Week 2 Game Balls: Grand Strand, Pee Dee & CSRA

Week 2 Game Balls: Grand Strand, Pee Dee &#038; CSRA

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Ian Guerin September 5, 2022 @ 08:32 PM

What's a little cross-state blend to really get another week of games cranked up the right way?   Week 2 of the South Carolina football season included players from both sides of the state putting up the types of performances that make you stop and scratch your head a bit.    DJ CURRY, RB, NORTH AUGUSTA   Curry didn't play any games against Evans (Ga.) last week. The big tailback dialed up a 25-carry, 172-yard, three-touchdown game in the Yellow Jackets' first win of the season. Through three games, Curry is now six yards shy of 500 for the season and is still averaging 7.4 yards per carry. He has games against Greenwood and Dutch Fork coming up next, so he'll be hard pressed to keep that clip going. But North Augusta is going to give him the chance.   ADRIAN GRATE, DB/WR, WACCAMAW   In the coming years, Grate and his twin brother (Andre) are both going to be household names. Showings like Friday are why. Adrian Grate, a Warriors freshman, finished the team's win over Ashley (N.C.) with four solo tackles, five assisted stops, two interceptions (including one he returned for a touchdowns) and a fumble recovery. He has some top-end potential on offense, too, but this is a nice way for Waccamaw to keep him on the field as much as possible now.   DEQUAN DURHAM, RB, NORTH MYRTLE BEACH   The flashes of what we've seen during the last month finally came to fruition for the Chiefs' first-year running back against West Brunswick (N.C.). Against the Trojans, the big senior rushed 23 times for 162 yards and a pair of touchdowns to help North Myrtle Beach win its first game of the year. That 7 yards per carry was huge, especially considering the Chiefs had averaged all of 2.6 ypc in their first two games, losses to Socastee and Loris.    [player_tooltip player_id='202744' first='Randall' last='Bellamy'], WR, LORIS   Bellamy has certainly made his mark after missing the season opener. After catching four passes for 125 yards last week against North Myrtle Beach, Randall hauled in five more for 98 yards and four touchdowns in the Lions' 46-14 win over border rival South Columbus (N.C.). Three of his touchdown receptions came within a span of 6:49 of game time between the end of the second quarter and middle of the third.    [player_tooltip player_id='208334' first='Kelvin' last='Hunter'], LB, WEST FLORENCE   Kids, you want to get coaches to notice you? Do what Hunter did on Friday in a lopsided win over Socastee. The outside linebacker didn't just make seven total tackles (six solo, two assisted). He also had three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two pass break-ups and a sack. Hunter, who also pitches in on special teams, blocked a Socastee punt. Those are the types of impact plays that jump off film, a stat sheet, etc., etc.   [player_tooltip player_id='262552' first='Tyler' last='J Smith'], RB, BARNWELL   Even against a stout Bamberg-Ehrhardt defense that may very lead that team to a state championship game, Smith was again a beast. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound senior rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns on 23 carries. He also threw a 20-yard pass for a touchdown - something that will put another wrinkle in for opposing defenses to scout for down the line. Smith (pictured) is averaging better than 10 yards per carry through three games and already has 10 rushing touchdowns this season.

What's a little cross-state blend to really get another week of games cranked up the right way?