High school football notes: injuries finally caught up with Northwestern

It’s not making excuses to say that injuries played a big part in ending Northwestern’s season last Friday night.

Injuries are a part of football and are to be expected. But David Pierce’s defending state champions continually lost key players throughout the season to minor and major problems alike. The figurative straw that broke the Trojans’ back was losing QB Gage Moloney early in the loss to Gaffney, an ironic twist of fate considering the Indians lost their standout QB to injury early in the 46-2 regular season loss to the Trojans.

“What happened to Gaffney, when they lost their quarterback in the first quarter the first time we played them, it might have been a totally different game,” Pierce said. “It was a great athlete and he was very dangerous, and he gets hurt and the whole game turns around. I would say Northwestern High School had the same thing happen.”

Pierce and the Northwestern coaches always knew the first round contest with Gaffney would be much tougher than the regular season blowout. They harped endlessly to their players about the perils of overlooking the 16-time state champs.

“We told them all week, ‘don’t do football math like a fan,’” Pierce said. “‘We beat them by this score in this game, so if you do the football math, we’re supposed to beat them by this score.’ Gaffney is a dangerous team and our players knew that. Going into the game we had all of our weapons, we had a great game plan.”

Clemson commit Logan Rudolph went down in the second game of the season to a torn labrum in his shoulder, before a series of talented receivers, all likely college prospects, were lost for varying periods of time to pulled/strained muscles or a separated shoulder. Wally Wilmore, Jordan Starkes and Jamario Holley rarely were on the field together, a fact that prevented Northwestern’s offense from ever truly stamping its foot on the pedal, while injuries to more experienced players like Rudolph robbed the team of one of its strongest assets this season, game experience. And the No. 2-ranked Trojans were still 9-1 in the regular season.

“It always comes after that year when so many accolades and expectations are placed on you, which sort of makes it doubly heavy,” Pierce said.

Shrine Bowl for Howard, but not Moloney

Northwestern’s surprise playoff loss means that its two Shrine Bowl picks can play in the game, set for Dec. 17. But while Jerry Howard will suit up for the Sandlappers, QB Gage Moloney will be unable to after breaking his radius - a bone near the wrist - on his left arm. Moloney, who will play football at Ohio University next season, will still be present during Shrine Bowl week activities.

“He’s heartbroken over it,” said Northwestern coach David Pierce. “But he’ll make a full recovery and he has a bright future.”

Two more Trojans, senior defensive players Ali Shockley and Caliph Brice, will now be able to play in the North-South all-star game on Dec. 10 in Myrtle Beach.

All four Region 4-5A teams bounced out

It was not a good Friday night for Region 4-5A, with all four playoff teams from the league falling to opponents from Region 3-5A. That’s no slouch, given that MaxPreps rated Region 3-5A (Byrnes, Boiling Springs, Gaffney, Dorman and Spartanburg) as the eighth-best high school football conference in the country.

There is also solace to be taken from the new way the SCHSL is bracketing its football playoffs. Due to the rotation that the SCHSL uses, Region 4-5A won’t be paired up with 3-5A next year.

See how other regions across the state fared in the first round of the 2016 playoffs:

South Pointe on NFL Network pregame last Thursday

If you flicked on the Carolina Panthers’ Thursday night football game early last week against New Orleans, you might have noticed some familiar looking jerseys.

Twelve South Pointe Stallion football players and coach Strait Herron were featured heavily during the pregame as they broke down a New Orleans offensive play with former NFL coach Steve Mariucci and Dallas Cowboys receiving legend Michael Irvin. Check out the 2-minute, 34-second segment here.

Myles Prosser big hit

There are few players on a football field that would pass up a free lick on an unexpecting kicker, and the same is true in reverse. York junior Myles Prosser can confirm that after he delivered a huge sideline blow during the Cougars’ win over Daniel last Friday. Prosser tweeted video of the play, with the question “kicker or linebacker?” You be the judge:

Desmond Ricks committed to S.C. State

Lancaster linebacker Desmond Ricks announced his commitment to play college ball at South Carolina State via Twitter Tuesday morning. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior is an interesting prospect because he’s only played two full seasons at linebacker after switching from receiver, but showed top-notch speed, mobility and tackling certainty his junior and senior seasons.

Ricks’ highlights:

This story was originally published November 22, 2016 at 5:47 PM with the headline "High school football notes: injuries finally caught up with Northwestern."