Zaravion Johnson, often called Zay in the same way Donalds are called Don, is a member of the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team.
The Clinton High senior is to play for the Sandlappers in the annual game against the Tarheels at Spartanburg High School on Dec. 16.
Johnson is a University of Cincinnati commit who plays both defensive back and wide receiver for the Red Devils. He’ll line up at DB in the Shrine Bowl.
Thornwell just won its first football game since 2006, so it comes as no surprise that the Saints’ Travious Quarles is this week’s Player of the Week as selected by the Laurens County Touchdown Club.
The junior – Thornwell has no seniors in its resumption of football – led the Saints to a 34-20 decision over Clear Dot Academy. Quarles rushed for 102 yards in 16 carries and caught a pass for 13 yards as a running back, and made 5-1/2 tackles and intercepted a pass as a defensive back.
Thornwell (1-3) hosts Great Falls (1-4) this Friday night. The Saints are the only county team playing at home.
“We tried our best to minimize our mistakes,” head coach Charlie Washington stated. “Things from practice this week started to click, and understanding was clear. The game was well played as a team. … Travious was a big factor in our win.”
Quarles and Laurens Academy’s Buddy Baker are to be honored at Thursday’s noon luncheon at The Ridge in Laurens. The awards are presented by Farm Bureau Insurance of Laurens County.
The speaker is Newberry College head coach Todd Knight.
Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15. All meetings are at noon with the food line opening at 11:45 a.m.
The Laurens County Touchdown Club meets every other Thursday throughout football season.
As expected, Chapman’s 22-21 victory over Clinton (4-1) dropped the Red Devils from second to sixth in the Class 3A S.C. Media Poll of state high schools.
Daniel (4-0) maintained the top spot, and Belton-Honea Path, Dillon, Gilbert and Chapman hurdled past Clinton.
Laurens (0-5) visits the fourth-ranked 5A school, T.L. Hanna (4-1), in Anderson on Friday.
CLASS 5A: 1. Summerville (23) (4-0) 2. Hillcrest (5-0) 3. Byrnes (4-1) 4. TL Hanna (4-1) 5. Gaffney (3-2) 6. Fort Dorchester (2-1) 7. Spartanburg (3-2) 8. Lexington (4-1) 9. White Knoll (5-0) and 10. Sumter (3-2). Others receiving votes: Boiling Springs, Dutch Fork, J.L. Mann, Ashley Ridge, River Bluff, Chapin and Clover.
CLASS 4A: 1. South Florence (18) (5-0) 2. Northwestern (5) (3-1) 3. Irmo (4-0) 4. James Island (5-0) 5. Hartsville (4-1) 6. South Pointe (3-2) 7. Westside (3-1) 8, Midland Valley (5-0) 9. West Florence (3-1) and 10. Greenville (3-2). Others receiving votes: Lucy Beckham, Ridge View, A.C. Flora, Indian Land and Airport.
CLASS 3A: 1. Daniel (19) (4-0) 2. Belton Honea Path (4) (4-0) 3. Dillon (3-1) 4. Gilbert (4-0) 5. Chapman (4-1) 6. Clinton (4-1) 7. Crestwood (4-1) 8. Chester (4-1) 9. Broome (4-1) and 10. Manning (4-0). Others receiving votes: Camden, Philip Simmons and Loris.
CLASS 2A: 1. Gray Collegiate (18) (5-1) 2. Abbeville (2) (4-1) 3. Oceanside Collegiate (2) (4-1) 4. Marion (5-0) 5. Hampton County (1) (5-0) 6. Saluda (4-0) 7. Fairfield Central (4-1) 8. Silver Bluff (3-1) 9. Strom Thurmond (3-1) and 10. Woodland (3-0). Others receiving votes: Landrum, Ninety-Six and Andrew Jackson.
CLASS A: 1. Lewisville (22) (4-1) 2. St. Joseph’s (1) (5-0) 3. Calhoun County (5-0) 4. Christ Church (3-2) 5. Whale Branch (3-0) 6. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (3-1) 7. Latta (5-0) 8. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (4-0) 9. Lake View (3-1) and 10. Blackville-Hilda (4-1). Others receiving votes: Cross, Southside Christian, Denmark-Olar, Wagener-Salley, C.A. Johnson and Whitmire.
Clinton (4-1) won all but No. 2 doubles in a 5-1 girls’ tennis victory over Chapin.
Chandler Dailey, 6-0 6-1, over Anna Heltinger.
Libby Dailey, 6-0 6-0, over Merritt DelPiona.
Kimora Wesley, 6-0 6-0, over Katie Smith.
Carley MacMillan, 6-4 6-2, over Emary Gauron.
Addy Derrick, 6-2,3-6,7-0, over Clare Anderson.
Brantlee Rockwell-Ellie Rose Brownfield (Chapin), over Peyton Nabors-Deborah Goldman, 6-3, 7-5.
Wade Hampton blanked Laurens 6-0. The Raiders visited Fountain Inn on Monday.
After kicking three field goals in Presbyterian’s 23-20 upset of Wofford, freshman kicker Mack Mikko of Newnan, Ga., is the Pioneer Football League’s special-teams player of the week.
Furman quarterback Tyler Huff, a Presbyterian graduate in his second year starting for the Paladins as a graduate transfer, is the Southern Conference offensive player of the week based on his performance in a 31-28 victory over Kennesaw State.
Huff, from Orange Park, Fla., tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns and ran for 79 yards and passed for 237.
Clinton cross country finished 11th of 29 teams in the boys’ meet and 21st of 24 in girls’ competition at the Warrior Invitational in Pawleys Island.
William Reid’s school-record time of 16:29 was good for 18th at the prestigious meet hosted by Waccamaw High School.
Elizabeth Reid’s 20:30 was good for 34th in the girls’ race.
Clinton is off to a 6-3 start in volleyball, coming off a 3-0 decision over Saluda. The Red Devils are 0-2 (Union County, Woodruff) in Region 4-3A and split matches with Laurens. The visiting team won both.
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Nightrider's Lament 