Lower State Third Round Game Balls

It was the third round of the playoffs and as we advance to each round, you see the performances become more crucial. Numbers began to fly off the charts. The stars simply don't want to turn the pads in on Monday.   This group of Game Ball recipients gets to do something special this week – practice on Thanksgiving morning before playing on Friday night with the chance to play for a state championship game berth on the line.   There were many players that made a difference, but here are this week's Lower State Game Ball honorees.   [player_tooltip player_id='1061146' first='Teru' last='Davis'] WR, [player_tooltip player_id='1734517' first='Max' last='Stafford'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1267287' first='Jordan' last='Ravenell'] DB, Summerville   It's well noted that the Green Wave have several playmakers that can hurt you and it was on display again in the 29-28 victory over Carolina Forest to move into the state semifinals. Stafford was 16-of-25 for 214 yards and two touchdowns to Davis. He also ran for a score and threw the game-winning two-point conversion to Cam Grayson in the fourth quarter. Davis was the go-to receiver with five catches for 137 yards and those two TD's. Then Ravenel sealed the victory with an interception with 1:31 remaining.    Isaac Lorentz K and [player_tooltip player_id='1592342' first='Connor' last='Dantzler'] QB, James Island   The Trojans have made the playoffs the flair for the dramatic. Last week they erased a 14-point deficit and knocked off Sumter in double overtime. This week, they received a game-winning 32-yard field goal from Lorentz to defeat Stratford 45-42. James Island was set up to claim that win thanks to the play of Dantzler. The senior finished 22-of-31 for 422 yards and four touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='874321' first='Raphael' last='Puiu'] was his top target with five catches for 207 yards and two scores. [player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington'] supported that air attack with 123 yards rushing and a touchdown on 18 carries.   [player_tooltip player_id='1604012' first='Jamar' last='Grissett'] DB, Irmo   Grissett intercepted a career-high three passes, one of which set up the Yellow Jackets final score that sealed the 28-14 victory over White Knoll. Grissett helped stake Irmo to a 14-0 first quarter lead and it stayed that way until the Timberwolves tied it at 14 in the third quarter. The junior had three interceptions at the end of the regular season, and he doubled that number in just one playoff game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1766209' first='Malik' last='Callen'] WR, Berkeley   The Stags jumped on top early and parlayed that in a 61-13 win over Myrtle Beach that featured a running clock in the second half. Rivers had six carries for 133 yards and a touchdown. He had one of his better passing nights of the season as well, going 13-of-19 for 201 yards and three touchdowns. All the TD passes went to Callen, who hauled in seven catches for 119 yards and those three touchdowns.   [player_tooltip player_id='1267265' first='Amare' last='Reaves'] DB, South Florence   The Bruins put on a clinic in the 49-14 third round victory over North Augusta and Reaves was at the forefront with three defensive touchdowns. The senior had three total interceptions, and he returned two of those for touchdowns. He also had a scoop and score that aided South Florence in the route. He has seven interceptions on the season, and he's returned four of those for touchdowns.    Weston Mims K, [player_tooltip player_id='1647592' first='Corey' last='Gleaton'] ATH and [player_tooltip player_id='1036777' first='Trevon' last='Williamson'] RB, Gray Collegiate   This was another close playoff game in which a game-winning kick came into play. Mims connected on a 40-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give the War Eagles a 31-28 win over Hilton Head. Gleaton helped set up that game-winning kick with a 37-yard reception to get into field goal range. Gleaton ended with 8 catches for 131 yards, a touchdown and an interception on defense. His TD pass came from freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1623307' first='Xavier' last='Wright'], who was 16-of-29 for 250 yards and a touchdown. Wright also added a rushing score. Williamson was again his steady self, rushing for 231 yards and two touchdowns on 28 attempts.    [player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1771847' first='Jordan' last='Wright'] DB, Oceanside Collegiate   Last year, the Landsharks and Dillon met in a playoff classic that came down to the wire. There was not a repeat. Manavian threw three touchdowns and Wright returned an interception 82 yards for a pick-six, giving Oceanside Collegiate a comfortable 42-0 victory over the Wildcats. One of Manavian's TD passes went to Ethan Renew for 73 yards that began the onslaught. His other two touchdown passes were 40 and 44-yarders to [player_tooltip player_id='1823853' first='Anthony' last='Williams'].   [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] QB and Roderick Poucha WR, Loris   In a battle of unbeatens, it was just another night at the office for the Lions. Gerald threw for 448 yards and five touchdowns to four different receivers to help Loris rout Newbery 51-21. Gerald threw TD passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1821016' first='Khalil' last='Sherman'] (22 yards), [player_tooltip player_id='1656668' first='Khalid' last='Sherman'] (41 yards), Porcha (30 yards) and two to Grim Lewis (20 and 29 yards). Porcha caught four passes for 87 yards and also added an 86-yard kickoff return for a score. Lewis caught four passes for 125 yards.    Tarrell Grant QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1165165' first='Jaylen' last='Singletary'] RB, Hampton County   Grant accounted for three touchdowns and Singletary scored three times as the Hurricanes rolled to 412 yards of total offense in a 56-6 victory over Manning that featured a running clock in the second half. Grant was a perfect 4-for-4 passing for 118 yards and touchdowns to Karinton Sabb (66 yards) and [player_tooltip player_id='1820420' first='Jazmir' last='Goines'] (12 yards). He also ran for 45 yards on two carries and scored on a 33-yard run. Singletary only had 13 carries for 163 yards and scoring runs of 15, 12 and 28 yards. He now has 37 rushing touchdowns on the season and eight straight games with at least three rushing TDs.     Jakari Holloman RB and [player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen'] QB, Central   It was a wild shootout in the 57-47 victory over Philip Simmons and the Eagles needed every bit of the offensive explosion to advance. Hollman scored two rushing touchdowns and had 153 yards rushing. Louallen added two rushing touchdowns as well as throwing for three. Louallen was 8-of-10 for 308 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1639669' first='Ashten' last='Wilson'] [player_tooltip player_id='1639753' first='Aiden' last='Short'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1816213' first='Cody' last='Branham'] caught TD's. That overshadowed the performance of Iron Horse quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1821540' first='Hayes' last='Goddard'], who was spectacular in the loss. Goddard threw for 300 yards and five touchdowns but the lone interception by [player_tooltip player_id='1592629' first='Taveon' last='Moore'] helped seal the victory.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816252' first='Marquis' last='Pringle'] Gus Davis Mike Bennett [player_tooltip player_id='1422604' first='Jailyn' last='Broughton'] Dakari President Andrew Hocket [player_tooltip player_id='1422583' first='Khalil' last='Levine'] Jimmy Smith, OL/DL Cross   That's a lot of game balls but the reason the Trojans are back in the state semifinal is the players winning in the trenches upfront in a 42-14 victory over Johnsonville. Several of these players play both ways and by rotating them, they can stay fresh and not have to log every snap. Cross was dominating on both sides of the football and Coach Shaun Wright wanted to make sure those guys were receiving the credit they deserve.   [player_tooltip player_id='1822457' first='Brian' last='Mcmillan'] ATH, Bamberg-Ehrhardt   There might be a hotter QB in the state than Mcmillan. He followed up his 305-yard four touchdown performance to throw for six touchdowns in leading the Red Raiders to a 48-20 win over previously unbeaten Carvers Bay. He now has 44 touchdown passes on the season and is showing no signs of slowing down.   [player_tooltip player_id='1741086' first='Dominic' last='Russell'] LB, Hammer White DL, [player_tooltip player_id='1824612' first='Garrett' last='Andy'] DL and [player_tooltip player_id='640683' first='Kevin' last='Johnson'] QB, Northwood   Nearly everything went correct for the Chargers in the 61-7 win over Heathwood Hall that gave them the SCISA Class 4A state championship. Let's start with Russell (pictured), White and Andy on the defensive side of things. After allowing the Highlanders 67 yards of offense on the first series, they held them to a negative 16 yards the rest of the way. White and Andy pushed the line into the backfield and Russell and Cody McCleary were right there to clean everything else up. Not to be overshadowed, Johnson and the offense scored on nine of 10 possessions. The junior threw for 340 yards with [player_tooltip player_id='1734610' first='Aydan' last='Hogan'] catching three of his five TD passes.

It was the third round of the playoffs and as we advance to each round, you see the performances become more crucial. Numbers began to fly off the charts. The stars simply don't want to turn the pads in on Monday.