Touchstone Energy Bowl: What To Watch
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Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl is shaping up to be the most loaded in the event’s history. The game, which will be played Saturday at Myrtle Beach’s Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, took what it was given and the its coaching staffs…
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Continue ReadingTouchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl is shaping up to be the most loaded in the event’s history.
The game, which will be played Saturday at Myrtle Beach’s Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, took what it was given and the its coaching staffs ran with it. Thanks to the cancellation of the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, more of the state’s top players will be in Myrtle Beach, instead of cropped between the two all-star games.
And since we have a massive body of work from this fall (and before), we already know some of the major storylines before practices begin on Wednesday.
LIMITED PRACTICES, INCREASED CONCENTRATION
Due to COVID-19 protocols and travel restrictions, practices for this year’s game were cut down to five.
There will be two Wednesday, two Thursday and one more full session Friday morning prior to a walk-through that afternoon. That means less time to prepare.
And more time to cut down to the nitty gritty.
The trenches will be highly involved in determining which of these two spread offenses can make a dent. For the North, we’ll be keeping a close eye on linemen Tray Franklin Tray Franklin 6'6" | 280 lbs | OL Ridge View | 2022 State SC (a late addition to the game), 6-foot-7 Houston Curry of Hillcrest and Gaffney’s Sawyer Whitman Sawyer Whitman 6'0" | 265 lbs | OL Gaffney | 2022 State SC , among others.
The South offensive line will be bolstered by Goose Creek’s Jayden Johnson Jayden Johnson 6'5" | 300 lbs | OL Goose Creek | 2022 State SC , Green Sea Floyds’ Jesus Gutierrez Jesus Gutierrez 6'4" | 350 lbs | DL Green Sea Floyds | 2022 State SC and Chapin’s Chase Sweigart Chase Sweigart 6'6" | 300 lbs | OL Chapin | 2022 State SC .
None of them will have an easy go of it, with the likes of defensive linemen Alvin Wilson Alvin Wilson 6'3" | 240 lbs | DL Beaufort | 2022 State SC (Beaufort), the Fort Dorchester duo of Demetrius Watson Demetrius Watson 6'3" | 250 lbs | DL Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC and Devin Geddis Devin Geddis 6'3" | 260 lbs | DL Fort Dorchester | 2022 State SC and Camden’s Jonathan Chavis Jonathan Chavis 6'2" | 245 lbs | DL Camden | 2022 State SC (another late add) suiting up for the South or the North’s contingent of Michael Kennedy Michael Kennedy 6'2" | 280 lbs | DL Southside Christian | 2022 State SC (Southside Christian), Emerald’s Robby Harrison Robby Harrison 6'3" | 270 lbs | DL Emerald | 2022 State SC and Daniel’s Jahiem Lawson Jahiem Lawson 6'3" | 235 lbs | DL DW Daniel | 2022 State SC , among others.
GETTING INVOLVED
The collection of talent is one thing. Making it work together is another.
The game itself has a tendency to lead to high turnover rates and frequent sloppy play. Since 2000, at least one team (if not both) has been held to two touchdowns or fewer in 14 games.
But if these four players can get involved on the offensive end early, it could boost the production.
Joshua Sapp Joshua Sapp 6'4" | 225 lbs | TE Greenville | 2022 State SC , TE, Greenville – The 6-foot-4, 230-pound H-Back is still probably more blocker than receiver. But his skills in space are undeniable. He could be a key target for North quarterbacks Will Mattison Will Mattison 6'4" | 190 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2022 State SC and Trent Pearman Trent Pearman 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Daniel | 2022 State SC .
Zan Dunham Zan Dunham 6'2" | 215 lbs | ATH Chester | 2022 State SC , ATH, Chester – We’re pretty sure if Chester told Dunham to play left tackle during his high school days, he would have done it well. Dunham will likely line up on both sides of the ball in this one, and his athleticism is off the charts. He is an X-factor for the North.
Carlton Terry Carlton Terry 6'0" | 165 lbs | WR Conway | 2022 State SC II, WR, Conway – Only in a game like this would a player of Terry’s ability be an afterthought. He’s part of an absolutely loaded receiving corps for the South team ( Adam Randall Adam Randall 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Myrtle Beach | 2022 State SC , Antonio Williams Antonio Williams 6'0" | 180 lbs | WR Dutch Fork | 2022 State SC and Zavier Short Zavier Short 6'2" | 200 lbs | WR Chapin | 2022 State SC will get top billing). Terry, though, may flourish outside the No. 1 role he played for the Tigers this season.
Demetri Simmons Demetri Simmons 6'0" | 190 lbs | RB Goose Creek | 2022 State SC , RB, Goose Creek – The top-shelf tailback will see his opportunities rise with so much concentration on the receivers. Simmons is the type of back who can take it to the house on any carry, though. If he breaks a long one or two early, watch out.
MR. FOOTBALL CEREMONY
As far as individual honors go, South Carolina has none higher than its Mr. Football Award. The trophy will be presented at halftime of Saturday’s game.
The finalists for this year are:
Kazarius Adams Kazarius Adams 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB Gray Collegiate Academy | 2022 State SC , RB, Gray Collegiate (Georgia State)
Will Mattison Will Mattison 6'4" | 190 lbs | QB Northwestern | 2022 State SC , QB, Northwestern (Gardner-Webb)
Trent Pearman Trent Pearman 6'2" | 180 lbs | QB Daniel | 2022 State SC , QB, Daniel (uncommitted)
Adam Randall Adam Randall 6'3" | 200 lbs | WR Myrtle Beach | 2022 State SC , WR, Myrtle Beach (Clemson)
Jaylen Sneed Jaylen Sneed 6'2" | 220 lbs | LB Hilton Head | 2022 State SC , LB, Hilton Head (Notre Dame)
Among that group, only Sneed will not be playing in the game. He is still recovering from a shoulder injury and is limiting contact prior to the Under Armour All-America Game in Florida next month and then his expected January enrollment at Notre Dame.
The other four will likely be featured prominently in the game itself.