Touchstone Energy Bowl Notebook

Brandon Stockdale December 13, 2025 @ 09:52 PM

MYRTLE BEACH | Let's dive into some of the notes of the 2025 Touchstone Energy Bowl between the North and South team, and there were no shortage of storylines. <a href="https://prepredzone.com/2025/12/north-holds-off-south-in-thriller/">We have a separate game story with highlights as well:</a>   NORTHWESTERN'S WATKINS WINS MR. FOOTBALL   [player_tooltip player_id='1267200' first='Tamarion' last='Watkins'] walked away with the highest honor in South Carolina high school football on Saturday afternoon, capping off his state championship senior campaign.   “The opportunity to hold this trophy and know that it's mine, I just thank my community and coaches for everything they've done,” Watkins said.   KEY SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS LEADING TO SCORES   Ridge View's [player_tooltip player_id='1818714' first='Carter' last='Coleman'] had a 32-yard kickoff return to the North's 46-yard line. He followed it up with a one handed catch inside the 10 from Aaden McCarthy, leading to a South field goal. McCarthy walked away with MVP honors for the South team, throwing for 193 yards and two touchdowns.   Indian Land's [player_tooltip player_id='1592633' first='Michael' last='Foster'] (pictured above) had a blocked punt, setting up a [player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown'] touchdown run to give them some distance in the third quarter. The Clemson signee was all over the place with tackles.   “I came out there, and I was supposed to go into (the) B gap, but I saw two of these kids right here and they were kind of looking unsure so I just made the adjustment and I thought, “I've got to get that,” Foster said of the blocked punt.   Clinton's [player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook'] had the big kickoff return for a touchdown that helped extend the North team's lead in the fourth quarter.   FLYING AROUND ON DEFENSE   Westside's [player_tooltip player_id='1165096' first='Jaxx' last='Wilson'] had an excellent pass break with a pass over the middle that was well thrown. He timed it perfectly to get in the way of the ball.   Ashley Ridge's [player_tooltip player_id='454066' first='Malquan' last='Pimentel'] came with pressure for the South team on a second down before [player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'], who won MVP for the South defense, chased down the quarterback on third down, forcing a field goal in the second quarter. Gordon finished with 8 tackles.   Blue Ridge's [player_tooltip player_id='1738823' first='Gavin' last='Forrester'] nearly had an interception in the third quarter while Gilbert's [player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze'] finished with seven tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='828831' first='Damarion' last='Roman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1823889' first='Tavious' last='Williams'] had four tackles respectively while Christ Church's [player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins'] had one pass breakup. Gaffney's [player_tooltip player_id='1394986' first='Zyon' last='Ratchford'] led the North team with six tackles.   [player_tooltip player_id='1025808' first='Chris' last='Stewart'] from Andrews had a key tackle for loss on second down for the South team late in the contest.

MYRTLE BEACH | Let's dive into some of the notes of the 2025 Touchstone Energy Bowl between the North and South team, and there were no shortage of storylines. We have a separate game story with highlights as well: