By Thomas Grant Jr.
Early in the week, KD Whitt was selected to play in the Touchstone Energy Bowl Dec. 13 at Doug Shaw Stadium in Myrtle Beach.
Last Thursday, he and Batesburg-Leesville teammate running back Amadre Wooden made school history. The duo combined for five touchdowns and set career and single-game marks in the 41-24 win at Mid-Carolina.
Whitt had two touchdowns, including a 15-yard scoring reception from Reese Boehnke in the second quarter. This gave the senior the Panthers’ record for career touchdown receptions previously set by Karone Coleman from 2005-07.
Whitt then added a 70-yard punt return for a touchdown. Earlier in the game, he had a 59-yard punt return for a score nullified by a penalty.
Wooden accounted for the other special team’s touchdown. After fumbling on Batesburg-Leesville’s first possession, resulting in a field goal by Ryker Woolstenhulme, he returned the kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown.
Ironically, Wooden tied the school record of Shauntrel Hendrix which was also set against Mid-Carolina in 2019.
Wooden went on to add two more touchdowns on the ground to finish with 204 yards.
“(The fumble) had me really motivated because I felt bad because I promised the team before the game that it wasn’t going to happen,” Wooden said. “So, it happened. So, I had to go out the rest of the game and improve and improve myself and make sure the team know that I apologized and made up for it.”
This was the end of a 3-game road trip for the Panthers. They return home Friday to start Region 2-2A play against Strom Thurmond.
Mid-Carolina got two touchdowns, passing and receiving, from Wyatt Mazza. He threw a touchdown pass to Cash Knight and caught a 69-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jack Odom.
Woolstenhulme added a 23-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Newberry, Swansea remain undefeated
Both Newberry and Swansea improved to 6-0 on the season with non-region victories.
The Bulldogs defeated Saluda 35-7 as quarterback Kenton Caldwell added to his touchdown with three. He threw two touchdown passes to Touchstone Energy Bowl selection Jamere Crooks and had a rushing score.
Ty Abrams and Ryan Johnson also both rushed for scores for Newberry.
At Doug Bennett Stadium, Swansea got two touchdowns from Kendall Wriht and a rushing score from Dante Caldwell to defeat Columbia 36-6.
Both teams open Region 4-3A play Friday. Newberry plays host to Silver Bluff and Swansea travels to Keenan.
Lexington, White Knoll Gilbert and Pelion all win
Both Lexington and White Knoll closed out non-region play with shutout victories.
The Wildcats blanked Laurens 35-0 as freshman quarterback Easton Crocker threw for 162 yards and a touchdown to Nigel Lewis.
Up next for Lexington (2-3) is the annual Battle of the Dam matchup with top-ranked Irmo.
In Charleston, White Knoll defeated Fort Dorchester 40-0 for its fourth straight win. The Timberwolves (4-1) opens Region 4-5A play Friday in the Wolves Den against River Bluff.
Earlier in the week, White Knoll wide receiver Caleb Geronomi and linebacker Josue Eslid was named to the Touchstone Energy Bowl. They were joined by defensive back Wynn Meetze of Gilbert, who defeated Aiken 30-13 to even its mark in Region 4-4A.
Like Batesburg-Leesville, Pelion moved up its game against Eau Claire a day early. Tre Jackson rushed for 149 yards and three touchdowns and Alan Moore threw for 211 and three touchdowns to Jai Chuniesingh in the 48-30 victory.
Brady Cottingham rushed for 118 yards and a score for the Panthers (3-2). Chuniesignh had seven receptions for 196 yards.
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
Irmo (15) (5-0), 2. Northwestern (3) (5-1), 3. Dutch Fork (3-1), 4. Summerville (4-1), 5. James
Island (5-0), 6. Dorman (4-1), 7. Greenwood (4-1), 8. Ridge View (3-2), 9. Byrnes (3-2), 10.
Gaffney (3-2)
Others receiving votes: White Knoll, TL Hanna, Sumter, Indian Land, Greenville, Stratford
Class 3A
Belton-Honea Path (14) (6-0) , 2. Oceanside Collegiate (3) (4-2) , 3. Newberry (1) (6-0) , 4.
Mountain View Prep (5-0), 5. Loris (5-0), 6. Woodruff (4-1), 7. Dillon (3-2), 8. Orangeburg-
Wilkinson (4-0), 9. Marlboro County (4-1), 10. Swansea (6-0)
Others receiving votes: Fox Creek, Powdersville, Christ Church
Class 2A
Central (18) (5-0), 2. Fairfield Central (4-2), 3. Clinton (3-3), 4. Strom Thurmond (4-1), 5.
Batesburg-Leesville (3-2), 6. Timberland (4-1), 7. Hampton County (3-3), 8. Philip Simmons (3-
2), 9. Cheraw (3-3), 10. Saluda (3-2)
Others receiving votes: North Central, Chester, East Clarendon, Andrew Jackson, Liberty
Photos by Thomas Grant, Jr.
