Week 10 Lower State Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the playoffs rapidly approaching, teams need standout performances more than ever.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 10 saw plenty of stellar showcases from players throughout the Lower State, but these stood above the rest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are the 30 players who are Game Ball recipients this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rondrell Livingston</strong> RB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1304767' first='Larkin' last='Powell'] </strong>QB, Johhsonville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822707' first='Zaghe' last='Davis']</strong> out due to injury, the Flashes' backfield tandem stepped up in a big way to lead Johnsonville to a 42-27 win over Andrews. Livingston rushed for a game-high 108 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, while Powell added two rushing touchdowns to go along with his 169 yards passing and a score through the air.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2205157' first='Javon' last='Besselieu'] </strong>TE/DE, Andrews</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Andrews might have come up short against Johnsonville, but Besselieu was a one-man wrecking crew for the Yellow Jackets. The sophomore totaled 12 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss on defense, caught two passes for 28 yards and a touchdown on offense, and blocked a field goal on special teams for good measure. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2325388' first='Marshaun' last='Porchia']</strong> LB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1647300' first='Antonio' last='Smalls'] </strong>DB, Berkeley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Berkeley remained undefeated in Region VI-5A with a 42-0 win over Cane Bay. Rivers (pictured) threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 127 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries. Porchia tallied 10 tackles and made the most of his lone carry of the night, rumbling 27 yards for a touchdown. Smalls finished with four tackles and an interception to help the Stags post their first shutout in region play this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1909406' first='Avery' last='Coyle']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1802495' first='Darryl' last='Hill']</strong> WR, Saluda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saluda clinched the Region IV-2A championship in thrilling fashion with a 31-27 win over Strom Thurmond, thanks in no small part to the aerial tandem of Coyle and Hill. The duo connected for a 78-yard touchdown in the first quarter and made the game-winning play with 45 seconds to go. Trailing 27-24, Coyle hit Hill for a 24-yard score to give the Tigers the title. Coyle finished 10-of-18 for 218 yards and added 39 yards rushing, while Hill caught four passes for 144 yards, including both of Coyle's touchdown tosses. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823534' first='Ryker' last='Woolstenhulme']</strong> LB/RB, Mid-Carolina</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Woolstenhulme helped Mid-Carolina keep its undefeated season alive in a 37-28 win over Keenan. The senior scored a touchdown on offense, another on defense, and kicked a 27-yard field goal as the Rebels are now one win away from their first outright region title since 1991. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19765133/6adae8a0c4569fc45ca53ea6u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adcbcdf3d49a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672924' first='Kendall' last='Wright']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823421' first='Jaylen' last='Brost']</strong> RB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809066' first='Chandler' last='Guthrie']</strong> WR, Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilbert's three-headed offensive monster produced fireworks in a 43-14 win over Swansea. Facing his former team, Wright threw for 224 yards and touchdowns, while tacking on 71 yards rushing and two more scores. Both of his touchdown passes went to Guthrie, who finished with eight catches for 177 yards and added an interception. Brost ran 19 times for 101 yards and scored two touchdowns of his own.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422632' first='Makel' last='Stephens']</strong> RB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422629' first='Roderick' last='Purcha'] </strong>ATH, Loris</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Stephens and Purcha were the definition of efficiency in the Lions' 51-6 win over Lakewood. The duo accounted for six touchdowns on just 16 combined touches. Stephens rushed seven times for 83 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 11.9 yards per carry. Purcha was even more explosive, carrying the ball five times for 94 yards (18.8 yards per carry) and two scores. He also got involved in the passing game, hauling four catches for 103 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422638' first='Cam' last='James'] </strong>RB, South Florence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>James propelled South Florence to the Region VII-4A title with a career night on the ground in the Bruins' 40-29 win over North Myrtle Beach. The standout tailback rushed for a career-high 291 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries. A home run threat throughout the evening, James scored on runs of 64 and 73 yards, while adding a 66-yard jaunt late in the fourth quarter that set up the final South Florence score of the night. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672894' first='Brady' last='McDowell']</strong> WR, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823591' first='Matthew' last='Kellner']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581470' first='George' last='Handley']</strong> DL, Carolina Forest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a 42-34 overtime win over Wando, McDowell was the definition of "unstoppable." The junior wideout caught nine passes for 292 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner. His quarterback certainly knew where to go with the ball. All of Kellner's passing yardage in the game went to McDowell. Meanwhile, Handley racked up 12 tackles and a sack. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1657436' first='Colton' last='Freeman']</strong> LB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1422535' first='Jayvin' last='Risher']</strong> ATH, Hilton Head</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Seahawks wrapped up the Region VI-4A title with a dominant 48-7 win over Colleton County. Freeman and Risher anchored a defense that has now allowed 14 combined points in its last three games. Freeman finished with nine tackles, three tackles for loss, and a sack, while Risher posted eight tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Risher also rushed for 74 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19713617/6adc58185465ce26db698383u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adcb4a83ee28"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jose Betancourt</strong> K, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824413' first='Malachi' last='Nelson']</strong> LB, Dillon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A chance to kick the game-winning field goal as time expires to win a region championship? Yep, that'll get you a Game Ball. Betancourt booted a 22-yard field goal to give Dillon a 17-14 victory over Marlboro County and the Region VI-2A title. Meanwhile, Nelson helped shut down the Bulldog defense with 16 total tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/23297088/6adcb40bf5174c6a4b0d9b62u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adcb7cd69a24"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2246636' first='Isaiah' last='Smith']</strong> WR, Camden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith caught a touchdown pass and returned a kickoff for a score to help the Bulldogs secure the Region IV-3A championship with a 41-13 win over Lower Richland. With a 7-2 record, Camden has a chance to be the No. 1 overall seed in the Lower State playoff bracket with a win next week at Airport.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1856841' first='Britton' last='Davis']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820287' first='Ethan' last='Singletary']</strong> WR, and <strong>Demarion Arrington</strong> WR, Irmo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets lit up the scoreboard in a 52-0 victory over Aiken to wrap up second place in Region V-4A. Davis tossed six touchdown passes as Singletary and Arrington each caught two scores.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1331923' first='Gabriel' last='Williams']</strong> RB, Conway</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams continued his torrid season in Conway's 41-13 win over St. James, rushing 34 times for 255 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers moved into a three-way tie for second place in Region VII-4A entering the final week of the regular season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817934' first='Cam' last='Werntz']</strong> QB, Porter-Gaud </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Porter-Gaud may have suffered a 21-20 loss to Northwood Academy, but Werntz did all he could for the Cyclones, completing 28 of his 36 passes for a staggering 505 yards and three touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='840548' first='Tre' last='Howard']</strong> QB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172363' first='Khristian' last='Jackson']</strong> WR, Ridge View</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blazers continued their late-season hot streak with a 57-28 victory over Gray Collegiate on Thursday to give them their first region title since 2007. Howard threw for 258 yards and four touchdowns. Jackson caught one of those touchdown tosses and added a kickoff return for a score in the first quarter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19474067/6adb59fef5174c6a4b012cfdu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6adcb4a83ee50"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->