GSPD Mid-Season Report

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Grand Strand &amp; Pee Dee has had an interesting first five weeks of the 2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chasing an offseason of realignment and other change, the opportunity to focus on ball was welcome. And what we've seen is a frenetic start in a loaded Class 4A region, some exciting developments from those in Class 3A and a jammed Class A that still leaves us with more questions than answers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Put it all together with the two schools in the state's largest division and a couple of contenders in Class 2A, and the rest of the season is starting to look more and more like a weekly dogfight in this zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>BIGGEST SURPRISE</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The GSPD has has a number of players who were flying under the radar back in early August but have more than made their mark through the first five weeks. And it would be difficult to start anywhere else but in Little River.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach, coming off a 3-8 season in which it failed to keep up with much of anyone, stands at 5-0 heading into this week's game at Wilson. It's not difficult to see why. Tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1824442' first='Jayden' last='Wilson'] has rushed for 679 yards and six touchdowns despite missing the season open. Quarterbacks [player_tooltip player_id='1823442' first='Mason' last='Walker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1816395' first='Evan' last='Barrett'] are alternating roughly every two series and keeping the offense moving. Receivers [player_tooltip player_id='1664629' first='Jaden' last='Chestnut'] (377 yards, six touchdowns) has been joined by sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2370994' first='Taron' last='Scott'] (156 yards, one touchdown), [player_tooltip player_id='2234364' first='Anthony' last='Cimino'] (141 yards, one touchdown) and soon will have another sophomore in tow when [player_tooltip player_id='1818489' first='Justin' last='Brown'] gets up to speed.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, [player_tooltip player_id='1816392' first='Camren' last='Jordan'] (35 tackles, 11 TFL, 3.5 sacks), [player_tooltip player_id='1820054' first='Jimmy' last='McCullough'] (26 tackles, two forced fumbles), [player_tooltip player_id='1822557' first='Bannon' last='Hill'] (29 tackles, one fumble recovery) and [player_tooltip player_id='1822564' first='Dustin' last='Clement'] (18 tackles, one forced fumble, pictured) have been swarming opposing offenses and making life difficult.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Did we mention the Chiefs have one of the most dangerous kickers in the state? [player_tooltip player_id='1817711' first='Nico' last='Miller'] has rediscovered his groove after a rough 2025 season. He's now a consistent touchback producer on kickoffs and has reliable range as a kicker from anywhere inside 45 yards while averaging 38 yards per punt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Are the Chiefs a state title contender? That's a stretch. But the rejuvenation is hard to not pinpoint as an amazing rise from a program that hasn't had a winning record since 2020, when it played for the Class 4A title.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>PLAYERS GETTING HOT AT THE RIGHT TIME</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The last few weeks in particular have been eye-opening from a number of players around zone.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the most part, these were players who were already identified as potential rising stars, but who have proven themselves worthy of even more attention.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We start at Carolina Forest, where receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell'] has quietly put himself into the all-state conversation. He started relatively slow with a one-catch performance against West Florence in the season opener. Since then, he's been red hot. The speedster has 18 catches for 499 yards and seven touchdowns in the last four weeks. His production has served as the bulk of the production for <strong>Matt Kellner</strong> (the team's first-year starting QB).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of quarterbacks, we're starting to see South Florence's [player_tooltip player_id='1823525' first='De'Eric' last='Davis'] find a rhythm that works for him. Because of his size, he came into the season with a ton of hype despite having never started a game. The first couple weeks included a lot of ugly. That was to be expected, as the Bruins were also operating with nearly an entire new coaching staff. However, Davis is starting to look like a game changer. Take his game against Gray Collegiate on Friday, for instance. In that one, he only attempted six passes. But what he did do was use his legs. He ran for a career-high 182 yards and four touchdowns, giving him nine touchdowns on the ground. More importantly, South is on a three-game winning streak heading into this week's region game at Myrtle Beach.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nearby West Florence took a huge blow when starting quarterback <strong>Carter Wherry</strong> was knocked out (presumably for the season) in the team's season opener against Carolina Forest. Wherry, just a freshman, has huge promise. But it essentially left the team without a signal caller. No worries. The Knights have gone all in on the running game. [player_tooltip player_id='1738331' first='Matt' last='Benjamin'] (452 yards, eight touchdowns), [player_tooltip player_id='2370991' first='Jeremiah' last='Smiling-Waiters'] (377, two) and [player_tooltip player_id='1820596' first='Jeremiah' last='Bryant'] (278, two) have continued to pound the rock behind a pretty darn good offensive line. It hasn't worked each week, but at this point, West is just fine with the arrangement. That's because of a powerful offensive line led by tackles [player_tooltip player_id='1823170' first='James' last='Tuttle'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1737562' first='Jayden' last='Walcott'] are capable of wearing down opponents and clock.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>REGION GAMES TO CIRCLE</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Carvers Bay at Johnsonville, Friday</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's difficult to think this won't be the de facto region championship. We covered this matchup a year ago, and the Bears will be hoping for a repeat. That will mean tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1820184' first='Dominique' last='Walker'] keeping up some of the same head-turning plays. The Flashes aren't walking in empty handed. Tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1822707' first='Zaghe' last='Davis'] and quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1304767' first='Larkin' last='Powell'] are as seasoned as they come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>South Florence at Myrtle Beach, Friday</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The aforementioned Bruin's rushing attack from Davis and tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1422638' first='Cam' last='James'] (745 yards, seven touchdowns) is a potential monster. And while [player_tooltip player_id='1672909' first='Camden' last='DeBruhl'] and the Seahawk offense is staring to click, Myrtle Beach defenders <strong>TJ Brown</strong> and <strong>Anino Bowman</strong> will have to bring their A game to get South's offense off the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Berkeley at Carolina Forest, October 9</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers should be favored against every other region opponent on the schedule, but keeping the region crown in the Grand Strand will mean taking down a high-power Stags' offense. Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1577696' first='Connor' last='Ross'] (44 tackles, one sack) and defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1581470' first='George' last='Handley'] (19 tackles, seven sacks) will have their hands full.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Loris at Hartsville, October 16</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you like point factories, this is the game for you to attend. Loris tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1422632' first='Makel' last='Stephens'] (875 yards, 14 touchdowns has been electric. First-year starting quarterback Ayden Scott (915 yards, 10 touchdowns) has adjusted well after moving into the area. And receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha'] (315 yards, four touchdowns) is leading a diversified and otherwise mostly new group on the outside. Hartsville has been slowed by game delays and cancellations, but don't sleep on tailback [player_tooltip player_id='1672833' first='Trace' last='Hillian'] (278 yards, six touchdowns), quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1615056' first='Ford' last='Wallace'] (179 rushing yards, 295 passing yards) or top receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1672848' first='CJ' last='Hickmon'] (208 yards, two touchdowns).&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Marlboro County at Dillon, October 23</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Go ahead and start drooling now. [player_tooltip player_id='1818233' first='Jamorie' last='Williams'] [player_tooltip player_id='905534' first='Jaden' last='Ashe'] [player_tooltip player_id='651061' first='Patrick' last='Williams'] [player_tooltip player_id='1821221' first='Layton' last='Chavis'] and the rest of the Marlboro defense are the real deal. They've allowed all of 50 points through four games (all wins). Dillon's offensive line will be busy. And that's where offensive linemen [player_tooltip player_id='2058589' first='Jaylen' last='Bacote'] [player_tooltip player_id='1818275' first='Marcus' last='White'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2348815' first='Trey' last='Coward'] will have to be at their best.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->