By Thomas Grant Jr.
River Bluff wide receiver Aaron Griffin and White Knoll quarterback Landon Sharpe were late additions to the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl.
The duo proved more than valuable for the South team last Saturday at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. They accounted for the team’s lone touchdown in the 24-7 loss to the North in the 77th edition of the game.
As time expired in the fourth quarter, Sharpe found an open Griffin for a 74-yard touchdown. On the preceding kickoff, Griffin had a 70-yard touchdown return that was nullified by a holding call.
He finished the game with six receptions for 123 yards to go with three kickoff returns for 72 yards. Those numbers earned Griffin Offensive MVP honors for the South.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Hard work. (Head) Coach (C. Blair) Hardin taught us day in and day out to hard work and came out here and laid it out on the field.”
He finished the game with six receptions for 123 yards to go with three kickoff returns for 72 yards. Those numbers earned Griffin Offensive MVP honors for the South.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Hard work. (Head) Coach (C. Blair) Hardin taught us day in and day out to hard work and came out here and laid it out on the field.”
Sharpe also finished with strong numbers. He was 11-17 passing for 157 yards and rushed for a team-high 25 yards running behind fellow Timberwolf offensive lineman Donovan Sims.
Airport head coach Shane Fidler was the South’s quarterbacks coach. Batesburg-Leesville head coach Greg Lawson was a North assistant and his senior defensive lineman John Sawyer helped the North force four turnovers and hold the South to 28 rushing yards.
Other Lake Murray players who stood out were Newberry linebacker Jared Acosta. He had a game-high six tackles for the South.
Lexington defensive lineman Artem Kalinkin and Airport linebacker Montrelle Keys each had four tackles. Wildcat linebacker Matthew McAulay was credited with three tackles, one for a loss.
Griffin was not the only Gator who shined at an All-Star game this past Saturday. Teammate and tight end Stephen Collier also had six receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns for South Carolina at the annual Shrine Bowl at Spartanburg High School.
The Sandlappers were defeated 49-24 by the North Carolina Tar Heels. White Knoll defensive back Devin Geronomi was also on the South Carolina roster.
S.C. FOOTBALL COACHES ASSOCIATION’S ALL-STATE TEAMS
(Overall)
DB – Devin Geronomi (White Knoll)
LB – Matthew McAulay (Lexington)
(Class 5A)
QB – Landon Sharpe (White Knoll), WR – Stephen Collier (River Bluff), SPEC. – Tripp Bryant (River Bluff)
(Class 4A)
LBs – Michael Boulware (Gray Collegiate) and Montrelle Keys (Airport)
DB – Wynn Meetze (Gilbert)
TE – Connor Gooding (Gilbert)
(Class 3A)
QB – Kenton Caldwell (Newberry)
LB – Jared Acosta and Julian Senn (both of Newberry)
OL – Lebron Lyles (Newberry)
DL – Kasiah Harkness-Adams (Swansea)
(Class 2A)
QB – Tanner Watkins (Batesburg-Leesville)
RB – Amadre Wooden (Batesburg-Leesville)
WR – Jamerius Clark (Batesburg-Leesville)
DL – John Sawyer (Batesburg-Leesville)
LB – Christian Burkett (Batesburg-Leesville)
ATH – KD Whitt (Batesburg-Leesville)
