Week 1 Upper State Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From outstanding offensive performances in a few high scoring affairs, to some defenders making plays at critical times to secure wins, Week 1 of the 2026 season had a little bit of everything. This week was also headlined by weather issues due to storms across the state with some teams playing on Thursday, while others were delayed on Friday and played into the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here's a look at noteworthy performances from the Upper State from Week 1:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816751' first='Calvin' last='McCoy'] </strong>RB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106784' first='Xavier' last='Sammet']</strong> QB, Greer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both McCoy and Sammet were key offensive contributors for the Yellow Jackets in their 45-31 opening win over Woodmont. McCoy rushed for 207 yards on 28 carries and three touchdowns, while recording three receptions for 27 yards and if that's not enough, he had two interceptions on the night on defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sammet had an efficient night, going 14-for-17 for 173 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 12 carries for 130 yards, showing off his dual-threat capabilities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581467' first='Brooks' last='Dow']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1708840' first='David' last='Bolden'] </strong>RB, Pickens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dow and Bolden went bonkers for the Blue Flame in a wild 61-41 shootout win over Easley. Dow (pictured above) is committed to the University of South Carolina commit and he was active in the run game, rushing for 20 carries for 301 yards and six touchdowns. He runs right behind his offensive line and is able to find the open holes and is not afraid of contact (see video below).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/16449362/6a894130e06a8ba6452cbb63u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a89f54a17379"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bolden had 14 carries for 259 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821139' first='Rylie' last='Johnson'] </strong>ATH, Pickens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Johnson had an outstanding night on the ground, rushing for 124 yards on 11 carries in the season opening win over Easley. He can flip over and play on defense as well, and it will be interesting to see how he works into the rotation that way.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] </strong>RB, Dorman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Means rushed for 16 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns in the Cavaliers' 40-30 win over Hillcrest to open the season. He also had a touchdown catch of 65 yards as well. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='755890' first='Amire' last='White']</strong> RB, Gaffney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>White was key in the Indians' 24-20 win over rival Spartanburg to open the season. He rushed for 264 yards on 22 carries for three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Zee Allen</strong> ATH <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen']</strong> QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817468' first='Dylan' last='Tomberlin'] </strong>ATH and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817469' first='Aidan' last='Welch'] </strong>ATH, Central&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Allen had a solid night for the Eagles in their opening win in a 49-21 rout over Lewisville, rushing for 131 yards on 11 carries for two touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 49 yards. Louallen finished 7-of-10 for 92 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 65 yards on seven carries and a touchdown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tomberlin nabbed an interception while finding the end zone once in the air. Welch also got an interception in the win as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818281' first='Jamearion' last='Williams'] </strong>ATH and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823424' first='Jamiere' last='Killingsworth']</strong>, Abbeville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams was active in a wild 35-33 shootout win over Saluda. He rushed for 172 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, averaging 11.5 yards per carry. Killingsworth rushed for 91yards on 17 carries and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] </strong>RB, Spartanburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even in a losing effort to Gaffney to open the year, Lynch still made his presence felt with 264 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries. The Rutgers commit is a big physical back that is tough to bring down with one guy and he will cause issues for opponents all throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Davian Southward</strong> and <strong>Aiden Welch </strong>DB, Fort Mill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Southward had two first half interceptions as the Yellow Jackets dominated Clover in a 28-7 win at home to open the season. Welch had two interceptions in the win as well. The Yellow Jackets' defense forced five total turnovers on an excellent night defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603697' first='Zymier' last='Gordon-Miles'] </strong>ATH and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615102' first='Jay'Sean' last='Culp'] </strong>DL, Rock Hill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gordon-Miles helped the Bearcats secure an impressive 24-14 win over Irmo with a fourth quarter interception and a touchdown. Culp was active on the defensive line, getting in for multiple tackles for loss and overwhelming the offensive line for the Yellow Jackets (see video below). This wraps up a big week for Culp, who just received an offer from Wake Forest on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22613385/6a893b7d545db8386bdc4ceeu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a89f042e78e5"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809182' first='Tyler' last='Gindoff'] </strong>LB, Catawba Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gindoff was the leader for the Copperheads defense in a 24-6 win over Blythewood. He got in on several tackles, while also recording an interception and a scoop-and-score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1600293' first='Davis' last='Taylor'] </strong>QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1078102' first='Darius' last='Carter'] </strong>WR, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Taylor had 171 yards of offense while tossing a touchdown to Carter in the Gators' 41-14 rout over Cane Bay. To go along with the touchdown, the Coastal Carolina commit in Carter had 118 yards receiving on seven receptions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819577' first='Ashton' last='Moore']</strong> QB, Chapman </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Moore had an impressive start to the 2026 campaign for the Panthers, as he tossed two passing touchdowns along with one on the ground in their 28-6 win over Eastside. He has an impressive release to where only his receiver can catch it and he has the size and pocket presence to find the open guy. When he gets in the open field, he's fun to watch (video below).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22564391/6a8981726614db17217c0458u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a89f54a173eb"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->