Prep pigskin week in review (Sept. 5)

Offense is getting so many mentions through three weeks of high school football.

The stats are easy to compare and – let’s face it – touchdowns and big-time yards are one of the sexier parts of the game.

But the two biggest turnarounds to this point have just as much, if not more, to do with the other side of the ball. It just so happens that neighboring programs Conway and Carolina Forest are priming us for a simultaneous boost in win tallies using improved defenses.

We’ll start with the Tigers, if only because Chuck Jordan’s team is still undefeated through three games. Conway kicked off the year by holding a talented Georgetown team (one that put up 39 points in its second game, no less) to just 181 total yards of offense and a respectable three yards per play.

The Tigers then shut out an overmatched South Brunswick (N.C.) team during the Derrick Law Firm Carolinas Kickoff Class before holding regular region foe Socastee to eight points on Friday. Add up the points, and Conway is giving up an average of exactly one touchdown per game.

Just down U.S. 501, Carolina Forest’s two victories have had a similar feel. The Panthers held Darlington to six points in the opener and they allowed only 10 total points (three on offense) against St. James on Friday. The 36 against Fort Dorchester in a Week 1 loss didn’t look so great, but not every team Carolina Forest plays is going to have at least four future Division I players on offense.

No doubt this year is going to see some gaudy offensive numbers. This may equate to the best crop of skill players the Grand Strand has had in four seasons. But 40-7 is much more impressive than 40-39. Just food for thought.

AROUND THE AREA

Conway took care of business at home against Socastee, running out to a sizable lead and then winning 43-8. The Tigers have now won their first three games by an average margin of 33 points.

Carolina Forest made the most of Dyverse Simmons’ three quarters, running all over St. James for the second straight season en route to a 28-10 win over the Sharks. Simmons did not play in the first quarter before returning and putting up more than 200 yards on the ground.

Myrtle Beach, trailing West Florence early in the game, had a strong second half to defeat the Knights 42-24. The victory gave the Seahawks their first win of the season after falling to Charlotte Christian (N.C.) a week ago. What the win also did was move Myrtle Beach to 24-2 all time against the three Florence schools.

North Myrtle Beach made it two in a row following a season-opening loss to Dillon by beating West Brunswick (N.C.) 34-7.

Georgetown got a big-time, 99-yard kickoff return from Reggie point in the fourth quarter to earn a double-digit victory over Andrews in the Bulldogs’ first of three non-region games against in-county foes.

Aynor jumped out to 24-point halftime lead over Green Sea Floyds. Despite some second-half mistakes and some significant adjustments from Tony Sullivans’ team, the Blue Jackets were able to get a crucial defensive stop and then a scoring drive to seal the victory and remain undefeated early this season.

Loris, which fell in the first two weeks of the season against Class AAA opponents, defeated South Columbus (N.C.) 27-7. It was the fourth time in five meetings the Lions have won the matchup, with three of those victories coming by at least 20 points.

Carvers Bay got into the win column with a 20-8 victory over Waccamaw. The Bears were coming off a 3-7 season and a Week 1 loss.

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

POWER RANKINGS (all classes)

1. Myrtle Beach

2. Conway

3. Carolina Forest

4. Georgetown

5. North Myrtle Beach

WEEK 2 GAME BALLS

Jarvis Brown, QB, Georgetown: The dual-threat quarterback did damage against Andrews through the air, passing for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and on the ground, rushing for another 74 yards and a score.

Brandon Sinclair, RB, Myrtle Beach: The senior topped 225 yards and scored three touchdowns in a 42-24 win over West Florence. Sinclair played a role in the Seahawks scoring 28 straight points after trailing early.

Bryan Edwards, WR, Conway: Playing in front of South Carolina assistant Steve Spurrier Jr., the senior finished with five receptions for 123 yards, including a solid chunk off a screen pass. He now has a touchdown catch in each of the Tigers’ first three games and is just shy of 300 yards for the season.

This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 9:23 AM with the headline "Prep pigskin week in review (Sept. 5)."