University of South Carolina football commit Shi Smith had a different impression of the gameplan going into Saturday’s Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. The Union County High wide receiver and many of the other top high school players in North and South Carolina spent the week in Spartanburg, and had specific expectations for how he’d be used.
“A lot of short game and run after the catch,” Smith said.
Instead, he caught bombs.
Smith caught passes of 43 and 32 yards as part of a game-high 96-yard output on five catches. He scored the only Sandlapper touchdown of the day (the 43-yarder), on which he accelerated past the defender with the ball in the air.
“At practice, they didn’t really talk about doing that,” Smith said. “I’m glad he called the plays that he called, and I just went up and made a play.”
Smith’s 32-yard catch came on third-and-17. He had to leap over two defenders and pull in a contested ball.
Smith said he enjoyed the week of practice, even if he was slowed by a groin issue. He showed no ill effects in the game.
He said his plan for the next semester is to stay on top of things academically, have everything in order before he comes to Columbia in the summer.
“Just lifting weights, getting on a meal plan,” Smith said. “Get bigger for South Carolina.”
Combo play
Both Ridge View’s Damani Staley and Woodmont’s Davonne Bowen probably hope the play that capped the game’s first drive is a preview of things to come with the Gamecocks.
Bowen, a linebacker playing defensive end, snuffed out North Carolina’s first possession with a strip sack. Then it was his future teammate Staley, a defensive end playing linebacker, swooping in to pick up the fumble and take it 31 yards to the Tar Heel 13.
“It’s just a good thing,” Bowen said. “Because it goes to show everybody what they should be ready for when we get to South Carolina.
Bowen finished with four tackles, plus the strip sack. Staley had three tackles and was credited with a pass break up.
Gamecocks roundup
How the rest of USC’s commits did
▪ Lakewood defensive end Tyreek Johnson had four tackles, 1 1/2 for loss, for South Carolina.
▪ Chapin tight end Will Register started for South Carolina and was targeted twice but didn’t record a catch.
▪ Laurens offensive linemen Summie Carlay took the majority of the snaps for South Carolina at left tackle.
▪ Concord safety Hamsah Nasirildeen tied for a team-high five tackles for North Carolina with one pass break up.
▪ Mallard Creek offensive lineman Eric Douglas got good playing time for North Carolina.
Last edited by a moderator: