The rosters for South Carolina’s top two all-star football games have been released and include players from Ashley Ridge and Summerville.

Summerville receiver Yannick Smith has been selected as one of only 44 athletes from across the state to participate in the 87th annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 16, at Viking Stadium on the campus of Spartanburg High School. The annual event, which began in 1937 to promote awareness and support for the Shriners Hospitals for Children and is billed as one of the oldest bowl games in America, pits top-tier talent from South Carolina against their North Carolina counterparts. Seniors from all public school classifications are considered for the event and each year Shrine Bowl coaches get first choice on which players to put on their roster.

Smith is the star of a Green Wave team that got out to an 8-0 start this season and has had the No. 1 ranking for 5A teams in the state since mid-August. With his help, Summerville is scoring an average of 50 points per game.

Smith had more than 30 receptions for more than 900 yards and 12 touchdowns through Week 8 and rushed for two touchdowns. He also returns kicks.

Other athletes from the Charleston area selected for the Shrine Bowl are West Ashley linebacker Terry Grant, Woodland offensive lineman Kam Pringle, Philip Simmons defensive back Troy Stevenson, James Island kicker/punter Coleman Franzone and Lucy Beckham receiver Bryce Rothwell.

Wayne Farmer, of Calhoun County High School, is the head coach for this year’s South Carolina team. Assisting him will be Russell Blackston (Belton-Honeap Path), Chad Leaphart (Gilbert), Victor Floyd (Chester), Reed “Rusty” Charpia (Brookland Cayce), Carlisle Koonts (Hartsville), James Breland (Sumter) and trainer Niki Gay (Lugoff-Elgin).

The game will be streamed at wccbcharlotte.com and bahakelsports.com.

North-South All-stars

Rosters for the 2023 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl all-star event were released Wednesday, Oct. 18, with 11 Charleston-area players selected to the South roster.

This year marks the 76th edition of the event, formerly known as the North-South All-Star Football Game. The game will be played Saturday, Dec. 9, at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach and include 88 seniors from across all public-school classifications in the Palmetto State.

Ashely Ridge receiver Derrick Salley and tight end Dwayne Simmons, and Summerville linebacker Kayden Gaddist have been selected for the South All-Stars team.

Salley and Simmons have been the spark plugs for one of the more explosive offenses in the state. With the duo leading the way, the Swamp Foxes have opened up their attack this season and in the first eight weeks scored an average of 40 points per game. Salley has more than 1,300 receiving yards and 16 touchdown catches this season.

Gaddist is one of the anchors for a Summerville defense that through the first eight weeks allowed its opponents to score an average of 18.4 points per game only. Through the first five weeks of the season, he led the Green Wave in tackles with 43.

Other Charleston-area players selected for the South All-Stars team are Cane Bay offensive lineman Andrew Tumbleston, Cane Bay defensive lineman Will Coker, Stratford offensive lineman Landon Stradcutter, Cross defensive lineman Jayden Middleton, Philip Simmons kicker Sam Crocker, James Island defensive back Jayden Whaley, Oceanside Collegiate defensive lineman Ben Britton and Lucy Beckham defensive lineman Drake Bull.

Walt Wilson, of Richland Northeast, is the head coach for the South team. Stratford’s Dennie McDaniel and Cane Bay’s Tim Wash are also on the coaching staff.

“This is a great honor to coach a game that has so much prestige,” Wilson said. “We will have some of the best talent in the state playing on our team. It’s been a pleasure watching them develop in this process.”

Caption:

Summerville receiver Yannick Smith has been selected to participate in the 87th annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas all-star game.

Roger Lee/Journal Scene

Dwayne Simmons and Derrick Salley

Roger Lee/Journal Scene

Kayden Gaddist

Roger Lee/Journal Scene

October 25, 2023 | Summerville Journal-Scene, The (SC)
Author/Byline: Roger Lee rlee@journalscene.com | Page: 004 | Section: A