Week 8 Lower State Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With region play heating up, teams around the Lower State fought to make their way towards the top of the standings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Week 8 featured plenty of standout performances, but the following stood out from the pack.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here is our rundown of 24 players who earned Game Balls this week.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='644030' first='Xavier' last='Geter']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1615063' first='Preston' last='Smith']</strong> RB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1824057' first='Terrance' last='Smith']</strong> ATH, Midland Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high-flying Mustangs are averaging over 43 points per game and they put on their best performance to date in a 55-31 win over Fox Creek to snap their three-game losing streak. Geter was nearly perfect as he accounted for six total touchdowns, throwing for four scores and 205 yards with just one incompletion while rushing for 65 yards and two touchdowns on just three carries. The former Smith rushed three times for 93 yards and added a 43-yard touchdown reception, while the latter finished with six carries for 101 yards and a score on the ground along with a 69-yard kickoff return touchdown. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19372174/6ac86ed96c53c84609f712fau0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6acb1a7e43186"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='651418' first='Marquis' last='Muhammad']</strong> WR, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664501' first='James' last='O'Connor']</strong> RB, Oceanside Collegiate</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Landsharks improved to 2-0 in Region V-3A with a 42-0 win over Georgetown, highlighted by their dynamic offensive triumvirate. Manavian was 23-of-27 for 244 yards and three touchdowns and repeatedly connected with Muhammad (pictured), who finished with nine catches for 111 yards and a score. O'Connor chipped in five carries for 91 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run, to go with his three catches for 34 yards with a 17-yard score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/21058767/6aca6bd60a227d8eb836e259u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6acb1a7e431a2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1331923' first='Gabriel' last='Williams']</strong> RB, Conway</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Victory Bell may have gone to Myrtle Beach, but Williams did all he could do in Conway's 44-37 loss. The Tiger running back finished with an eye-popping 362 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 44 carries, including a pair of successful two-point conversion runs. Williams' final touchdown run of the night put Conway up 37-23 early in the fourth quarter before the Seahawks embarked on a 21-0 run to pull out the win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664643' first='Calvin' last='Wofford']</strong> RB, Crestwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wofford helped carry Crestwood to its first win ever over Hartsville as the Knights moved into a tie for second place in Region VI-3A. Wofford ripped through the Red Foxes' defense to the tune of 336 yards and four touchdowns on 28 carries as Crestwood emerged with a 42-28 win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19613985/6aca67a9f169580b045681f0u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6acb1a7e431b2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1672924' first='Kendall' last='Wright']</strong> QB, Gilbert</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wright accounted for three of Gilbert's four touchdowns in a 28-15 win over Brookland-Cayce. The junior quarterback tossed two touchdowns in the second quarter as Gilbert built an 18-point halftime lead before rushing for a score in the third quarter. Wright ended the night with 133 yards passing and 42 yards on the ground.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1827442' first='AJ' last='Hillary']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823108' first='Gregory' last='Moore Jr']</strong> LB, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1822485' first='Mikah' last='Quiller']</strong> WR/DB, Strom Thurmond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the Rebels' 64-0 win over American Leadership Academy, Hillary completed seven of his eight pass attempts for 110 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Moore made six tackles, including one tackle for loss, and forced a fumble to lead a unit that held the Patriots to just 25 yards of total offense. Quiller contributed on both sides of the ball, catching two passes for 25 yards and notching two tackles and a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1820426' first='Roderick' last='Loadholt']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717939' first='Nigil' last='Fripp']</strong> RB, Hampton County</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hampton County's backfield tandem accounted for five touchdowns in a 57-0 win over Ridgeland. Loadholt threw for 178 yards and just one incompletion, tossing touchdowns of 10 and 28 yards. Fripp scored touchdown on three of his first five rushing attempts, finishing the game with nearly 11 yards per carry.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>James Shultz</strong> RB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1816415' first='Diavante' last='Irving']</strong> DB, and <strong>Brady Evin</strong> K, Phillip Simmons</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A freshman making just his second start, Shultz rushed 23 times for 150 yards and three touchdowns in the Iron Horses' 44-0 win over Lake Marion. Irving tallied 14 tackles, five tackles for loss, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a safety, while Evin booted field goals of 31 and 33 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1827399' first='Avery' last='Durham']</strong> QB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1312753' first='Michael' last='Pembleton']</strong> WR, Andrews</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Durham and Pembleton connected for all of Andrews' passing yardage in a 55-0 victory over Hemingway. The duo linked up for six completions covering 194 yards and three touchdowns. Both Durham and Pembleton also each notched a rushing touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1825295' first='Geno' last='Lester']</strong> RB, Dillon</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lester finished with 17 carries for 195 yards and three touchdowns in Dillon's 35-20 win over Waccamaw. After the Wildcats fell behind 20-14 at halftime, Lester scored on runs of 12 and 14 yards as Dillon scored the game's final 21 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1036733' first='Henry' last='Rivers']</strong> QB, Berkeley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a battle for supremacy in Region VI-5A, Rivers ran for three touchdowns as the Stags knocked off Carolina Forest, 36-24. Rivers tallied two scores on Berkeley's final two drives to help the Stags erase a 24-23 fourth-quarter deficit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1909406' first='Avery' last='Coyle']</strong> QB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1802495' first='Darryl' last='Hill']</strong> WR, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1823625' first='Tristan' last='Daniels']</strong> RB/LB, Saluda</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saluda topped the 40-point mark for the sixth consecutive game as the Tigers blasted Pelion, 42-0, to remain unbeaten in Region IV-2A play. Coyle threw for touchdowns on four of his seven completions, tallying 160 yards through the air and adding 37 on the ground. Hill found the end zone on each of his two receptions, scoring on catches of 64 yards and 50 yards. Daniels needed only nine touches to account for 123 yards of offense and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src=u0022https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/19843338/6ac9aa75e5271b843e0ecea1u0022 width=u0022640u0022 height=u0022360u0022 frameborder=u00220u0022 allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6acb1a7e431c3"} /-->