Six area players will compete in North-South

By Barry Byers - bbbyers@heraldonline.com

COLUMBIA -- The 88 players for this year's SCADA North-South All-Star Football Game were chosen on Monday, and the list includes six Herald-area players.

Rock Hill placed tailback Jamal Tyler and linebacker Mike McClure on the team; South Pointe tailback Quinten Darby was chosen; Chester wide receiver Bobby Kelly and offensive lineman Quintin Griffen were picked, as well as Lancaster defensive lineman Darius Robinson.

In selecting Tyler, Darby and Kelly, North coach Phil Strickland struck the vein on offensive talent. His staff also was surprised to get Byrnes quarterback Chas Dodd, who was passed over by the Shrine Bowl coaches. The team's other quarterback, Woodruff's Jake Lambert, has drawn statewide praise all season.

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Picking McClure and Robinson fell in line with the big, fast defenders the staff looked for. Griffen is part of one of the biggest and most talented offensive lines in the state.

“We were fortunate that there were some really good kids for us to select,” said Strickland, the coach at Gaffney. “All of them have been well-coached and have good character. That matters when you have to throw a team together in a week.

“We have kids with a lot of speed that can run the field. That's key to winning in football.”

Orangeburg-Wilkinson's Tommy Brown also had a good pool of talent left over from the Shrine Bowl picks, headed by Airport quarterback William Murden.

Brown's team also includes one of the state's top-rated offensive linemen in Calhoun County's Eric Mack, who has committed to South Carolina.

“I feel blessed for the opportunity to work with my staff to pick the players that best fit what we want to do,” Brown said. “People have to realize we can't pick everybody and we have to select players that fit our system. We want to run the ball and we feel like we got the right players.”

North-South game

What: 62nd Annual South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association North-South All-Star Football Game

When: Noon Dec. 12

Where: Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium, Myrtle Beach High School

Last year: The South won 24-14

Series: North leads 34-25-2

Tickets: $15 at the gate on game day