Midlands Week 2 Game Balls

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you look across the wide area of the Midlands, you can find several outstanding performances each week. Sometimes, it's the offensive players that make their mark. Other times, it's the defensive stars that come to the forefront.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This week it turned out to be an impressive mix as we give out our Week 2 Midlands Game Balls.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Aszu </strong>DB, Richland Northeast</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Cavaliers improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2010 and Aszu helped Richland Northeast for its first shutout since 2011 in a 25-0 victory over Westwood. The junior had an interception return for a touchdown to support the two-touchdown effort from QB <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='272698' first='Will' last='Wilson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165081' first='Kendall' last='Byrd']</strong> WR, AC Flora</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The junior receiver has his best game of the season in a 36-21 victory over Christ School (NC). He had 14 catches for 207 yards and caught one of the four <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025784' first='Roper' last='Wentzky']</strong> touchdown passes. Byrd caught 14 of the 22 completions for 207 of the 306 yards from Wentzky. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18369770/66dc8a134e70d7f871d794d1' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66deef0ae1865"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267270' first='Dante' last='Caldwell']</strong> and <strong>Teysean Charley</strong> RB, Swansea</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caldwell and Charley each recorded over 100 yards rushing and combined for three touchdowns to lead Swansea to a 39-15 win over Wagener-Salley. Caldwell scored two touchdowns and Charley added one. They were helped by a defense that received a 76-yard fumble return by <strong>Kevin Sightler</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1575379' first='Jonathan' last='Clarkson']</strong> RB/LB, North Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarkson was all over the place in the Knights 33-8 victory over Columbia. On defense, he had three sacks and forced two fumbles in handing the Capitals their first loss of the season. He also added two rushing touchdowns. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1165092' first='Tylin' last='Drakeford'] </strong>ATH, Camden</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Camden trailed by 14 points early but rallied for a 22-14 win over Hartsville. Drakeford did a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs. Drakeford's 10-yard TD in the fourth quarter was the game-winner. But he also threw a 42-yard touchdown to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157893' first='Jordan' last='Crim']</strong>, added 32 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving to go along with a game-sealing interception. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aiden Fitzgerald</strong> QB, Lugoff-Elgin</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Demons recorded a 35-18 road win over Darlington thanks to the three touchdown passes from Fitzgerald, the sophomore signal-caller. Two of the scoring passes went to EJ Richardson to help the Demons improve to 2-1 on the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='464884' first='Parker' last='Murray']</strong> QB, River Bluff</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Murray has the Gators offense humming in the early going. The senior was 22-of-29 for 280 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-30 win over Nation Ford Friday night. He threw touchdown passes to four different receivers with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360145' first='Aaron' last='Griffin']</strong> leading the way with two touchdowns and 146 yards receiving on nine receptions. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592250' first='Hayden' last='Myers']</strong> added 148 yards rushing as River Bluff rolled to 497 yards of total offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/13002993/66dd019f6b4b0e16e3d21496' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66deef0ae18b2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809744' first='John' last='Peeples']</strong> RB, Sumter</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's not every night you set a school record, but Peeples accomplished that Friday night in his 160-yard, five touchdown effort in a 42-25 victory over Myrtle Beach. That gives the senior 62 career rushing touchdowns, breaking the previous record of 60 by Jamacia Jackson. The record has stood for 25 years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267290' first='Ethan' last='Offing']</strong> QB, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Offing continues to be efficient in the Silver Foxes offensive approach. He was 14-of-24 for 201 yards and three touchdowns in a 38-0 victory over Ridge View. Offing also added 45 yards rushing. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1013047' first='KJ' last='Smith']</strong> had two receiving scores and 91 yards with <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1360308' first='Boykin' last='Bickley']</strong> had 57 yards and another touchdown. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012701' first='Maurice' last='Anderson']</strong> added 94 yards rushing and two touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578815' first='Jaylen' last='Reaves']</strong> DB, Blythewood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Reaves picked off three passes in a 23-7 win over Fort Mill. It was an emotional week for the Bengals with the death of junior defensive lineman Troy Moore, who passed away on August 31. Reaves and the defense rallied to support their teammate with their best effort of the season as they improved to 3-0. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/17950747/66dd05bee2329ba455d13e7d' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003e","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66deef0ae18e4"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025776' first='Raleigh' last='Salters']</strong> LB, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012706' first='Josh' last='Smith']</strong> LB and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1012606' first='Elgin' last='Sessions']</strong> DB, Dutch Fork</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When you shut out a team the caliber of Ridge View, there are plenty of game balls to go around. Salters and Smith each recorded 10 tackles with Salters also adding a sack and two tackles for loss. Smith had one tackle for loss as the Silver Foxes had 10 total tackles for loss. Sessions (pictured) impact doesn't show up in numbers as he had three tackles and a tackle for loss but he helped limit [player_tooltip player_id='233146' first='Jordon' last='Gidron'], one of the best receivers in the state, to two catches for 34 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>RB <strong>Jaylin Simmons</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267324' first='Ophir' last='Hill']</strong> LB, Lower Richland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Diamond Hornets exploded in a 46-20 win over Colleton County and did it with a balanced attack. Simmons was the workhorse on offense, carrying the ball 14 times for 172 yards and three touchdowns. But the defense was just as spectacular with three players recording double figures tackles. Hill led the way with 13 tackles, two tackles for loss and a fumble returned for a touchdown. <strong>Daniel Gee</strong> added 12 tackles and two tackles for loss with <strong>Sergino Samuels</strong> chipping in with 11 tackles. Samuels also returned a fumble for a score.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1261525' first='Andrew' last='Turner']</strong> QB, Hammond</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior keeps turning in impressive performances, this one in a 27-15 win over Porter-Gaud. Turner was 13-of-18 for 175 yards and four touchdown passes. He threw two touchdown passes to <strong>Jack Croft</strong>. The Skyhawks are unbeaten on the young season and Turner has been the guiding force with 10 total touchdown passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tanner Watkins</strong> QB, Batesburg-Leesville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Watkins was instrumental as the Panthers knocked off the No. 1 team in Class A, Abbeville, 37-35. Watkins threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns and his 1-yard run with just over eight minutes remaining was the clincher. Watkins threw for three of his touchdowns to <strong>KJ Whitt</strong>, who had 117 yards on four catches. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1267286' first='Amadre' last='Wooden']</strong> chipped in with 80 yards rushing and a score.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->