Week 6 Upper State Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It might have been the first time this season, but weather was not an issue at any venue across the state on the final Friday night in September. It was football weather with temperatures in the 50's and 60's as we head to October and everyone will be into region play. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That in turn allowed for several outstanding performances across the Upstate. Here is a look at the players that earn our Game Balls for Week 6 of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Corde Haddon</strong> ATH, Abbeville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers were clicking on all three phases in a 70-12 victory over Calhoun Falls and Haddon was right at the forefront. The senior returned two punts for touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown before ending his night with an interception. He scored on a 75-yard punt return in the first quarter and added another</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Terrance Cook</strong> QB, Batesburg-Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Panthers earned their first victory of the season in a 35-28 overtime victory over Clinton. They trailed 28-13 but forced OT with 16 seconds remaining to allow Cook to connect with [player_tooltip player_id='1824403' first='Graham' last='Pierce'] for a 10-yard TD pass in the extra period. Cook finished with 169 yards and added 112 yards rushing while accounting for four touchdowns. Pierce capped his night with five catches for 133 yards and two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kobi McDonald</strong> QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1271257' first='Nick' last='Gordon'] WR, Cheraw</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This duo continued to be a nightmare for opposing defense. McDonald threw four touchdowns, three to Gordon, and rushed for another score in a 48-21 win over Lee Central. McDonald and Gordon connected on TD passes from 30, 13 and 19 yards. McDonald added a 52-yard scoring pass to Kamari Cue. McDonald scored on a 7-yard run as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1664350' first='Nick' last='Means'] RB, Dorman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Means was dominant in a 48-35 victory over Sumter. The senior rushed for 295 yards and three touchdowns to help the Cavaliers remain undefeated heading into region play. He also added three catches for 24 yards. And did we mention he punted four times with one landing inside the 20. Means scored on runs of 23, 77 and 5 yards. [player_tooltip player_id='1820160' first='Cooper' last='Patterson'] threw three touchdowns and ran for one in the win as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1823705' first='Jaxon' last='Knotts'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1422528' first='Maleek' last='Miller'] WR, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've talked about this combination all season and they seem to be hitting a stride with region play right around the corner. These two just started playing together this season but they have already reached a high chemistry level. Knotts finished 25-of-34 for 282 yards and four touchdowns. Two of the TD passes went to Miller in the 42-7 win over Gray Collegiate. Miller caught eight passes for 94 yards and touchdowns from 17 and 50 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2190455' first='Joe' last='Moore'] RB, Emerald</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings junior attacked the school record books in a wild 55-54 victory over Saluda. He toted the rock 28 times for 310 yards and six touchdowns. That gives him 18 rushing touchdowns on the season. He scored on runs of 11, 3, 4, 36, 6 and 35 yards. The 35-yarder with 6:19 remaining ended up being the game-winner. Saluda scored with 44 seconds remaining to pull within one but the two-point conversion try was no good. A quick shoutout to Tigers QB [player_tooltip player_id='1909406' first='Avery' last='Coyle'] in the loss. He threw for 423 yards and six touchdowns. [player_tooltip player_id='1802495' first='Darryl' last='Hill'] had 10 receptions for 216 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1816746' first='Kenyan' last='Douglas'] RB and Wayne Johnson RB, Fairfield Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class A Griffins easily dispatched Class 5A Spring Valley by a score of 42-0. The duo of Douglas and Johnson both scored twice. Douglas scored on two runs of 26 yards while Johnson added TD runs of 1 and 35 yards. Fairfield Central is undefeated heading into region play and has scored at least 34 points in all six games this season. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1266099' first='Broden' last='Mitcheson'] RB, Fort Mill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mitcheson scored four touchdowns while rushing for 141 yards on 18 carries in a 63-21 victory over Westwood. He went over 2,000 rushing yards in his career on the night. He had scoring runs of 10, 15, and 2 yards. He capped his night with a 90-yard kickoff return for a score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19427828/6ab7dfa6b10e43bd4464fde1u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab7ecbaedcad"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1077186' first='Corey' last='Taylor'] QB, Gaffney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore quarterback is starting to come into his own and he accounted for two touchdowns in a thrilling 20-17 victory over Byrnes. His numbers weren't off the charts but going on the road and winning at one of the toughest places in the state shows the way he's maturing under the spotlight. He ran for a score and threw another in finishing with 103 yards passing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1422617' first='Jackson' last='Conner'] WR, Indian Land</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kucia continued his hot start to the season in a 39-6 win over York. He tossed three touchdown passes to three different receivers. That gives the junior 18 touchdown passes on the season. Connor scored