River Bluff wide receiver Aaron Griffin was a late addition to the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl.
The senior Gator proved more than valuable for the South team last Saturday at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium. He 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, Griffin caught a downfield pass from White Knoll quarterback Landon Sharpe and turned it into 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.”
Airport head coach Shane Fidler was the South’s quarterbacks coach. He also had Eagle players linebacker Montrelle Keys and wide receiver Avery Jones on the South roster.
Ironically, the Gator teammate Griffin replaced on the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl also had a strong showing at another All-Star game. River Bluff tight end Stephen Collier 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.
On the same day, Collier, River Bluff placekicker Tripp Bryant, Gray Collegiate linebacker Michael Boulware and Airport’s Keys were named to the S.C. Football Coaches Association’s All-State teams for Classes 5A and 4A.
Photos by Thomas Grant Jr.
