Grand Strand high school football weekly rewind (Oct. 22, 2016)
Sumter 38, (at) Conway 31 (3OT)
Tale of the tape
For a game that teetered on the edge of a blowout early, the matchup of Sumter and Conway turned out to be a battle of wills. In fact, it took three overtimes to settle the score.
Key scene
Da’Jon Butts scored from 5 yards out in the third overtime, and the Gamecocks defense was finally able to stop Peyton Derrick and the Tigers offense to escape with a win.
Starring role
Sumter running back Rodney Pitts, who ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns.
Memorable line
“It’s just a matter of making a good play at the right time. I’ve been in three overtime games, been in a four-overtime one. Anything can happen in those games, and we just came up a little short tonight.” – Conway coach Chuck Jordan
Coming soon
Conway at Carolina Forest, 7:30 p.m. Friday
(At) North Myrtle Beach 35, Marlboro County 14
Tale of the tape
Quarterback Cason McLendon celebrated his 16th birthday by leading the Chiefs to a victory in his first career start.
Key scene
Coming out of the break tied at 14, McLendon scored on a 4-yard run to give North Myrtle Beach the lead early in the third quarter, the first of three unanswered scores by the Chiefs in the second half.
Starring role
McLendon, who ran for two scores and passed for three others.
Memorable line
“This is probably the best birthday present I could ever ask for. Everybody supported me, my coaches, my teammates, everybody supported me and we got the win. I was pretty nervous all day going into the game. I knew I had the support of my coaches and teammates who believed in me and that gave me confidence. That allowed me to execute on the field when my team needed me.” – McLendon
Coming soon
North Myrtle Beach at St. James, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Loris 21, (at) Waccamaw 18
Tale of the tape
Loris defeated Waccamaw for the ninth consecutive year, but needed Bobby Gore’s breakup of a pass at the goal line in the final 10 seconds to secure a win.
Key scene
Having watched his team miss both of its extra-point attempts Friday night, Waccamaw coach Tyronne Davis elected to roll the dice in the final seconds. Gore made sure the gamble didn’t pay off.
Starring role
Loris quarterback Clay Faircloth, who threw for 207 yards and two touchdowns.
Memorable line
“It was one of those games where you want to be in that situation at the end of the game. I thought that we had missed the two extra points. That was a case where you feel you’ve got the momentum and you want to get it when you can, so that was the reason. We rolled the dice there and it didn’t work in our favor.” – Davis
Coming soon
Georgetown at Waccamaw, 7:30 p.m. Friday; Loris at Aynor, 7:30 p.m. Friday
South Florence 47, (at) Socastee 44
Tale of the tape
A pass that was bobbled, juggled and possibly bounced off a receiver’s foot proved the difference in the Braves’ loss to the Bruins.
Key scene
South Florence’s Freddy Sparks hauled in the bobbled pass and took it in from 40 yards out for what proved to be the game-winning score.
Starring role
Socastee receiver Aeneas Green, who had five catches for 91 yards and three scores.
Memorable line
“I thought the ball hit the ground and popped up, but that’s not the way (the officials) saw it.” – Socastee coach Doug Illing
Coming soon
Socastee at Sumter, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Lake City 37, (at) Aynor 14
Tale of the tape
Aynor had a big night with its rushing attack, but it wasn't enough as Lake City took down the Blue Jackets.
Key scene
The Panthers extended their lead to 20-6 to take a two-score lead into halftime.
Starring role
Aynor’s Ethan Martin, who ran for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Memorable line
“Honestly man, I don’t know if we’ve played that good around here in a long time. I tell you what, the scoreboard looks horrible but we put it on the dirt twice. It is what it is, [Lake City] is a good football team. There’s a reason they’ve only lost one game.” – Aynor coach Jody Jenerette
Coming soon
Loris at Aynor, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Dillon 36, (at) Georgetown 22
Tale of the tape
The Bulldogs went toe-to-toe with perennial state power Dillon – having a lead in the third quarter and staying within 7 points of the Wildcats until late in the fourth.
Key scene
After Georgetown took a 22-15 lead in the third quarter, the Wildcats score three unanswered touchdowns to close the game out.
Starring role
Bulldogs quarterback Tyler McAlister, who threw his 13th touchdown pass of the season.
Memorable line
“We have already talked about it. We’ve got 24 hours – good or bad, we flush it after 24 hours. I told them we can’t let this loss turn into two losses. We’re done with Dillon, and Waccamaw’s going to give us their best shot. It’s a rivalry. They’re 10 miles down the road and that’s a must win for Georgetown High School and we’ve got to get our kids prepared and ready to go.” – Waccamaw coach Ken Cribb
Coming soon
Georgetown at Waccamaw, 7:30 p.m. Friday
(At) Hemingway 18, Green Sea Floyds 12
Tale of the tape
For the second straight game, Green Sea Floyds brought a fight to a team ranked in Class A’s Top 10 before coming up short.
Key scene
A pair of Trojans fumbles in the third quarter led to scores for the Tigers, helping Hemingway build an 18-6 lead.
Starring role
Green Sea Floyds running back Wyatt Upchurch, who had a 27-yard touchdown run.
Memorable line
“It was back and forth, a good physical football game. We just shot ourselves in the foot again: two turnovers that cost us. Both of them were in negative field position on our side of the field. We’ve just got to quit doing that. Everybody says we’re improved, and we are. We’re an improved football team from where have come from in a long time. We’re competing, we’re in games.” – Green Sea Floyds coach Tony Sullivan
Coming soon
Hannah-Pamplico at Green Sea Floyds, 7:30 p.m. Friday
Carolina Forest 28, (at) West Florence 16
Tale of the tape
Carolina Forest running back Anthony McAfee rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns as the Panthers rallied past West Florence.
Key scene
McAfee scored on a 62-yard run in the fourth quarter to give Carolina Forest a lead it wouldn’t relinquish.
Starring role
McAfee, who has taken a lead role for the Panthers with star Dyverse Simmons out for the season.
Memorable line
“Anthony’s a great player. Anthony came out against Myrtle Beach (on Sept. 16) and broke his hand. The thing tonight was his will to win. He ran so hard and did a great job, both him and the offensive line. Things changed in the second half for them, and it was really good.” – Carolina Forest coach Marc Morris
Coming soon
Conway at Carolina Forest, 7:30 p.m. Friday
(At) Carvers Bay 20, Johnsonville 6
Tale of the tape
The Bears defeated the Flashes to improve to 4-0 in Region VII-2A. No further information was provided.
Coming soon
Latta at Carvers Bay, 7:30 p.m. Friday
(At) Wilson 32, St. James 7
Tale of the tape
Wilson’s Jacob Quillen made his first start at quarterback, passing for 250 yards and two touchdowns while the Tigers snapped a four-game losing streak.
Key scene
Zion Keith scored on a 50-yard fumble return to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead.
Starring role
Sharks running back Jay-Mion Pressley, who ran for 115 yards and a touchdown.
Memorable line
“We’ve got to keep working at it. The youth and inexperience is part of the reason, but we need to be more disciplined.” – Wilson coach Thomas Balkcom
Coming soon
North Myrtle Beach at St. James, 7:30 p.m. Friday
The Florence Morning News contributed to this report.
This story was originally published October 22, 2016 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Grand Strand high school football weekly rewind (Oct. 22, 2016)."