Long’s Breakout Passing Game Spurs Carolina Forest Win

MYRTLE BEACH | Four throws and 13 and-a-half minutes into his season, [player_tooltip player_id='284135' first='Kamren' last='Long'] had 203 yards and three touchdowns through the air.   By itself, that was a semi-remarkable stat line for a Carolina Forest quarterback after the Panthers threw for just 1,300 yards a season ago. What was also telling is that one of Long's first four passes went for a 2-yard loss.   You can see where we're going with this.   Using a trio of home run threats and with the Panthers obviously willing to throw the ball, Long was clearly digging his long-awaited chance to be the starting quarterback.   “We came out knowing we could execute our plays,” Long said after leading the Panthers to a 55-33 season-opening win at home against Hartsville. “But I don't think the fan base and all the [Hartsville] players thought we were going to put up that many points. This feels great. This is my debut. I'm happy to be here.”   In the blink of an on-field eye, Long went from his split-time backup role from 2024 to a guy who exceeded all of those numbers in one Friday night. He finished the win over the Red Foxes with 294 passing yards and four touchdowns. He had 272 and two touchdown passes as a junior.    So, what changed?   For starters, Carolina Forest has prepared for him to be the 2025 starter since last year ended with a home playoff loss to James Island. Second, the Panther receiving corp has to be one of the best ones this program has had in the Marc Morris era. This group has developed in a hurry.   Let's break those guys down:   Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1820976' first='Nick' last='Zincone'] -who caught six passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns last fall - finished Friday with five receptions for 181 yards and two touchdowns. That included a 47-yard touchdown in the first quarter and a 75-yard strike in the second.    Classmate [player_tooltip player_id='1149043' first='Cayden' last='Cole'] (six catches 102 yard, one touchdown in 2024) had just one reception against the Red Foxes. But it was an 83-yard touchdown in the first quarter.    And sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell'] (no varsity receptions last year) caught two passes, including a nine-yard touchdown in the third quarter.    That was a pretty good showing, especially since senior starter [player_tooltip player_id='1820972' first='Tashaun' last='Grainger'] was out for the game after suffering a minor ankle turn.   All three of the players who suited up Friday have exhibited top-end speed, and opponents will have a hard time covering them all one-on-one. That much was evident Friday, as is Long's ability to sync up with all of them from one series to the next.   “If you ask him, he'll probably say ‘I missed a couple throws early I'd rather have back,'” Carolina Forest coach Marc Morris said. “For the most part, we're expected a lot out of him. He meets with me every day and how we're going to play is how he goes. He knows that.”   Long also added a 1-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, giving a Carolina Forest quarterback a five-touchdown night for the first time since Scott Saylor did it twice in 2022.   And here might have been the biggest kicker to the whole thing: The Panthers also still have likely all-star tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1148537' first='Jaryn' last='Fox'] toting the rock.   Fox was dynamic early. In fact, on the opening drive of the game, each of his first five carries went for at least 12 yards and a first down, a streak that came to an end with his 1-yard touchdown plunge that put Carolina Forest up 7-0 in 4 minutes into the game.   The senior had 12 carries for 119 yards in the first quarter, and with only five more carries the rest of the way finished with 157 yards and two scores.   It was Fox's eighth 100-yard game in his last 12 varsity games, and his seventh multi-touchdown rushing game in that same span.    But the story of the night was the passing attack and just how vertical it could be.    “This,” Long said, “is what the offense can be.”   More Carolina Forest Player Notes   In addition to Grainger, Carolina Forest was also without Christian Bennett at tailback. Bennett suffered an arm injury and will miss at least another game or two. In his place, the Panthers went to [player_tooltip player_id='1823601' first='Jatavius' last='Long'] and then Jaidyn Anderson in the backup carries behind Fox. Long rushed for a late 1-yard touchdown. Anderson, who is a reserve in the secondary, had a few touches late, too.   Cornerback [player_tooltip player_id='1580905' first='Jelani' last='Alicea'] had an athletic interception, but an official's ruling ultimately led to two points on the board for Hartsville. With the Panthers leading 35-14 in the second quarter, Alicea tracked down an errant pass at the 3-yard line. His momentum carried him into the end zone, and while it appeared that Alicea briefly attempted to regain his feet and take off on a return, he was tackled in the end zone. In high school football, that shouldn't have mattered. Any time an interception is caught inside the 5 and the player's momentum carries him into the end zone, it warrants a touchback in what given what is affectionately known as the "5-yard momentum exception." Instead, officials did not give Alicea credit for initially making the interception at the 3-yard line (Morris said an official said the pick was grabbed at the 7). It ultimately didn't change the outcome of the game thanks to Carolina Forest's lead, but Morris argued his and Alicea's point nonetheless. Either way, Alicea still get credit for a pick, and two points for Hartsville.   Hartsville Player Notes   Hartsville sophomore tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] came into the season with big expectations after popping onto the scene during the spring during the combine session by flashing some sprinter's speed. On his two plays where he found open field against the Panthers, he made them count. The first came on a 22-yard scoring run with 10:41 left in the second quarter when he caught the edge and then out ran three defenders to the end zone. Hillian then added a 68-yard touchdown run up the middle midway through the fourth quarter after the game was in hand.    Quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1615056' first='Ford' last='Wallace'] had plenty of highs and lows in this one in his first season as the team's starter. He was seven-of-12 for 158 yards and two touchdowns in the opening half. But after the break, when Carolina Forest had extend the lead and was sending the house most plays, Wallace was two-of-nine. He finished the game with 166 yards, with all but eight of those coming before halftime.   Wallace connected with sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] for a 69-yard touchdown on Hartsville's second-offensive snap of the game. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1592487' first='Tristian' last='Spann'] also got into the end zone in the second quarter on a 12-yard touchdown reception. Spann finished with four receptions for 73 yards.    Starting defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1639746' first='Chris' last='Price'] was held in check for much of the night, but he did fight off a pair of double teams that led to stops, including one behind the line of scrimmage. As fellow senior [player_tooltip player_id='1822986' first='Ezra' last='Brockenberry'] (5-foot-10, 260 pounds) continues to get more experience, it should take some of the load off Price.    Lastly, sophomore kicker [player_tooltip player_id='1822994' first='Gerardo' last='Segura'] should be another player to watch for the Red Foxes this fall. In addition to drilling a 35-yard field goal that would have benefited good from 45-plus to wrap up the first half, he also made perfect contact on an onside kick in the second half that fell into the arm of a teammate. The play was wiped out, thanks to another Red Fox being offside on the opposite end of the direction of the kick, but we don't think that will be the last time we see Segura attempt one this year.

MYRTLE BEACH | Four throws and 13 and-a-half minutes into his season, Kamren Long Kamren Long 5'10" | 170 lbs | QB Carolina Forest | 2026 State SC had 203 yards and three touchdowns through the air.