Week 10 Upper State Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was Week 10 and region titles were won while other results set up big-time matchups this coming week to conclude the regular season on the final weekend of October.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What we saw across the Upstate was a mix of a lot of old with some new talent jumping to the forefront and carrying their teams to the ever-important victories.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Without further ado, let's get to this week's Game Ball selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106779' first='Bennett' last='Hyde']</strong> LB, <strong>Ean Johannan</strong> DE, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='379094' first='Lyndez' last='Smith']</strong> LB, Eastside</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles held on for a 12-7 victory over Mauldin thanks to a strong defensive effort from these three. Hyde and Johannan led the charge with 11 total tackles each, but Smith did his damage on the backfield. He had six tackles but five of those were tackles for loss with a sack and four quarterback hurries. He also added a fumble recovery, an interception and two passes defended.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='463113' first='Gideon' last='Merhib']</strong> QB, Byrnes</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Rebels clinched the region I-5A title with a 56-20 win over JL Mann. Merhib had a near perfect night, going 11-of-14 for 235 yards while star running back and LSU commit <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036721' first='Tre' last='Segarra']</strong> had 208 yards rushing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>RJ Byrd</strong> RB, Boiling Springs</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs put up 404 yards on the ground in a 49-28 win over Spartanburg. Byrd had 12 runs for 148 carries while quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819429' first='Imri' last='Logan']</strong> had 129 yards rushing and two touchdowns on the ground to go along with 159 yards and two touchdowns in the air. One went to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1665369' first='Djay' last='Leak']</strong>, which was an 80-yard strike.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='232624' first='Xavier' last='Means']</strong> QB, Northwestern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans clinched first place in region II-5A with a 49-20 rout over Fort Mill on Friday night. Means was balanced with 272 yards and three touchdowns rushing while going 18-of-24 through the air for 264 yards and three touchdowns to three different receivers. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1476906' first='Kadin' last='Vassel']</strong> was the leading receiver with three catches for 100 yards along with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1718680' first='Payton' last='Vining']</strong> with five catches for 68 yards and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='513067' first='Malik' last='Ratliff']</strong> for five catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2371139' first='Ian' last='Danson']</strong> WR <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1191778' first='Shannon' last='Lytes']</strong> RB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1817398' first='Caleb' last='Schrodt']</strong> LB, Lexington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Wildcats needed overtime to defeat Chapin 31-24 and each of the three listed above played a huge role in it. Danson had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and added one reception for 24 yards. Lytes rushed the ball 20 times for 125 yards and one touchdown. Lexington scored first in the OT on an [player_tooltip player_id='1848408' first='Easton' last='Crocker'] 1-yard run and then Schrodt had the play of the night. Chapin was trying to answer that OT score when Schrodt made the tackle short of the goal line on fourth down. He finished with 10 tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Collin Carter</strong> DB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824104' first='Reece' last='Huffstetler']</strong> LB, and <strong>Chance Bryant</strong> DB, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Gators defense held White Knoll in check over the final three quarters in a 49-6 victory. Carter and Huffstetler each had 10 tackles with Huffstetler adding a tackle for loss and Carter registering a pass breakup. Bryant had four total tackles but his 80-yard Pick 6 late in the third quarter to help seal the victory. &nbsp;[player_tooltip player_id='1422592' first='Caleb' last='Pinkney'] contributed 176 yards of total offense that included a 62-yard TD sprint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26833622/6a94959e991cfd6e7492f743u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6addf9966abc9"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='429920' first='Sam' last='Holliday']</strong> QB, Fountain Inn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior quarterback was clicking in the pass and run game in the Fury's 28-14 win over Laurens on Friday. He threw for 194 yards and two touchdowns to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1339520' first='BJ' last='Curenton']</strong> and <strong>Ben Ruwe</strong>. He ran for 150 yards on 26 carries for a touchdown as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036755' first='Kendaris' last='Bailey']</strong> ATH, Gaffney</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaffney had a final tuneup before facing Greenville of the region title next week in a 48-0 victory over Riverside. Bailey (pictured above) recorded five tackles with two tackles for loss and two sacks on defense and added a touchdown and 17 yards rushing on offense. It total, seven different Indians scored. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1077186' first='Corey' last='Taylor']</strong> threw three touchdown passes and 150 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaqwon Haygood</strong> RB and <strong>Kevarion Massey</strong> RB, Greenville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Red Raiders finished with 609 yards of total offense in a 55-0 victory over Wade Hampton. Haygood and Massey did the bulk of the damage on the ground, and each scored three times. Massey was the leading rusher with 127 yards on 12 carries with Haygood chipping in with 108 yards on nine attempts. Kilshawn Farrow had 90 yards rushing and a touchdown but also threw for 262 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2106784' first='Xavier' last='Sammet']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816751' first='Calvin' last='McCoy']</strong> RB, Greer</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Yellow Jackets sophomore signal caller was solid in the 44-7 win over Travelers Rest. He finished 15-of-24 for 266 yards and three touchdowns and added 27 yards rushing and a touchdown on six carries. McCoy accounted for four total touchdowns – two rushing and two receiving. McCoy had 198 yards of total offense, rushing for 119 yards on 14 carries and adding 79 yards receiving on two catches.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467825' first='Matt' last='Kucia']</strong> QB, Indian Land</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kucia continued his connection to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822507' first='Kenneth' last='Wilson']</strong> in the touchdown department. He connected with him on a 10-yard pass and another one touchdown on 4th down in the third quarter in the Warriors' 21-13 win over Clover. <strong>Kylan Foye</strong> had a 92-yard kickoff return for TD in the win as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2256143' first='King' last='Davis']</strong> WR, South Pointe</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Davis found the end zone in a variety of ways on Friday -- the first was a 60-yard punt return for touchdown. The second came from a 24-yard touchdown reception from <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822179' first='Braylon' last='Frederick']</strong> in the Stallions' 49-6 win over York to end the regular season. Frederick also found the end zone on the ground. