South Pointe (Rock Hill) defensive end
Jadeveon Clowney has been in the No. 1 spot of some recruiting analysts' national list this season, but that doesn't stop him from worrying.
South Pointe High's Jadeveon Clowney.
Photo by Ron McCann
As he drove to the state's Mr. Football banquet last week, where the top player in the Palmetto State is named, he wasn't sure about his chances of winning.
"On the way riding down here, I kept telling coach (Bobby Carroll) that there was no way I would win this award," Clowney told the Rock Hill Herald. "You got Justin Worley, who threw all those touchdown passes. You got (Myrtle Beach quarterback Everett) Golson, who's also a good passer. I kept worrying, coach Carroll said, ‘Don't worry about it.'"
The coach was right, as Clowney won the honor.
He had the credentials to easily pick up the hardware, too, as he finished the season with 162 tackles, 29.5 sacks, 29 tackles for loss, 11 caused fumbles, six fumble recoveries, 43 quarterback pressures and five defensive touchdowns this season. He had 20 carries for 274 yards and nine touchdowns.
Other standout finalists for this honor were: Worley, Golson, Greenwood linebacker Quinn Backus, Summerville running back De'Angelo Henderson, James Island quarterback
Bo Patterson, Dorman receiver
Charone Peake and Goose Creek offensive lineman
Brandon Shell.
"But now that I've won it I'm really happy to get the award," Clowney said. "When they first said my name, I didn't know what to say, but this award shows that hard work pays off."
Video of Jadeveon ClowneyWORLEY TAKES NATIONAL HONORA few days after Northwestern quarterback
Justin Worley won the state's Gatorade Player of the Year award, he picked up another award from the company — its National Player of the Year honor.
Worley became the first South Carolinian to win this award.
The Tennessee commitment guided the Trojans to a 15-0 record and won the 4A Division II state championship. He set a state record with 64 touchdown passes and threw for 5,315 yards this season.
Video of Justin WorleyFAMILIAR FACE TO LEAD GAFFNEYAfter one year as the interim coach of the
Gaffney Indians, Dan Jones can now call the team his own.
The school board voted Monday to remove the "interim" tag and give the Gaffney alum the reins to the vaunted program.
Now, Jones, who spent 17 years as an assistant coach at the school, will try to add another trophy to the overflowing case, as the program owns the state record with 15 state championships.
This season, the Indians finished 9-4, losing in the second round of the playoffs, but beating 4A Div. I champions Byrnes during the year.
"I hope after 17 years of coaching they saw some positive things," he told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. "It's reassuring for our staff and myself. We feel we're moving in the right direction. We hope to keep Gaffney in the upper echelon in the state."
Jones took over for Phil Strickland, who left in the spring to take the head coaching position at Newberry High School. Jones served as Strickland's defensive coordinator.
NORTH WINS ALL-STAR GAMEThe North took a 23-6 win last week in the S.C. Automobile Dealers Association North-South All-Star Game in Myrtle Beach. The game was played in a steady rain and didn't feature a lot of offense, as the North outgained the South 163-103.
The North fumbled nine times, losing just one, and the South threw two interceptions and lost five fumbles.
Irmo's
Dawan Scott was the offensive MVP for his team, after he carried the ball 11 times for 58 yards, while Brookland-Cayce wide receiver Jonathan Rump was the South's MVP (four catches for 38 yards and an 11-yard score).
Spartanburg's
Daquan Brown intercepted a pass and returned it 39 yards for a score to earn his team's defensive MVP award, while Carvers Bay lineman
Terrence Jennerette was the South's defensive MVP (four tackles and half a tackle for loss).
READYING FOR SHRINE BOWLThe top 44 seniors in South Carolina are in Spartanburg this week preparing for the 74th annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, which pits the top South Carolina players against the top North Carolina players.
The teams visited the Shriners' Hospital in Greenville on Sunday and began practice on Monday at Spartanburg High School. The game will be played at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Gibbs Stadium on the Wofford College campus.
Leading the Sandlappers' offense will be Worley, Golson and Gaffney's DeEdward Burris at quarterback.
The defense will be strong with Clowney and Backus.
Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettofootballtalkblog@gmail.com.
