7 local players picked for Shrine Bowl

By Barry Byers - The Herald

Rosters were announced on today for the 73rd annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas All-Star Football Game and it was an historic day for players in The Herald's circulation area.

Seven local players were named to South Carolina's team, the most ever in the same year for players from this area.

Chester's Arianne McCree (LB) and R.J. Canty (C), Clover's Tra Latta (LB) and Max Elliott (RB), Rock Hill's Jatavius Stewart (DB) and Xavier McFadden (DB) and Northwestern's Brandon Williams (LB) were among the 44 players selected by the South Carolina coaching staff.

Clover coach Jet Turner is an assistant on the staff headed by Johnsonville's Lewis Lineberger.

The Dec. 19 game pits South Carolina's top players against North Carolina's at Wofford College's Gibbs Stadium in Spartanburg. The kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Six local players have been named to the team in the past. Getting seven spots, as did the Spartanburg area as well, is an indication of just how good football is in those parts of the state.

�I think it speaks well of the kind of football we play in this area," Turner said. �You can only take two from any team, and we feel we did a good job picking the 44 we are taking. And sure, there are some deserving kids that weren't chosen but we picked the team on based on what we want to do."

One of the most talked about situations concerning this year's selections involved Byrnes, which has a roster filled with Shrine Bowl candidates. The rules prohibit coaches from choosing more than two players from a team.

The picks from Byrnes were Marcus Lattimore, considered as the nation's top senior running back by most scouting services, and Corey Miller, a highly recruited defensive end. In selecting those two, the South Carolina coaches bypassed Rebels quarterback Chas Dodd.

Instead, Timberland's Cody Craig and Boiling Springs' Dylan Thomas will take snaps for the Sandlappers.

�Byrnes quarterback Chas Dodd is an example of how tough it is to pick the team,'' Turner said. �We picked two other Byrnes players we felt could help us more because of the positions they play. We have two quarterbacks and several flexible players we can use there.''

That group includes Rock Hill's Stewart, Spartanburg quarterback Conelius Jones, committed to Michigan as a defensive back, and Berkeley's Bruce Ellington, ranked as the 12th best point guard in the nation, who committed to play basketball at USC next season.

South Carolina leads the series 40-28-4 and has won the last two meetings. The Sandpipers won 24-14 last year. South Pointe quarterback Stephon Gilmore, a true-freshman starting defensive back for the South Carolina Gamecocks, was voted his team's offensive MVP.

Tickets are $20 for reserved seating between the 40s. Advance general seating tickets are $10 and $15 at the date. To order tickets call 800-648-2695. Orders received after Dec. 13 will be at the Shrine Bowl Office in the Radisson Hotel, Spartanburg until Friday afternoon. To order by mail send requests to Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, 377 Rubin Center, Suite 106, Fort Mill, 29708.

South Carolina roster

Matthew Ashley;OL;Belton-Honea Path

Andrew Bailey;DL;Dorman

James Barnes;DL;Keenan

Antuawn Blue;WR;Dillon

Bashaud Breeland;LB;Allendale-Fairfax

Martavis Bryant;WR;T.L. Hanna

Aaron Cann;OL;Bamberg-Ehrhardt

R.J. Canty;OL;Chester

Davious Chestnut;LB;Carvers Bay

James Costello;Jr.;OL;Gaffney

Cody Craig;QB;Timberland