twice – once on a 55-yard kickoff return and added a 16-yard scoring run. Connor has accounted for five touchdowns on a limited number of touches this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1823856' first='Zy'Quarious' last='Clinton'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='2205165' first='Shakeem' last='Witherspoon'] WR, Lancaster</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins rolled to a 49-6 victory over Union County and these two continued to make a solid connection on the offensive side of the ball. They hooked up for two first half touchdowns, including one just before the half that made it 42-0 and ensured a running clock in the second half. Clinton finished with three passing touchdowns and a rushing score. Witherspoon had the two TD catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1191778' first='Shannon' last='Lytes'] RB, [player_tooltip player_id='2210788' first='Noah' last='Dunn'] RB [player_tooltip player_id='2371139' first='Ian' last='Danson'] WR and [player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker'] QB, Lexington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The skill players for the Wildcats were at their best in a 28-21 victory over Blythewood. Lytes rushed for 107 yards and one touchdown on 19 carries. Dunn added 66 yards on 18 carries and scored two fourth quarter TD's to seal the victory. His 9-yard touchdown run with 2:24 remaining ended up being the game-winner. Crocker finished 16-of-25 for 197 yards, and a 53-yard touchdown pass to Danson. Danson finished with 11 receptions for 144 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21461505/6ab74fb54c37bd9891c00b05u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6ab7ecbaedced"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cash Knight</strong> DB/WR, Mid-Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels remained undefeated with a 36-14 win over Brookland-Cayce and Knight scored in three different ways. The senior caught a touchdown pass, returned a punt for a score and added a pick-6 in the dominating victory. That was his fourth receiving TD of the season and second interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1816402' first='Devin' last='Ingram'] QB, North Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ingram filled in at quarterback and threw for two touchdowns in helping the Knights to a 21-20 victory over Chesterfield. The sophomore was 15-of-23 for 211 yards and TD passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1847467' first='Logan' last='Stokes'] and Caleb Egbon. Ingram has played in just two games but had to fill in for senior [player_tooltip player_id='1820699' first='Brayden' last='Price'] on Friday. He stayed calm and directed the offense for the second win of the season. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1718680' first='Payton' last='Vining'] WR, Northwestern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The numbers are starting to look familiar for Means and the Trojans offense. During the four-game winning streak, Northwestern has scored 54, 68, 67 and went for a 56-21 victory over South Pointe. The big play was in effect as Means went 13-of-15 for 433 yards and six touchdowns. He had 222 yards passing at the half. Vining caught three passes for 107 yards and all three of the receptions went for a touchdown. [player_tooltip player_id='513067' first='Malik' last='Ratliff'] went for five catches for 152 yards and two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821280' first='Jayden' last='Wertz'] LB, Powdersville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots won their third in a row and it was another dominating defensive performance in the 38-7 victory over Newberry. The senior linebacker had 13 tackles, two sacks and two tackles for loss. After a slow start to the season, the Powdersville defense has allowed seven points in the last three games. Wertz has been right in the middle of that turnaround.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1172345' first='Trenton' last='Lynch'] RB (pictured above), Spartanburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Vikings senior has moved with 175 yards of being the school's all-time leading rusher after his 262-yard effort in the 39-34 victory over Charlotte Latin. He also added four receptions for 29 yards and one touchdown. Lynch scored on a 6-yard run and then added a 5-yard TD reception from [player_tooltip player_id='1816641' first='Chris' last='Colin'] for Spartanburg's second touchdown. Lynch is nearing the 1,000-yard mark on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821750' first='Cole' last='Brucke'] QB and [player_tooltip player_id='1819476' first='Carter' last='Fountain'] RB, West Oak</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior duo combined to account for six touchdowns in a 54-20 victory over Tri-Cities. Brucke was a perfect 10-for-10 passing for 155 yards and touchdown passes to [player_tooltip player_id='1817593' first='Landon' last='McMillan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1824819' first='Zavier' last='Short']. Fountain accounted for four rushing touchdowns and 149 yards on 16 attempts. Fountain is up to 831 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns on the season. Brucke is completing over 68 percent of his passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1790589' first='Muntu' last='Brown'] RB and [player_tooltip player_id='1672609' first='Josiah' last='Mosley'] RB, Wren</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The lethal 1-2 punch were at their best in a 33-20 victory over previously unbeaten Lugoff-Elgin. Brown carried the bulk of the load after Mosley had to leave the game in the third quarter with an injury. But Brown was up to the challenge and finished with 178 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. He scored on runs of 4 and 33 yards. His 33-yarder in the third quarter capped the scoring and gave the Hurricanes their fifth straight win. Mosley scored on a 49-yard run the first time he touched the ball. He finished with 97 yards on eight attempts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->