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1301750' first='Cash' last='Truesdale']</strong> found the end zone from 50 yards out as well as the big-play was huge for South Pointe in this one.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/26694017/6adc3e18f5174c6a4b085c74u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6addf9966ac16"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821552' first='Will' last='Gambrill']</strong> QB, Catawba Ridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gambrill continues to be comfortable in the Copperheads offense -- he connected on two touchdowns in the Copperheads' 52-14 win over Lake Wylie. He connected with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824270' first='Carson' last='Boutwell']</strong> on a 13-yard score and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821553' first='Calvin' last='Rocheleau']</strong> on a 44-yard strike.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Gee'Onte McClain</strong> DB, Lancaster</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bruins came up big in a 28-22 victory over Dreher that sets the stage for a winner-take-all battle with Lugoff-Elgin next week for the region title. McClain had three interceptions and helped hold off the Blue Devils after Lancaster took the lead with 3:30 remaining.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823858' first='Zach' last='Williams']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2178856' first='Tristan' last='Young']</strong> LB, Lugoff-Elgin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Williams was efficient if nothing else in the Demons 43-12 victory over Richland Northeast. The junior accounted for five total touchdowns in setting up a region showdown with Lancaster next week. He completed 11-of-13 passes for 231 yards and four touchdowns while adding a five-yard TD run on his only rushing attempt of the game. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603854' first='Eric' last='Richardson']</strong> caught three of the touchdowns and finished his evening with five receptions for 138 yards to go along with six tackles and a tackle for loss. Young was all over the field on defense as the senior finished with 18 total tackles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1581467' first='Brooks' last='Dow']</strong> QB, Pickens</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Blue Flames senior quarterback only played into the third quarter in a 49-14 victory over Walhalla but he made the most of his night. He finished 13-of-17 for 229 yards and four touchdowns while adding 63 yards rushing on six attempts. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1821136' first='Harrison' last='Clark']</strong> caught two touchdowns with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823740' first='Cam' last='Wilson']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823748' first='Issac' last='Arnold']</strong> catching the other two.</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 and the Panthers continued their winning ways, getting to 9-0 on the year with a 49-6 victory over Union County on Friday. The sophomore quarterback threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns -- one to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615119' first='Teagan' last='Cantrell']</strong> and the other to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822135' first='Caden' last='Lachica']. </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/22564391/6addf25b9769ad92e3736c5bu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6addf9966ac3d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1809341' first='John' last='Campbell']</strong> ATH, <strong>Barrett Barnhill</strong> ATH, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820807' first='Sam' last='Patterson']</strong> RB, St Joseph's</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The trio of seniors had spectacular nights in a 55-7 victory over Liberty. Campbell scored a total of three touchdowns, two on offense and one on defense. Campbell finished with 66 yards rushing on four carries with two touchdowns and added 10 tackles, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble and a Pick-6 on defense. Barnhill chipped in with seven tackles and a fumble recovery that he returned 48 yards for a score. Patterson paced the rushing attack that had 347 yards with 112 yards on six carries and a score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2082969' first='Aaron' last='Gilliam']</strong> ATH, Southside Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilliam accounted for seven total touchdowns and 379 yards of total offense as the Sabres knocked off Chesnee 58-21. The senior ran the ball 17 times for 219 yards and five touchdowns and added 160 yards passing and two scores in going 5-of-8 on the night. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1819583' first='Cole' last='Brancati']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1818254' first='Ryder' last='Smith']</strong> each caught a TD pass. Gilliam also added eight tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception and a fumble recovery. Southside Christian plays Mountain View Prep next week for the region title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19528441/6adcc5a9f5174c6a4b0e4f3bu0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6addf9966ac62"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jacoby Kelly</strong> QB, Mountain View Prep</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kelly had a big night in a 43-33 shootout win over Woodruff, as he threw for 243 yards and five touchdowns. His primary targets were <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672912' first='Chase' last='Richards']</strong> (101 yards, 2 TDs) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1938780' first='Caden' last='Hunter']</strong> (3 catches, 73 yards). The Stars have a showdown with Southside Christian for the region title next week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Terrance Cook</strong> QB, Batesburg-Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It would be an understatement that Cook is a different player in October than he was in August. The sophomore is gaining more and more confidence each week as the Panthers have put together a five-game winning streak. In a 63-6 victory over Whitmire, Cook accounted for six total touchdowns. He ran the ball six times for 116 yards and scored on runs of 10, 52, 20 and 5 yards. He was 3-of-6 passing for 119 yards and two touchdowns. He threw a 50-yard TD to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824403' first='Graham' last='Pierce']</strong> and later connected with Pierce on a 58-yard scoring toss.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen']</strong> QB, Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles senior quarterback put the team squarely on his back in the fourth quarter and it was just enough in a 40-30 thriller over Lamar. Louallen finished with 185 rushing and 146 yards passing but more importantly, he scored two late touchdowns to seal the victory. He scored on a 10-yard run to give Central the lead then added a 43-yard TD to seal it and keep Central undefeated on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->