By Wes Kerr
LowcoSports.com
MYRTLE BEACH – The 74th Touchstone Energy Cooperatives Bowl on Saturday afternoon was a classic.
And the Lowco stars showed out.
Bluffton’s Jaylin Linder caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, and Beaufort High star Colton Phares shined to earn defensive MVP honors for the South team, which came up short, 22-14, to the North squad at Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium in Myrtle Beach.
After a low-scoring first half of football ended with the South leading 7-5, the North squad scored 10 straight points including a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Emerald’s Jaylen Foster. But the Lowco’s leading receiver came through to tighten up the ballgame in the fourth quarter.
Brookland-Cayce quarterback and Elon commit Tanner Staton weaved his way through pressure in the pocket and found Linder, who broke open in the back of the end zone for a 38-yard touchdown grab. A key stop powered by Phares gave the South a chance to win it, but North captain Evan Javis picked off Staton to set up a Bryson James rushing score for a 22-14 lead.
Blythewood’s Anthony Thurman put the finishing touches on the victory with a sack as time expired.
Linder finished second on the South team in receiving, catching three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown. Beaufort sensation Kacy Fields added three receptions for 25 yards plus a 2-yard rush. Phares showcased his brilliance in the secondary, making an impressive nine tackles (eight solo) including a tackle for loss with two pass breakups to earn defensive MVP honors for the South team. May River’s Jaiden Jones added a tackle and recovered a fumble on defense, and teammate Darrion Perry also played for the South all-stars.
Wes Kerr is a graduate of Hilton Head Island High School and Davidson College. He reports on local sports for LowcoSports.com.
