Westwood running back voted Midlands high school football Player of Week
The third week of the high school football season is in the books.
The votes are in, and Westwood’s Jovan Howard won the vote for The State’s Midlands High School Football Player of the Week.
Thanks for all who voted. There will be a new poll on Monday. Coaches can send nominees to Lou Bezjak at lbezjak@thestate.com.
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 the Week Nominees
Navier Boykin, RB, Camden: Senior carried it 19 times for 140 yards and two touchdowns in Camden’s win over Hartsville.
Jaiden Bryant, DE, Irmo: Junior had 14 tackles, three sacks and returned an interception and a fumble for a touchdown in Irmo’s win over Butler (NC).
Kenton Caldwell, QB, Newberry: Senior was 19-of-23 passing for 191 yards, two touchdowns and carried it 21 times for 206 yards and four TDs in the win over Clinton.
Jovan Howard, RB, Westwood: Sophomore carried it 20 times for 179 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Richland Northeast.
Bryson Hugee, DE, Spring Valley: Senior had seven tackles (3 for loss), an interception and quarterback pressure in a win over Chapin.
Hadi Jabali, LB/S, Dreher: Junior had seven solo tackles (2 for loss), two pass break-ups and returned an interception for a TD in a win over Lakewood.
Malachi Jackson, ATH, Clear Dot Charter: Sophomore rushed for 176 yards and had eight tackles on defense in the win over American Leadership Academy.
Jaxon Knotts, QB, Dutch Fork: Junior was 17-of-23 passing for 295 yards, three touchdowns and carried it 14 times for 68 yards and the game-winning touchdown with 38 seconds left in the win over Ridge View.
Davis Livingston, OL, Swansea: Junior played three different positions on the offensive line because of an injury, graded out at 87 percent with two knockdowns and one pancake block in a win over Wagener-Salley.
Jameson Nunnery, RB/CB, American Leadership: Nunnery had 145 all-purpose yards on offense and three tackles on defense in a loss to Clear Dot Charter.
Hunter O’Neal, RB, Keenan: Junior carried the ball 34 times for a school-record 426 yards and five touchdowns in the win over Battery Creek.
EJ Richardson, WR, Lugoff-Elgin: Junior had 143 all-purpose yards and a touchdown receiving, rushing and on a kickoff return in the win over Darlington.
Sergino Samuels, LB, Lower Richland: Senior had five tackles, a sack, two quarterback pressures and returned an interception for a touchdown in the win over Colleton County. Samuels has a defensive TD in each of LR’s three games this season.
John Stokes, DL, Hammond: Junior had six tackles (4 for loss), a sack and two quarterback pressures in a win over Porter-Gaud.
Roper Wentzky, QB, AC Flora: Senior was 22-of-30 passing for 314 yards and four touchdowns in a win over Southside Christian.
Trevon Williamson, RB, Gray Collegiate: Senior carried it 16 times for 134 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Marlboro County.
This story was originally published September 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM.
