CSRA and Midlands Week Zero Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are you ready for our weekly Game Ball feature? In one of our favorite features of the week, we collectively look at outstanding performances in our respective areas and hand out Game Balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is a look at the several outstanding performances across the CSRA and Midlands from the opening week of the high school football season. More is certainly to come. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1014892' first='Jordan' last='Boston']</strong> DB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='763831' first='John' last='Stokes']</strong> DL, Hammond </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The duo was key in the Skyhawks 17-0 shutout of Christ Church. Boston didn't allow a catch against a potent passing attack. Stokes caused havoc at the line of scrimmage and finished with six tackles, five quarterback pressures, two tackles for loss and an interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267234' first='Kenton' last='Caldwell']</strong> QB, Newberry</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caldwell (pictured) accounted for seven total touchdowns, all in the first half, in the Bulldogs 62-14 win over Union County. Caldwell threw four touchdown passes and added three rushing scores. He threw TD passes to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816735' first='Jamel' last='Howse']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1099127' first='Jamere' last='Crooks'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1771641' first='Cash' last='Brown']</strong> in the dominating win. He finished 8-of-10 for 202 yards and five rushing attempts for 78 yards.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18430327/68a9590e422ec36296e8cca8' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68aa18fac0630"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker']</strong> QB, Lexington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A month ago, the freshman probably wasn't in the plans on the varsity level. But now due to an injury to projected starter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823324' first='Avery' last='Coyle']</strong>, the job might be Crocker's for the foreseeable future. Crocker came off the bench to score three second half touchdowns in a 23-7 victory over Gilbert. He had scoring runs of 5, 1 and 3 yards and finished with 12 yards on 6 attempts. He was 7-of-8 passing for 63 yards in a steady first appearance.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823625' first='Tristan' last='Daniels']</strong> RB, Saluda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Daniels ran for 107 yards and a 68-yard touchdown sprint and caught a 6-yard touchdown from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822966' first='Brayden' last='Williams']</strong> in the Tigers 28-6 victory over Crescent.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='860400' first='Drevon' last='Dopson']</strong> QB and <strong>Demarion Arington</strong> WR, Irmo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dopson and Arington hooked up for three touchdown passes in the Yellow Jackets hard fought 35-28 win over Oceanside Collegiate. Dopson took most of the snaps in the second half after splitting time in the first half.</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 junior picked up right where he left off from last season with three touchdown passes and a rushing score in the 40-0 win over Fairfield Central. Howard threw TD's to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818714' first='Carter' last='Coleman']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822147' first='Omari' last='Johnson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1024349' first='Julian' last='Hughes']</strong> ATH and <strong>Keon McKinley</strong> ATH, Heathwood Hall</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hughes came up big in the Highlanders 14-0 win over Hannah-Pamplico. The senior had 90 yards rushing to go along with nine tackles. A tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. McKinley scored both touchdowns – one on a 70-yard interception return and the other on a 5-yard TD run.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19707463/68a865e06327f32de5cd7a60' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68aa18fac067b"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nycari Kinard</strong> RB, Columbia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The freshman scored two touchdowns in his debut, including the game-winner in overtime as the Capitals knocked off CA Johnson 22-16 in overtime.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PJ Larry</strong> ATH, Swansea</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers dominated Mid-Carolina 49-7 in a game shortened by weather conditions on Thursday. But Larry scored a touchdown and added 11 tackles and a sack in a solid defensive effort.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brishaun Lee</strong> QB and <strong>Sha Williams</strong> WR, Strom Thurmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The duo hooked up twice in the Rebels 55-6 victory over McCormick. The first TD was a 27-yard toss that made it 28-0 in the second quarter, and the second one was from 72 yards just before the half that made it 41-0. Lee finished 5-of-9 for 135 yards and three touchdowns. Williams has two catches for 100 yards and two scores. Williams also returned two punts for 45 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1840684' first='Tanner' last='Padgett']</strong> QB, Aiken</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Padgett helped wash away nearly three years of frustration in a 27-7 season-opening win over Aynor. The junior threw 148 yards and two scores and added a short yardage rushing TD to help the Hornets win for the first on the field win since September 22, 2022. He threw a 39-yard TD to [player_tooltip player_id='1840708' first='Caleb' last='Griffin'] on a fourth down play and repeatedly made good decisions in tough situations.  </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819832' first='Jayden' last='Peeples']</strong> ATH, Barnwell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore was all over the field for the Warhorses in the 22-6 victory over Blackville-Hilda. He carried it 13 times for 96 yards and scoring runs of 9 and 10 yards. He also intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 42 yards to set up the first Barnwell scoring drive.  He added one catch for seven yards as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trellis Riley</strong> QB, Silver Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Riley had a steady debut and threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820958' first='Jessie' last='Shelley']</strong> with 24 seconds remaining to give the Bulldogs a thrilling 35-31 victory over South Aiken. Riley shared time last season but has a firm grip on the starting job this season and it showed. The senior finished 15-of-20 for 166 yards and added 67 yards rushing and score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18628346/6763ad055c63e9bc82900db5' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68aa18fac06b2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1354590' first='Greyson' last='Rimpf']</strong> QB, Camden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior signal caller accounted for all three touchdowns in the Bulldogs 19-7 win over White Knoll that was played over two days due to a weather suspension on Thursday. His 26-yard TD pass to [player_tooltip player_id='1772703' first='Bernard' last='Green'] gave Camden a 13-0 lead just before play was halted on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817005' first='Reggie' last='Shannon']</strong> RB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822003' first='Cayon' last='Gordon']</strong> RB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shannon and Gordan each scored two touchdowns as the Gamecocks ran for 351 yards in a 41-13 victory over Lakewood. Shannon carried it eight times for 76 yards while Gordon gained 47 yards on nine carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820864' first='Grady' last='Tucker'] </strong>K, Spring Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tucker connected on a 19-yard field goal in overtime to help the Vikings snap a 24-games losing streak with a come-from-behind 22-19 win over Richland Northeast. Tucker forced the overtime period by hitting from 22 yards with four seconds remaining. He finished 3-of-3 on field goals. Spring Valley hadn't won since 2022 and trailed 19-0 in this one before rallying.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1426578' first='James' last='Veasey']</strong> QB, Blythewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bengals rallied from a second half deficit to win it 34-27 over Nation Ford thanks to a two-yard TD run by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1540721' first='Landyn' last='Strong']</strong> with 45 seconds remaining. But Veasey ran for two touchdowns and threw a TD to <strong>Ben Hendrix</strong> in spearheading the comeback.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823858' first='Zach' last='Williams']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267277' first='Shamil' last='Saadiq']</strong> WR, Lugoff-Elgin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams dazzled in his first career start and most of it went to Saadiq in an impressive first half. Williams, a sophomore, had 200 yards passing at the half and 187 of those yards went to Sadiq on five catches.  The two connected from 83 and 61 yards for touchdowns. Williams only completed one pass in the second half, but it was more to the limited chances for the Demons than anything else.  <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson']</strong> sealed the 28-14 victory over Lower Richland with a 30-yard scoring run with 1:14 remaining. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->