The Lowco will be well-represented in South Carolina’s biggest all-star football game this December. Five area standouts were selected Monday to play in the 2021 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl, joining a list of 88 high school seniors across the state.
May River’s Garvin Douglas and Jaeon Allen were named to the South roster alongside Hilton Head High two-way star Jaylen Sneed, Beaufort High defensive end Alvin Wilson, and Whale Branch defensive tackle Xavier Chaplin.
Taking over at quarterback for the legendary Ahmad Green, Douglas has emulated the former star’s electric rushing abilities in 2021. After a remarkable three straight games of 200 or more rushing yards, Douglas now leads the Lowco with 1,383 yards on the season. He is averaging 8.5 yards per carry while throwing for 456 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. The senior’s phenomenal display has led his May River Sharks to a perfect 3-0 start in Region 7-4A.
Teammate and versatile offensive phenom Jaeon Allen will join Douglas in the all-star game. A transfer from Battery Creek, Allen has racked up 577 yards on the ground, second to Douglas on the team. The tall, athletic playmaker has also been a key piece in the passing game and at defensive back.
After starting out the season primarily at linebacker, Sneed has carried over his quickness and explosiveness to the quarterback position. The University of Notre Dame commit has been a force on BJ Payne’s defense, leading the team with 71 tackles including 21 in a single game against Wade Hampton. He’s doubled as an efficient dual-threat quarterback for the Seahawks, running for 155 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s victory over Bluffton.
Wilson has anchored a stellar Beaufort High defensive line that has allowed just 13.75 points per game this season. The Eagle veteran has dominated in the trenches and has become a terrific leader of an impressive front seven.
Chaplin has shined at defensive tackle for Whale Branch as a reliable run stuffer in the heart of a potent Warrior line. His 33 tackles rank second on the team alongside five tackles for loss and two sacks. Chaplin’s outstanding effort has made him a valuable component of a Whale Branch unit primed for a deep postseason run.
The 2021 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl will be held on December 11 at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach. The all-star game was first played in 1948 and will return this season after last year’s edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas called off for the second straight season, the event will be the only fully sanctioned all-star game for the state’s high school seniors in 2021.
By Wes Kerr
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