By Wes Kerr
LowcoSports.com
Headlined by a pair of state champions from Beaufort High, nine Lowco standouts were selected Friday to the 2022 South Carolina Football Coaches Association All-State teams.
Beaufort High’s Kacy Fields and Colton Phares, May River’s Jaiden Jones and Darrion Perry, Hilton Head Island High’s Chris Marable and Shaikh Thompson, Wade Hampton’s Zion Dobson and Mandrell Sanders, and Bluffton’s Jaylin Linder received All-State honors. An additional 12 area players earned honorable mentions.
Fields and Phares delivered a historic season for Beaufort High, leading the Eagles to their first state championship since 1945. After moving to running back early in the season, Fields rushed for an astonishing 2,230 yards and 32 touchdowns in his final 11 games. He was next to unstoppable with his breakaway speed and agility, becoming the catalyst of a sensational Beaufort rushing attack. Fields was outstanding under the brightest lights, rushing for 219 yards and three touchdowns on top of a 93-yard kickoff return score in the Eagles’ 41-31 state championship win over Powdersville.
An extraordinary and versatile playmaker for Bryce Lybrand’s team, Phares shined in all three phases to power the Eagles to the title. He was a menace in the secondary with his tremendous range and physicality, racking up 69 tackles alongside four interceptions and two forced fumbles.
The Appalachian State commit also became a part of Beaufort’s stellar ground attack, adding 598 rushing yards and six touchdowns alongside 19 catches for 349 yards and a score. His work on special teams may have been the difference in the playoffs, using his incredible elusiveness to return three punts and a kickoff to the house this year including a go-ahead return in the fourth quarter of a playoff win over Gilbert. He finished up his Beaufort football career by earning the Defensive MVP award for the South team in Saturday’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl in Myrtle Beach.
The workhorse back of May River’s offense, senior Jaiden Jones was a two-way star in 2022. A strong runner with exceptional power to break through tackles, Jones tallied 1,233 yards and 17 touchdowns for the Sharks. His tenacity and quickness translated to the defensive side as well, making 23 tackles at linebacker with seven tackles for loss and three sacks. Jones shared the backfield with teammate Darrion Perry who excelled at safety. His speed helped him fly to the football and make open-field stops, picking up 53 tackles on the season. Perry was incredibly efficient on the ground, averaging 6.8 yards per carry with 406 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His hustle on the field was especially evident on special teams with three blocked kicks to his name.
Chris Marable concluded his outstanding high school career for BJ Payne’s Hilton Head Island Seahawks with a dominant campaign at defensive tackle. The 6-foot-4, 295-pound senior displayed his elite strength and footwork to stuff his opponents’ run game, leading his team with 68 tackles including a whopping 25 stops for loss. Marable is committed to play at Wake Forest this fall and will compete in the 2022 Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas on Saturday in Greenville.
He’s joined on the all-state team by breakout junior defensive end Shaikh Thompson, who made an immediate impact with his explosive play on the line. Thompson’s power and physicality helped him make 45 stops including 15 tackles behind the line of the scrimmage. His strong work ethic and athleticism on the field will make him a cornerstone of Payne’s defense in 2023.
A standout in the backfield for Wade Hampton, Zion Dobson feasted in his junior season. Dobson’s quickness and agility were difficult to contain, rushing for 1,065 yards and 15 touchdowns on 200 carries. He was especially efficient in running routes and picking up extra yardage after the catch, pulling in nine receptions for 121 yards and two scores. His Red Devils teammate Mandrell Sanders also earned a nod after a terrific season at linebacker. The sophomore’s quickness and ferociousness were critical to Wade Hampton’s defense, making 93 tackles including a team-high 24 stops behind the line of scrimmage. Sanders’ terrific burst off the snap helped him to a team-best 6.5 sacks and 12 hurried throws.
Linder saved his best season for last at Bluffton, conjuring up a spectacular senior campaign under first-year head coach Hayden Gregory. An explosive wideout with the speed and athleticism to beat defenders over the top and make tough catches in traffic, Linder put up 63 receptions for 1,276 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also shined on the defensive side at free safety, picking off a pair of passes to lead his team in interceptions. He finished off his career in style on Saturday, catching a touchdown pass from Brookland-Cayce’s Tanner Staton in the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl.
Wes Kerr is a graduate of Hilton Head Island High School and Davidson College. He reports on local sports for LowcoSports.com
