What We Saw: CNB Kickoff Classic

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The long-running CNB Kickoff Class at Coastal Carolina's Brooks Stadium gave the 10 participating teams their first real under-the-lights action of 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>What they do from chasing their performances will dictate what the rest of the season looks like.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The jamboree utlilized 20-minutes scrimmages. It was the 34th year of the event (minus three pandemic or weather-related cancelled Classics).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And like its predecessors, there was plenty that piqued our interest just one week from the start of the regular season.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME 1: SOCASTEE 14, ST. JAMES 0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='413888' first='Josh' last='Brown'] had to wait an extra season, but his time looks like it finally might have come.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Socastee senior receiver highlighted the opening scrimmage of the CNB with his 85-yard touchdown reception that showed off not only his ability to break tackles but out run defenders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I was ready last year to step up, but I didn't get the year I was expecting,” Brown said. “This year, I feel great. I want to embrace this role as being the guy in this offense.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last fall, Brown led the Braves in receptions (48) and receiving yards (672) during the regular season. But Socastee never really got off the ground and finished 3-8 after a 26-point loss to Fort Dorchester in the first round of the playoffs.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This year, with Brown the lone remaining member of last season's Big Three of he, quarterback <strong>Rocco Wojcik</strong> and receiver <strong>Quadir Scott</strong>, it's time for him to be joined by some new blood.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1158009' first='Jonathan' last='Goswick'] taking on more responsibility, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1429140' first='Christian' last='Royals'] starting there and freshman receiver/running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1467828' first='London' last='Wilder']</strong> getting some early run, things looked just fine Friday against St. James.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bollinger capped off the night's opening series but hauling in an 8-yard touchdown just 3:20 into the opening scrimmage. Then, after forcing a St. James punt, Royals hit Brown with the pass that turned into the long score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilder also added 20 yards on the ground on two carries and Goswick took an end-around 12 yards.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We weren't as confident after losing Quadir and Rocco, but after we scrimmaged two good teams in North Carolina, we got that confidence,” Brown said. “We were able to run the ball and get the ball on the edge to London. It was good to see him confident.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. James, playing without starting quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1267347' first='Alex' last='Sandt'] (injury), went heavy on the run, rushing the ball 16 times versus just three pass attempts.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME 2: LORIS 10, CAROLINA FOREST 0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yes, it was a scrimmage. That didn't stop Loris coach Greg Mance from pointing out that Friday's win over Carolina Forest marked the first one in school history against the Panthers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='797160' first='Moon' last='Gerald'] threw for 105 yards while completing all five of his passes. Two of them were short check-down passes that <strong>Zhimir Herring</strong> (57 yards) and <strong>Roderick Porchia</strong> (52 yards, touchdown). The latter of the two equated to the only touchdown of the session and came at the midway point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's because Loris' defense took care of the rest.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior defensive back/receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592447' first='Jacobien' last='Lewis']</strong> picked off a fourth-down, red-zone pass attempt with a little more than 5 minutes remaining. Then, Patrick Bellamy all but ended the game with a pick of his own in the final minute.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carolina Forest, looking for a new starting quarterback following the graduation of <strong>Ethan Hamilton</strong>, were still rotating between juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='284135' first='Kamren' last='Long']</strong> and senior <strong>Patrick Mullen</strong>. Each of them was responsible for one interception.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME 3: MYRTLE BEACH 17, WACCAMAW 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Back-up quarterback <strong>Tanner Gaddy</strong> - playing in place of starter [player_tooltip player_id='1254177' first='Gibson' last='Goodroe'] (injury) - scored the sessions first points on a 16-yard scramble in which he dragged three Waccamaw defenders the final three yards into the end zone. But Gaddy and the rest of the offense weren't done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After another nice drive that featured receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1603757' first='Amare' last='Brown']</strong> and tailback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1394751' first='Michael' last='Cohen']</strong> led to a 26-yard <strong>River Schumacher</strong> field goal, the Seahawks' third series was capped off by a 47-yard catch-and-run from sophomore receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664545' first='JJ' last='Brown']</strong>. On the play, Brown took the throw-back on the visiting side of the field, cut diagonally to the home side and squeezed himself into the end zone for the score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Myrtle Beach defense saw senior hybrid [player_tooltip player_id='395980' first='Ashton' last='Keith'] and junior linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267229' first='Antonio' last='Brown']</strong> lead the way to a near-shutout that was spoiled with 14 seconds remaining when quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='473025' first='Andre' last='Grate'] connected with his twin brother [player_tooltip player_id='473016' first='AJ' last='Grate'] for a 19-yard touchdown.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME 4: CONWAY 14, GREEN SEA FLOYDS 0</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Conway starting quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1399640' first='Noah' last='Legg']</strong> only needed to throw one pass to top target [player_tooltip player_id='1025782' first='Jordan' last='Jenkins']. And while that 33-yarder was a beaut, it wasn't the name of the game.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Class 5A Tigers used their much larger line and the combination of <strong>JKwon Brantley</strong> (five carries, 27 yards, two touchdowns) and <strong>Aaron Black</strong> (five carries, 43 yards) to make sure this one was never in doubt.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Both of Brantley's scores came during the first 10 minutes of action.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From there, Conway inserted backups and held on for another shutout.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>GAME 5: NORTH MYRTLE BEACH 10, AYNOR 6</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Myrtle Beach got a 3-yard touchdown run from <strong>Jaquell Davis</strong> (five carries, 34 yards) and did just enough on defense to keep the cluster Aynor rushing game from getting more in a 10-6 win in the final scrimmage of the night.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Chiefs spread the ball around between receivers [player_tooltip player_id='929482' first='Kaden' last='Gore'] and Andrew Kreider and big tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1157957' first='Brown' last='Reaves'] to keep the offense moving. However, quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='985097' first='Landon' last='Cloninger'] wasn't going to get many opportunities against the Blue Jackets.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>That's because Aynor's first drive was done in typical fashion. Ball carriers [player_tooltip player_id='1188517' first='Matthew' last='Kerby'] and Luke Singleton and run-first quarterback <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1734403' first='Luke' last='McCracken']</strong> spurred a drive that spanned just shy of six minutes and was capped by an 8-yard touchdown run from tight end/full back [player_tooltip player_id='1269581' first='Austin' last='Tanyika'] with 9:13 left to play.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the Blue Jackets' only other series, North Myrtle Beach defensive back <strong>Campbell Kingston</strong> picked off a pass to all but end the evening.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->