In an ordinary year, picking the All-Lowco Football Team is a daunting task. We spend weeks collecting and compiling the stats, comparing the nominees, and consulting with coaches for insight that only they can provide, and then we take our best crack at identifying the best high school football players in Beaufort and Jasper counties.
This, of course, was no ordinary year.
The private schools played a full schedule (with few exceptions) but the public schools started later and played a reduced slate focused on region games. Some of them didn’t even get in all of those.
So how do you compare players in that unbalanced universe? For starters, it was a natural time to separate our SCHSL and SCISA All-Lowco Teams. Although there are individual SCISA standouts who certainly could cross over and star at any SCHSL program, on the whole, it’s comparing apples to oranges, and especially this season. Expect this change to become the status quo. It allows us to honor more players and measure them against their peers.
We relied on per-game averages to help level the playing field for those players whose teams were denied the opportunity to play a full schedule, but still rewarded those players who helped their teams play extra games in the postseason.
Did we get it exactly right? Probably not. But to move someone up, you have to move someone down.
Did we miss someone? Gosh, we hope not. If we did, prove us wrong next season.
Did we do our best? You bet. And here it is. Your 2020 All-Lowco Football Teams presented by Local Pie.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
SCHSL ALL-LOWCO TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
| QB | SCHSL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Tyler Haley, BHS | Jr. Class 4A All-State pick led the Lowco with 1,271 passing yards (181.6 per game) with 10 TDs and rushed for 471 yards and 5 TDs |
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| QB | Ahmad Green, MRHS | Sr. Three-time first-team All-Lowco star and S.C. Mr. Football finalist rushed for 547 yards and 10 TDs and passed for 512 yards and 2 TDs in just five games |
| RB | Amariee Morris, BHS | Jr. Diminutive but dynamic, Morris’ blend of power and speed produced 605 yards (7.4 per carry) and 13 TDs to lead region champ Eagles’ rush attack |
| RB | Joseph Hicks, WB | Jr. One of several two-way standouts for the Warriors, Hicks rushed for 587 yards and 10 TDs, averaging 10.1 yards per carry |
| RB | Jaiden Jones, MRHS | Soph. Emerged as the Sharks’ top running back with 444 yards (88.8 per game), and he’ll get a chance to be the featured guy on offense in 2021 |
| WR | Kacy Fields, BHS | Soph. Led the Lowco in receiving yards (430), yards per game (61.4), and touchdown receptions (4) and tied for the area lead with 20 grabs |
| WR | Evan Elliot, HHIHS | Sr. Snagged 12 passes for 130 yards in just three games as Sam Summa’s go-to receiver |
| OL | Aaron Rhode, WB | Sr. Four-year starters for the Warriors was a rock-solid center who racked up 28 pancakes and set the tone for an unstoppable rushing attack |
| OL | Luke Bond, BLHS | Sr. Bobcats’ top lineman graded out at 90.1 percent with 25 pancakes |
| OL | Terence Wilson, BHS | Sr. Eagles’ top blocker paved the way for a powerful ground game and protected Offensive Player of the Year Tyler Haley |
| OL | Garrett Bonneville, MRHS | Sr. Sharks’ strong right guard graded at 87 percent with 16 pancakes and 4 knockdowns in just 5 games |
| OL | Moxon Zehr, MRHS | Sr. Big right tackle was the catalyst for many big gains for first-teamers Ahmad Green and Jaiden Jones |
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
| LB | SCHSL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Eli Hall, MRHS | Sr. A throwback who plays at full throttle at all times, the Sharks’ state champion wrestler collected 66 tackles, 6 tackles for loss, 8 QB pressures, and an interception in five games |
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| DL | Eamon Smalls, BHS | Soph. No player in the Lowco has a higher upside than the Eagles’ mountainous run-stopper, and he still has two more years to grow |
| DL | Jaylen Roberts, WB | Sr. Outstanding edge rusher racked up 61 tackles — 15 for loss — with 6 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 2 blocked punts, and a pick-6 |
| DL | Xavier Chaplin, WB | Jr. Dominant two-way lineman was a run-stopping force with 47 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks |
