Lower State Round 1 Game Balls

The first round of the playoffs across both the SCHSL and SCISA ranks offered a lot of lopsided scores, but it also gave players an opportunity to shine. And did the cast of players across the Lower State take full advantage.   We look at the best performances from Class 5A in the SCHSL all the way to Class 1A in SCISA and give out a slew of game balls this week.   Cam Grayson RB and [player_tooltip player_id='651361' first='Jakayden' last='Pendergrass'] DB, Summerville   The Green Wave had an offensive explosion in the 65-21 victory over West Ashley. Grayson led the way on the ground with four rushing touchdowns and Pendergrass aided the effort with a pick-six on defense. [player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford'] threw for 155 yards, and two TD passes and [player_tooltip player_id='1215391' first='Jayven' last='Williams'] rushed for 110 yards and a score.     [player_tooltip player_id='1894002' first='Zamarius' last='Gladden'] DB and [player_tooltip player_id='1820392' first='Jayseyvion' last='Brown'] DB, James Island   The Trojans defense pitched a shutout in a 48-0 victory over Wando. Gladden had two of the four interceptions by James Island and added a solo tackle. Brown was the leading tackler with six total and a tackle for loss as James Island was able to play plenty of guys on defense in the first-round rout. Wando had less than 100 yards of total offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='1824104' first='Reece' last='Huffstetler'] LB and [player_tooltip player_id='1818414' first='Josiah' last='Robinson'] LB, River Bluff   The Gators' coaching staff was worried about facing the Cobras' option attack, an offense they hadn't seen this season. And after Cane Bay went 80 yards on the opening drive, the concern was even highlighted more. But the linebacker duo stepped up in a big way and the defense only allowed one other score in the 24-13 victory. Huffstetler finished with 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss while Robinson chipped in with 13 tackles.     Tristan Collins RB and [player_tooltip player_id='1820596' first='Jeremiah' last='Bryant'] RB, West Florence   The Knights ran wild in the opening round 42-7 victory over Conway with Collins and Bryant leading the way. Collins carried it 11 times for 112 yards and three touchdowns while Bryant went for 149 yards and one touchdown on 13 attempts. And just for good measure, Jeremiah Smiling-Waiters added 70 yards and touchdown on just three carries. [player_tooltip player_id='1738331' first='Matt' last='Benjamin'] also added a rushing TD.      [player_tooltip player_id='1611165' first='Tyrese' last='Drakeford'] DB, Westwood   The Redhawks defense came up big in the 41-14 win over St. James with Drakeford leading the way. The senior intercepted three passes to help set up the offense that received two rushing touchdowns each from [player_tooltip player_id='1312448' first='Jovan' last='Howard'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1603902' first='Angelo' last='Rios'] in the victory. Westwood in total had five interceptions. They limited the St. James offense to just 125 yards passing and seven yards rushing.   Jarkese Grant RB, Lugoff-Elgin   The Demons leaned on the running game and Grant was the benefactor in the 42-6 victory over Socastee. Grant scored five touchdowns on runs of 20, 3, 15, 22 and 2 yards. He only had six rushing touchdowns coming into the postseason so if he can five the offense a boost on the ground it will help a passing attack that threw for over 2,000 yards during the regular season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1166986' first='Messiah' last='Jackson'] QB and Gabe McLaughlin RB, South Florence   The Bruins had a balanced attack in the 47-7 victory over Darlington. They rushed for 264 yards as a team and added 160 yards passing. Jackson was 7-of-9 for 152 yards, and two TD passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1639826' first='JayAun' last='Perkins'] and another to [player_tooltip player_id='1270861' first='Malik' last='Robinson']. He also added 24 yards rushing on three carries. McLaughlin only carried the ball four times for 31 yards, but he scored twice.    [player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze'] ATH and Kamari Brown LB, Gilbert   The Indians trailed Bluffton 14-3 early but used the efforts of Meetze and Brown to fuel the comeback. Meetze was his usual tackling machine on defense, and he added an interception, but he also was the leading ground-gainer with 93 yards on 16 carries. He also added a 40-yard TD reception from [player_tooltip player_id='1054176' first='Grayson' last='Gunter'] to cap the scoring in the 38-21 victory. Brown blocked a field goal that [player_tooltip player_id='1734581' first='RJ' last='Kearse'] returned for a touchdown that spearheaded the rally. Gunter rushed for a TD as well.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827481' first='Jayden' last='Hatcher'] RB, North Augusta   Hatcher stepped in for [player_tooltip player_id='402503' first='Mike' last='Doe'] and the Yellow Jackets didn't miss a beat in a 44-6 victory over Midland Valley that was a rematch from just the week before. Hatcher scored three times on runs of 5, 7 and 71 yards to pace the North Augusta rushing attack.     [player_tooltip player_id='1615056' first='Ford' last='Wallace'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] RB, Hartsville   The Red Foxes ran for 273 as a team and Ford threw for 145 yards in the 45-8 victory over Crestwood. Hillian powered the running game with 112 yards and a touchdown. Ford accounted for a total of four touchdowns – two rushing and two passing. He ran for 59 yards on nine carries and threw two TD passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'], who finished with two catches for 100 yards.    Trevon Williamson RB, and [player_tooltip player_id='1824177' first='Nate' last='Dixon'] RB, Gray Collegiate   The War Eagles opened the playoffs with a running clock in the second half in a 63-7 win over Brookland-Cayce. Willamson went for 222 yards on the ground and three touchdowns with Dixon adding three rushing touchdowns as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1319663' first='Royce' last='Williamson'] added two rushing scores as well.     Zyeir Lyde RB and [player_tooltip player_id='1734485' first='Tristen' last='Howard'] QB, Wilson   Lyde and Howard came up big as the Tigers went on the road and claimed a 36-28 victory over May River. Lyde ran for 120 yards and two touchdowns to pace the ground attack while Howard finished with 218 yards passing and [player_tooltip player_id='1820290' first='Kayden' last='Bethea'] and Davon Bowan each had TD receptions.     [player_tooltip player_id='1664222' first='Derrick' last='Raniszewski'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1822847' first='Kaden' last='Stewart'] WR, Hilton Head   Raniszewski had one of his better nights of the season in the 52-24 victory over South Aiken. The junior finished 14-of-16 for 271 yards and three touchdowns. Stewart caught two TDs and finished with four catches for 168 yards with Tye Wiedemann catching the other touchdown pass.      [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] QB, Oceanside Collegiate   The junior signal-caller only played a half but that was enough time to throw four touchdown passes in a 49-15 win over Georgetown that featured a running clock in the second half. [player_tooltip player_id='1674386' first='Cooper' last='Webb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams'] each had two TD catches and Williams also added a rushing score.      [player_tooltip player_id='776240' first='Tre' last='Blakeney'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1592270' first='Troy' last='Hailey'] RB, Marlboro County   The Bulldogs rolled up 499 yards of total offense in knocking off Swansea 49-13 on the road. Blakeney (pictured) finished 16-of-27 for 283 yards and three touchdown passes. He added 19 yards rushing on three attempts.  Hailey paced the ground game with 111 yards on 13 carries and a TD. Two of Blakeney's touchdown passes went to Laquincy Leach, who had eight catches for 76 yards.     [player_tooltip player_id='1824413' first='Malachi' last='Nelson'] DL, Dillon   The Wildcats kept Fox Creek out of the end zone until the fourth quarter in the 49-8 victory and Nelson played a huge role in that despite playing just over a half. He finished with 11 tackles as the Predators only had 215 yards of total offense. Fox Creek was also 4-of-13 on third down and 2-of-5 on fourth down with many of the conversions coming in the second half.     [player_tooltip player_id='1881794' first='Ethan' last='Shaw'] LB, Loris   The Lions had a running clock in the second half in a 59-19 win over Battery Creek and Shaw had a hand in that decision. The freshman had two of the three interceptions, and he returned one of them for 35 yards for a touchdown that made it 35-0 early in the second quarter. Shaw has made his presence felt in his first varsity season and he was the second leading tackler for Loris at the end of the regular season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822225' first='Isaiah' last='Snodgrass'] RB and [player_tooltip player_id='1222230' first='Quamell' last='Grant'] WR, Hanahan   The Hawks used a balanced attack to claim a 38-21 victory over Waccamaw. Snodgrass did the damage on the ground with 152 yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries while Grant added seven catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns. The Hawks rushed for 247 yards as a team in the victory and didn't allow a sack.      [player_tooltip player_id='1267311' first='Julian' last='Senn'] LB, Newberry   Senn was all over the field in the Bulldogs 54-14 victory over Aynor. The senior finished with 20 tackles, three tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. The Blue Jackets like to run the football and that played right into the strength of Senn, a big hitter that plays in the middle of the Newberry defense.    [player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary'] RB, Hampton County   It was just another night at the office for the Hurricanes senior running back in the 56-22 win over Lake City. He carried the ball 17 times for 279 yards and five touchdowns. His scoring runs covered 26, 23, 2, 28 and 80 yards. Hampton County ran for a total of 441 yards in the game. He's rushed for over 200 yards in three of the last four games and has nine 100-yard games on the season. Singletary is up to 1,819 yards and 31 touchdowns now.   [player_tooltip player_id='1271257' first='Nick' last='Gordon'] ATH, Cheraw   Gordon scored both Braves touchdowns in a 17-7 victory over Andrews. He caught a touchdown pass from [player_tooltip player_id='1816536' first='Kaden' last='Thomas'], and he also added a pick-6 on defense. He had three catches total for 90 yards. He also was huge in the defensive effort of holding Andrews to just seven points, which was just the third time all season the Yellow Jackets had been held to single digits.      [player_tooltip player_id='1592198' first='Jontavious' last='Canty'] ATH, Manning   Canty was his usual self in the Monarchs 48-7 victory over Academic Magnet. He ran the ball 15 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns and added two, two-point conversions on offense. He played sparingly on defense but still contributed three total tackles to the efforts.   Jakari Holloman ATH Central   The Eagles defense forced four turnovers and limited Kingstree to 92 yards of total offense in a 56-6 victory. Holloman had a pick six as Central intercepted two passes and recovered two fumbles. The defense limited the Blazers to a negative 12 yards rushing on 25 attempts. Holloman added six tackles, a tackle for loss and a rushing touchdown to his night.     Omonte Taylor ATH and [player_tooltip player_id='1592672' first='CJ' last='Falotico'] K, Philip Simmons   The Iron Horses rolled to a 57-12 victory over Whale Branch and Taylor did a lot of heavy lifting on offense. He carried the ball 12 times for 130 yards and added two receptions for 45 yards and scored a total of four touchdowns. Falotico kicked two field goals, was perfect on the five extra point attempts and had nine touchbacks on nine kickoffs. He's a weapon in scoring and making teams drive 80 yards after a score.        [player_tooltip player_id='1691901' first='Maurice' last='Dawson'] ATH, Bethune Bowman   The junior all-purpose player did a little bit of everything in the 34-30 victory over Ridgeland. Dawson intercepted a pass on defense and had 294 all-purpose yards. He carried the ball 21 times for 104 yards and one touchdown and added 10 receptions for 190 yards and two scores.     [player_tooltip player_id='1822707' first='Zaghe' last='Davis'] RB, Johnsonville   Davis scored four rushing touchdowns in the 48-14 win over Branchville. He only carried the ball 10 times but finished with 190 yards as the Flashes had 213 yards on the ground.    Chase Price QB, Lake View   Price rushed for two touchdowns and threw for two touchdowns in the Wild Gators 28-6 win over Hardeeville. JT Atkinson and Kiwi Jackson caught the touchdown passes to advance Lake View into round two.      [player_tooltip player_id='473014' first='Patrick' last='Belk'] QB, Heathwood Hall   The Highlanders rolled to 417 yards of total offense in a 48-14 win over Ben Lippen. Belk finished his night with 215 yards passing and two touchdowns on 15-of-21 passing while adding 66 yards rushing and a touchdown on four carries. Chip Ravenel caught the two scoring tosses.      [player_tooltip player_id='1820220' first='Hayne' last='Burden'] DL and [player_tooltip player_id='1820221' first='Chase' last='White'] LB, Hilton Head Christian   The Eagles defense made it difficult for Trinity Collegiate in the 42-20 win. Hilton Head Chrisitan totaled 15 tackles for loss with Burden collecting three to go along with eight tackles, a sack and six quarterback hurries. White was the leading tackler with nine stops, and he added two tackles for loss as well. The Eagles also intercepted four passes.   Silas Brawner QB, Pinewood Prep   Brawner threw five touchdown passes to pace the attack in a 60-13 victory over Northside Christian. The junior finished 16-of-20 for 338 yards with [player_tooltip player_id='896094' first='Lavoris' last='Lucas'] and Tyler Harper each catching two touchdown passes. Tre Green caught the other as Brawner spread it around to six different receivers catching a pass.   Tristian Heckman ATH, Pee Dee Academy   Heckman became the school's all-time leader in touchdowns when he scored three times in the 27-0 victory over Orangeburg Prep. The senior now has 51 career touchdowns – 43 rushing, six receiving and two kickoff returns. He rushed for 159 yads on 16 carries in the win.     Ralo Wesley WR and Jordan Turner QB, Bethesda Academy   Wesley and Turner lit up the scoreboard in helping Bethesda Academy to the 46-6 victory over Thomas Sumter. Wesley caught four passes for 180 yards and three touchdowns. Turner finished 10-of-13 for 330 yards and five touchdown passes. Malachi Morris caught the other two TD passes and finished with 95 receiving yards on two catches.      [player_tooltip player_id='1821625' first='Charlie' last='Caulder'] WR and [player_tooltip player_id='1824327' first='Micah' last='Balder'] QB, Williamsburg Academy   Caulder and Balder had impressive outings in the 4012 victory over Patrick Henry. Caulder finished with three catches for 172 yards and touchdowns that covered 63 and 95 yards. Balder threw for 180 yards total and added a rushing score to go along with the two TD passes to Caulder.

The first round of the playoffs across both the SCHSL and SCISA ranks offered a lot of lopsided scores, but it also gave players an opportunity to shine. And did the cast of players across the Lower State take full advantage.