because, why not? Conner has an innate ability to pick up more and more as time moves on, and Loris is better because of it.    Loris coach Greg Mance: “[player_tooltip player_id='473018' first='Landon' last='Conner'] is one of the best football players I have coached over the past 28 years. He is one of the strongest and most explosive players on our team. He is quick off the ball and has a nasty, old-school attitude. Landon has been a four-year starter and already recorded over 200 tackles in his career. He has a 3.7 GPA  and loves football. He is a standout on special teams as the deep snapper on punts and extra points. He is the best football player on our team and we have four players with multiple offers.”   [player_tooltip player_id='1592515' first='Ka'Nazzion' last='Bethea'] QB, Mullins    Stats are fun. Wins are better. And Bethea is a perfect example. After all, as a sophomore, he threw for 1,476 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for another 297 yards. As a junior, he threw for slightly less (1,284 yards, 15 touchdowns) while boosting his ground impact by nearly 200 yards.    Sophomore year? The Auctioneers were 0-10. In 2024? Mullins finished 7-4.   It hardly even mattered that the team lost four of its last five games. The Aucs had clearly put themselves back into the relevancy conversation for the first time in five years, following Bethea's improved decision making and grit. He wasn't perfect - seven of his 10 interceptions came in a three-game window - but he sparked a believe that Mullins didn't have to be a doormat any longer. And the Auctioneers have him for one more fall.   Mullins coach Marc Lowery: “[player_tooltip player_id='1592515' first='Ka'Nazzion' last='Bethea'] is a heck of an athlete. This is the first time I have ever had the blessing of coaching a starting varsity quarterback for three year. The growth he had made from 2023 to 2024 was big. Even though the stats were very similar, the results were much improved. … This year, he is Uber-focused and constantly working. He has always led by example, but this season, he is starting to be a more vocal leader. This is something we have been looking for out of him from Day 1.”

The progression of our look at the Grand Strand & Pee Dee started with our Top 10 players for the zone.