| LB | Jaylen Sneed, HHIHS | Jr. We only got three games worth of the Lowco’s most highly-sought recruit, but we saw enough to know the Seahawks’ star is poised for a huge senior season |
| LB | D’Ante Parker, WB | Jr. Another in a long line of star linebackers for Jerry Hatcher’s defense, racked up 86 tackles (13 for loss), 4 sacks, 3 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 recoveries |
| LB | Justin Smalls, BCHS | Jr. Dolphins’ defensive leader collected 61 tackles (5 for loss), 2 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 2 recoveries, and 2 pass breakups |
| LB | Daniel Phares, BHS | Sr. RHHS transfer made a |
| LB | William Winburn, BHS | Sr. pass breakups, and two f |
| DB | Steffin Gadson, MRHS | Sr. Class 4A All-State pick wasn’t tested often but finished with 26 tackles (4 for loss), a pick, and a pass breakup in a 5-game season |
| DB | Jayden Gilliam-Singleton, HHIHS | Jr. In the three games the Seahawks played, Gilliam-Singleton might have been the most dynamic player in the Lowco — 3 picks, including a pick-6, two scoop-and-scores, and a kick return TD and TD grab |
| DB | Amar Jenkins, WB | Sr. Lockdown corner collected 32 tackles with 8 breakups and 4 INTs, including a pick-6 for an excellent Whale Branch defense |
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS & IRON LOWCO AWARD
| K | Henry Tome, WB | Sr. The Lowco’s strongest, most accurate leg went 34-for-36 on PATs and 5-for-5 on FGs, including a 41-yard boot, and he kicked 13 touchbacks |
| P | Nate Hoyt, BLHS | Jr. The Bobcats’ QB has next-level potential as a punter, averaging 43.2 yards on 18 kicks with four inside the 20 and a long of 56 |
| IRON LOWCO AWARD | Jaylen Reeves, WB | Sr. When the Warriors needed a play, Reeves delivered — on the ground (607 yards, 13 TDs), through the air (167 yards, 4 TDs), and on defense (20 tackles, 4 INTs, 6 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, 1 recovery) |
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2ND TEAM OFFENSE
QB — Sam Summa, HHIHS
RB — Jeremiah Dilbert, BCHS
RB — Kylan Simmons, BLHS
WR — Marcus Goodwater, BHS
WR — McCleod Reichel, BHS
WR — Adam Clark, HHIHS
OL — Brandon Williams, BHS
OL — Kayle Vasquez, BHS
OL — Lukas Kinsey, BCHS
OL — Will Wilson, MRHS
OL — Ryan Clark, HHIHS
2ND TEAM DEFENSE
DL — Alvin Wilson, BHS
DL — Rett Harrell, MRHS
DL — DJ Aiken, BLHS
DL — Theo Washington, BHS
LB — Anthony Nelsen, MRHS
LB — Mason Griffin, WB
LB — Luke Sanders, BCHS
LB — Jadon Grant, WB
DB — Keith Chisolm, WB
DB — Colton Phares, BHS
DB — Michael Sunkins, MRHS
2ND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K — Ivan Huerta, BCHS
P — Trey Youngdahl, BHS
IRON LOWCO — Jaeon Allen, BCHS
HONORABLE MENTION
| Dreshaun Brown, BCHS | Matthew Larkby, HHIHS |
| Jonah Comfort, MRHS | Jaylin Linder, BLHS |
| Jeremiah Curry, BLHS | Richard Parker, WB |
| Hart Cushman, BHS | Darrion Perry, MRHS |
| Nashaun Green, HHIHS | Cam Scott, MRHS |
| Gavin Heintschel, BLHS | Jacove Singleton, BCHS |
| Jaylin Houseal, BHS | Chase Wilfong, BLHS |
| Anders Kennedy, HHIHS | Jaquinn Williams, BLHS |
| Max Kimmel, MRHS | Toshane Wittingham, MRHS |
SELECTIONS BY SCHOOL
| School | 1st | 2nd | HM | TOTAL |
| BHS | 7 | 8 | 2 | 17 |
| MRHS | 6 | 4 | 5 | 15 |
| WB | 8 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| HHIHS | 3 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
| BLHS | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 |
| BCHS | 1 | 5 | 2 | 8 |
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SCISA ALL-LOWCO TEAM
FIRST TEAM OFFENSE
| QB | SCISA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Jace Blackshear, HHCA | Jr. The peanut butter to JP Peduzzi’s jelly, Blackshear blazed to 1,677 yards passing, 956 rushing, and 483 receiving with a total of 55 TDs (27 pass, 21 rush, 7 receiving) |
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| QB | Jeremiah Young, JPII | Sr. Piled up 1,030 yards and 8 TDs in option rushing attack, plus 920 yards passing with 11 TDs and 6 INTs |
| RB | JR Patterson, THA | Sr. One more All-Lowco honor for Rebels’ star who averaged 12.5 yards per carry to pile up 1,358 rushing yards and 12 TDs |
| RB | Ja’Sean Lawson, BA | Sr. Eagles’ top rusher rolled up 1,112 yards and 14 TDs, averaging 7.5 yards per attempt |
| RB | Tommy Stauffer, HHP | Sr. Versatile back rushed for 960 yards and 8 TDs and caught 10 passes for 142 yards and a score |
| WR | Bruzza Pusha, THA | Sr. Versatile superstar caught 46 passes for 1,140 yards and 14 TDs and rushed for 475 yards and 4 TDs for state champion Rebels |
