Week 9 Upper State Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the regular season winds down, there were performances on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, whether it be a coming up in the clutch in extra time, a career setting performance running the ball or some critical red zone stops. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are 21 players in the Upper State that were key for teams to give them a leg up as the playoff picture begins to become clearer:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia']</strong> | QB | Indian Land</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kucia had a solid night, connecting with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822507' first='Kenneth' last='Wilson'] </strong>on a 78-yard touchdown pass and a 25-yard pass from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819992' first='Sequel' last='Patterson'] </strong>in a tight 20-16 win over Fort Mill on Friday to help the Warriors remain undefeated heading into a showdown for the region 3-5A title against Northwestern next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592333' first='Tayshon' last='Freeman']</strong> | QB | York</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freeman had a strong night, with two touchdowns running and throwing in the Cougars' 28-6 win over Richland Northeast. He is a tall quarterback who can make plays in different ways, and Friday was an example of that. He'll need another big performance in their regular season finale against Lancaster next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra'] </strong>| RB | Byrnes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Segarra had a monster night in a key region win over Spartanburg. He rushed 18 times for 244 yards and four touchdowns on runs of 80, 6, 47, and 47 yards, and added three catches for 27 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094520' first='Jace' last='Grass']</strong> | QB | Daniel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grass had an impressive night in another win for the Lions, going 24-for-37 for 364 yards and six touchdowns in a 66-21 win over Blue Ridge. The Lions remain undefeated in region play and at 8-1 overall heading into next week's region title on the road against Greer next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26248117/68fc6897195c1ae9b2ee783b' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fd13696be2a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacory Sumpter </strong>|<strong> </strong>QB | Eau Claire</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sumpter scored the game-winning touchdown with 3:53 remaining to lead the Shamrocks over Columbia 22-18. Sumpter ran for two scores and threw a touchdown pass to <strong>Kyle Walker</strong>. This gives the Shamrocks five wins on the season for the first time since 1992.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820916' first='Wyatt' last='Mazza']</strong> | RB | Mid-Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mazza ran for three touchdowns to help the Rebels pull off the 38-35 upset of Chester. His three TDs set the stage for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823536' first='Davis' last='Ruff'] </strong>to hit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823534' first='Ryker' last='Woolstenhulme']</strong> for the game-winning touchdown pass with 30 seconds remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025815' first='Caleb' last='Geronomi']</strong> | ATH | White Knoll</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior ran a punt back for a touchdown and added a rushing TD to help the Timberwolves snap a two-game losing streak with a 37-6 victory over rival Lexington. He also helped lock down the Wildcats offense from his defensive back spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615095' first='Kaden' last='Wigfall'] </strong>| RB | Strom Thurmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wigfall ran for 110 yards on 18 carries, averaging 6.1 yards per carry as the Rebels ran for 269 yards on the night in their 20-14 win over Saluda.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong> | RB | Batesburg Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wooden broke the school record for career rushing yards, previously held by (he currently has 1,638 yards on the year) in a 60-14 rout over Pelion on Friday. He ran for 226 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns on the night, which is a school record sixth consecutive game with 200 or more rushing yards. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818103' first='Kyle' last='Henry'] </strong>| RB | Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Henry had a strong night for the Silver Foxes, as he ran for 136 yards and two touchdowns as Dutch Fork shut out River Bluff 37-0. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts'] </strong>went 18-of-27 for 193 yards and one touchdown on the night as well. They will be key heading into next week's region title against Irmo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734598' first='Peyton' last='Schrader']</strong> | ATH | Eastside&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schrader had a huge night all over the field for the Eagles. He ran for three touchdowns and threw two more, both to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025770' first='Cayden' last='Workman']</strong>, <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/10/schrader-eastside-blank-wade-hampton/">in a 42-0 win over Wade Hampton</a>. Schrader had four tackles for loss on defense, while Workman had two of the Eagles' four takeaways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19417145/68fc4968dc281c6f33a5019c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fd13696be66"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1708614' first='Jabez' last='Thomas']</strong> | DB | Dorman&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Thomas was crucial for the Cavaliers in a 20-0 win over Gaffney. He notched five solo tackles and grabbed two interceptions, giving him seven on the season. Both picks ended promising Gaffney scoring chances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='302810' first='Emari' last='Nance']</strong> | RB | T.L. Hanna&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nance gave the Yellow Jackets everything you could want from a back in their wing-based rushing attack. He notched 106 yards on 10 carries, and two touchdowns as the Yellow Jackets secured the Region I-5A crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='463113' first='Gideon' last='Merhib']</strong> (pictured above) | QB | Riverside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Merhib showed his playmaking ability on the run and his arm in a 27-20 win over Boiling Springs in overtime. He went 22-of-30 for 268 yards for one touchdown, while rushing for 117 yards and one touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17311900/68fcee3796696ef4deca7a0d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68fd13696be8d"} /-->