Touchstone Energy Bowl Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MYRTLE BEACH</strong> | 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></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>NORTHWESTERN'S WATKINS WINS MR. FOOTBALL</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267200' first='Tamarion' last='Watkins'] </strong>walked away with the highest honor in South Carolina high school football on Saturday afternoon, capping off his state championship senior campaign.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>KEY SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYS LEADING TO SCORES</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ridge View's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818714' first='Carter' last='Coleman'] </strong>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 <strong>Aaden McCarthy</strong>, leading to a South field goal. McCarthy walked away with MVP honors for the South team, throwing for 193 yards and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indian Land's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592633' first='Michael' last='Foster'] </strong>(pictured above) had a blocked punt, setting up a <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165128' first='RJ' last='Brown'] </strong>touchdown run to give them some distance in the third quarter. The Clemson signee was all over the place with tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“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 <em>got </em>to get that,” Foster said of the blocked punt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clinton's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1161156' first='Javen' last='Cook'] </strong>had the big kickoff return for a touchdown that helped extend the North team's lead in the fourth quarter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>FLYING AROUND ON DEFENSE</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Westside's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165096' first='Jaxx' last='Wilson'] </strong>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ashley Ridge's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='454066' first='Malquan' last='Pimentel'] </strong>came with pressure for the South team on a second down before <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='816736' first='Terry' last='Gordon'], </strong>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.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blue Ridge's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1738823' first='Gavin' last='Forrester'] </strong>nearly had an interception in the third quarter while Gilbert's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1043170' first='Wynn' last='Meetze'] </strong>finished with seven tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='828831' first='Damarion' last='Roman'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823889' first='Tavious' last='Williams'] </strong>had four tackles respectively while Christ Church's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1213961' first='Anthony' last='Atkins'] </strong>had one pass breakup. Gaffney's <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394986' first='Zyon' last='Ratchford'] </strong>led the North team with six tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025808' first='Chris' last='Stewart'] </strong>from Andrews had a key tackle for loss on second down for the South team late in the contest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->