Gamecock signees excel, Midlands players earn MVP honors in SC football all-star games

A pair of Midlands standouts won MVP honors and future South Carolina Gamecocks shined in high school football all-star games Saturday.

Irmo quarterback AJ Brand was named the offensive MVP for the South Carolina squad in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas game. North Carolina defeated, 49-24, at Spartanburg High School.

Brand, a Virginia Tech signee, was 6 of 12 passing for 62 yards and a touchdown and also carried it seven times for 26 yards.

In the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl in Myrtle Beach, River Bluff’s Aaron Griffin was the offensive MVP for the South team in the 24-7 loss to the North squad. Griffin had six catches for 123 yards and had the South squad’s lone touchdown.

At halftime of the Touchstone game, Richland Northeast QB and N.C. State signee Will Wilson was named 2024 Mr. Football for South Carolina.

Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas

Several South Carolina signees had big performances for the North and South Carolina teams.

Eleven Gamecock signees were picked for the game but some, including quarterback Cutter Woods and receiver Malik Clark, instead took part in bowl practices with the Gamecocks. Still, it was a good effort from future USC players.

Donovan Darden, who played for the North Carolina squad, returned a 52-yard interception for a touchdown. Darden was one of North Carolina’s top performers during the week of practice leading up to the game.

Taeshawn Alston had two tackles for the NC team.

For the S.C. side, Blackville-Hilda’s Jaquel Holman led the Sandlappers with nine tackles. Holman played both running back and linebacker in high school but will play defense for the Gamecocks.

Among other USC signees, Sumter’s Anthony Addison had eight tackles and a pass break-up while Abbeville’s Demarcus Leach had three tackles. Eastside’s Jaquavious Dodd had two tackles and a QB hurry.

Brand wasn’t the only area player who shined in the game. River Bluff receiver and East Carolina signee Stephen Collier had six catches for 113 yards and two touchdowns. Fairfield Central’s Tydarion Grier led the S.C. team with 58 yards rushing.

Northwestern quarterback Finley Polk was the Sandlappers’ top passer, going 9 of 14 for 172 yards and two touchdowns. Gaffney’s Jamarcus Smith had four catches for 90 yards and a TD.

Spartanburg’s Cam’Rich Smith was S.C. defensive MVP. Jonathan Williams led North Carolina with three touchdown runs.

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl

River Bluff’s Aaron Griffin was one of several area players who stood out in the game at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium.

White Knoll quarterback Landon Sharpe was 11 of 17 for 157 yards and a TD for the South squad. Newberry’s Jared Acosta led the team with six tackles, while Airport’s Montrelle Keys and Lexington’s Artem Kalinkin each had four. Lexington’s Matt McAuley had three tackles.

Playing for the North squad, Dutch Fork’s Maurice Anderson rushed for 18 yards and had a touchdown run in the fourth quarter to make it 24-7.

Spartanburg’s Justin Rice had three catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns to lead the North. He was the offensive MVP while Daniel’s Spencer Conn was North defensive MVP.

Boiling Springs’ Lincoln Huskey was 8 of 10 passing for 145 yards and two touchdowns.