High School Football

Camden defensive back voted The State’s Midlands high school football Player of the Week

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. Jeff Blake Photo

The votes have been tabulated and Camden defensive back Jo Jo Crim is the winner in The State’s Midlands high school football Player of the Week for Aug. 17-19.

Crim edged out Heathwood Hall’s Patrick Belk as more than 26,000 votes were cast. Thanks to everyone who voted for the poll. A new one will be out on Monday.

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. Vote below these bios

AJ Brand, QB, Irmo: Junior quarterback was 14-of-21 passing for 220 yards, two touchdown passes and carried it six times for 120 yards and a TD in the win over Chapin.

Patrick Belk, QB, Heathwood Hall: Sophomore was 8-of-14 passing for 187 yards and three TDs, and carried it five times for 39 yards and two scores in a win over Great Falls.

Sam Burks, WR/RB, Northside Christian: Burks carried the ball 17 times for 185 yards and four touchdowns, and also caught two passes for 68 yards and a TD in the win over First Baptist.

Taevian Copney, RB/WR, Ben Lippen: Senior carried it 16 times for 168 yards and two TDs, and also caught five passes for 118 yards and three TDs in a win over Asheville Christian (N.C.).

Jo Jo Crim, DB, Camden: Junior had three tackles and picked off two passes in a 43-0 win over Myrtle Beach.

Jordon Gidron WR, Ridge View: Sophomore caught five passes for 115 yards and three TDs in win over Blythewood.

Jamel Howse, WR, Newberry: Sophomore caught seven passes for 207 yards and four TDs in win over Union County.

Avery Jones, WR, Airport: Junior had nine catches for 149 yards and four TDs in win over Swansea.

BJ Montgomery, RB, Gray Collegiate: Junior carried it 15 times for 300 yards and four TDs in win over Christ Church.

Caleb Pearson, QB, C.A. Johnson: Senior carried it 12 times for 172 yards, two touchdowns and also threw for 52 yards and two scores in win over Columbia.

Braxton Rodgers, LB, Cardinal Newman: Senior had six tackles, one sack, a pass break-up and a highlight-reel interception that was returned for a touchdown in a win over Trinity Collegiate.

Landon Sharpe, QB, White Knoll: Junior was 15-of-20 passing for 287 yards and three TDs in a win over Orangeburg-Wilkinson.

Casey Shropshire, RB, North Central: Senior carried it 27 times for 201 yards and three TDs including the game-winner in a win over Johnsonville.

This story was originally published August 21, 2023 at 2:05 PM.

Lou Bezjak
The State
Lou Bezjak is the High School Sports Prep Coordinator for The (Columbia) State and (Hilton Head) Island Packet. He previously worked at the Florence Morning News and had covered high school sports in South Carolina since 2002. Lou is a two-time South Carolina Sports Writer of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. Support my work with a digital subscription
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