| WR | Cameron Strickland, HHCA | Sr. The poison that made opponents pay when they put to much focus on the Blackshear-Peduzzi Express, Strickland hauled in 37 passes for 665 yards and 10 TDs |
| OL | Therion Cannon, THA | Sr. UAB signee led a dominant offensive line that paved the way for 329 rushing yards per game |
| OL | Quillan White, THA | Soph. Key contributor to Rebels’ unstoppable ground game, and he’ll be back |
| OL | John Asher Howell, BA | Jr. Eagles’ top blocker paved the way for powerful BA ground game |
| OL | Warner Hahn, HHCA | Jr. Hard-working guard helped buy time for dominant QBs to operate during perfect season |
| OL | JP Wilder, HHCA | Sr. Returned from two major knee injuries in three years to become undefeated Eagles’ lead blocker |
FIRST TEAM DEFENSE
| DL | SCISA DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR John Hampton Hewlett, THA | Sr. Pure havoc. The Citadel signee had 62 tackles (28 for loss), 12 sacks, and 21 QB pressures |
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| DL | Kent Camp, HHCA | Sr. Key pass rusher for state champ Eagles with 61 tackles, 6 TFL, 2 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries |
| DL | Hayden Jennings, JPII | Sr. Golden Warriors’ run stopper had team-high 74 tackles while playing both ways in the trenches |
| DL | Liam Sirgo, HHCA | Sr. Caused havoc coming off the edge for opponents with 60 tackles, 8 TFL, and 6.5 sacks |
| LB | Carson King, HHP | Sr. Opponents tried to run away from him, but the Dolphins’ dominant linebacker still made 48 solo tackles |
| LB | Jackson Lanier, HHCA | Jr. Emotional leader had another monster year — 105 tackles (82 solo), 2 sacks, and a hand in 6 takeaways |
| LB | Troy Chisolm, HHCA | Sr. Region Defensive Player of the Year finished with 97 tackles (76 solo), 2 forced fumbles and 3 recoveries |
| LB | Brandon Howard, THA | Jr. RHHS transfer made a huge impact for THA defense with 76 tackles (53 solo), 14 TFL, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 3 recoveries |
| LB | Austin McIntosh, JPII | Sr. pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in hybrid role |
| DB | Cody Parker, THA | Jr. Anchored the Rebels’ secondary with 53 tackles, 4 INTs, and 3 pass breakups |
| DB | Braydon Dineen, BA | Soph. Had a solid season at QB but stood out on defense with 54 tackles, 3 TFL, and 3 picks |
| DB | Devonte Green, BA | Fr. Great start to a promising HS career with 56 tackles, 1 INT, and 5 pass breakups |
FIRST TEAM SPECIALISTS & IRON LOWCO AWARD
| K | Trevor Weldon, HHP | Jr. Kicked through a broken collarbone suffered making a tackle to finish perfect on PATs with a 37-yard FG |
| P | Cameron Strickland, HHCA | Sr. Do-it-all player led the Lowco with a school-record 40.1 yards per punt |
| IRON LOWCO AWARD | J.P. Peduzzi, HHCA | Sr. HHCA’s Swiss Army knife racked up 1,043 yards passing, 488 rushing, 666 receiving, with a total of 29 TDs, including a pick-6 in the state championship game … oh and he can kick too |
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2ND TEAM OFFENSE
QB — Peyton Bennett, THA
RB — Anthony Fripp, THA
RB — Carlos Jones, BA
RB/WR — Riley Shinn, HHCA
WR — Elijah Fess, BA
WR — Mark Knight, JPII
OL — Preston Hamilton, THA
OL — Max Hickey, THA
OL — Tripp Currier, JPII
OL — Torrin Kennedy, HHCA
OL — Max Marko, HHP
2ND TEAM DEFENSE
DL — Loncelle Daley, HHP
DL — Michael Carbone, JPII
DL — Cameron VanGeison, THA
DL/LB — Brandon Smith, THA
LB — Sonny Halker, THA
LB — Jeremy Clemmer, THA
LB — Quinn Ryan, HHCA
LB/DB — Malone Kinard-Huisinger, JPII
DB — Jackson Ogden, JPII
DB — Jayden Void, HHCA
DB — Ben Lubkin, BA
2ND TEAM SPECIALISTS
K — Logan Harsta, HHCA
P — Evan Slusne, JPII
IRON LOWCO — Malakai Steiniger, BA
HONORABLE MENTION
| Guy Annunziata, HHCA (OL/DL, Sr.) | Preston Humbert, THA (WR/DB, Sr.) |
| Brady Bagenstose, HHCA (OL/DL, Soph.) | Jordan Mikell, THA (WR/DB, Jr.) |
| Paul Carrabba, HHP (OL/DL, Sr.) | William Newton, HHCA (OL/DL, Sr.) |
| Luke Foley, HHP (WR/DB, Sr.) | Jaxen Porter, BA (WR/LB, Fr.) |
| Will Gray, HHP (WR/DB, Sr.) | Kevin Rogers, BA (TE/LB, Sr.) |
| Lawson Hewlett, THA (OL/LB, Soph.) | Carter Zareva, THA (WR/DB, Soph.) |
| Peter Hughes, JPII (OL/DL, Soph.) |
SELECTIONS BY SCHOOL
| School | 1st | 2nd | HM | TOTAL |
| THA | 7 | 8 | 4 | 19 |
| HHCA | 10 | 5 | 3 | 18 |
| JPII | 3 | 6 | 1 | 10 |
| BA | 4 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
| HHP | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 |
SUPPORTING SPONSORS
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