The first week of the S.C. high school football playoffs is in the books.
It’s time to vote for The State’s football Player of the Week from Midlands-area high schools and games played Nov. 7 . Voting ends Friday at noon. The winner will be announced on Lou Bezjak’s Twitter page.
The nominees are listed below. Please note that these polls are not scientific and are meant to be just for fun.
Congrats to all the nominees. Cast your vote below the bios:
Player of Week Nominees
Patrick Belk , QB, Heathwood Hall: Senior was 15-of-21 passing for 215 yards and two touchdowns, and also rushed for 66 yards and a score in a win over Ben Lippen .
Navier Boykin, RB, Camden: Senior carried it 16 times for 122 yards, three touchdowns and ran in a pair of two-point conversions in a win over Greer.
Derek Cammon , RB, Fairfield Central: Senior carried it 11 times for 128 yards and a TD in the win over Chesnee.
Darius Carter , WR, River Bluff : Junior had six catches for 168 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Cane Bay .
Tyrese Drakeford , DB, Westwood: Senior picked off three passes, had six tackles, a pass break-up and fumble recovery in win over St. James .
Jarkese Grant, RB, Lugoff-Elgin: Senior carried it 17 times for 158 yards, five touchdowns and also caught two passes for 24 yards in a win over Socastee.
RJ Kearse, DB, Gilbert: Senior had three tackles, two pass break-ups and returned a fumble for a score in the win over Bluffton.
Julian Senn , LB, Newberry: Senior had 20 tackles (3 for loss) and a fumble recovery in a win over Aynor.
Jalen Simmons , RB, AC Flora: The junior rushed 24 times for 161 yards and three touchdowns in a win over York.
James Veasey , QB, Blythewood: Junior rushed for 183 yards, two touchdowns and also threw for 138 yards and a TD in a win over Clover.
KD Whitt, WR/DB, Batesburg-Leesville: Senior caught four passes for 40 yards and three touchdowns and also had a 70-yard touchdown run in a win over Eau Claire.
Brayden Williams , QB, Saluda: Senior carried it 13 times for 171 yards, three touchdowns and also was 5-of-9 passing for 98 yards and a TD in a win over Mid-Carolina.
Trevon Williamson , RB, Gray Collegiate: Junior carried it 22 times for 222 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Brookland-Cayce.
November 10, 2025 | State, The: Web Edition Articles (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Lou Bezjak, The State | Section: high_school