South Carolina commits Shi Smith, Damani Staley, Davonne Bowen shine as high school football season opens

Each week during the high school football season, GABA will be bringing you a roundup of South Carolina Gamecocks football commits. This week is “Week 0” in South Carolina and Georgia as many schools have not hit the field yet, while things get underway in Florida next week. Here’s a look at how the Gamecocks’ pledges did:

Georgia

—Zay Brown and Clarke Central took the trip down the road to take on Winder-Barrow this evening, and the Gladiators took care of business with a 31-0 rout. Brown enjoyed a great night as he registered a pick-six on the evening among his stats.

—MJ Webb and Morgan County start play next week, as do Shawn Smith and Brunswick.

North Carolina

—Hamsah Nasirildeen and Concord, who fell to A.L. Brown 31-19 on Thursday, will host Albermarle next week. Nasirildeen finished with five catches for 55 yards in the defeat.

—T.J. Moore and Eric Douglas were on the OL as Mallard Creek went across the border to Dillon (S.C.) and came away with a 7-3 win, ending Dillon’s 37-game win streak. Some fans thought the Mavericks got a little help from the men in stripes.

—DB Jaylin Dickerson and Pinecrest traveled to Overhills, and it was his Patriots that opened the season with a 37-0 rout.

—South Granville was the opponent for Sherrod Greene and Rocky Mount. This one wasn’t close as Greene and his teammates marched to a 48-0 laugher to start 1-0.

South Carolina

—Union, featuring WR Shi Smith, kicked off against Chapman, winning 48-32. Smith hauled in a pair of touchdowns on eight catches in this one, and looked really good on this screen pass.

—Tight end Will Register and Chapin will take on River Bluff tonight at 6pm in their season opener after weather around the Lexington area pushed the contest back.

—LB Damani Staley and Ridge View opened their 2016 campaign with a 22-15 victory at Sumter. Staley had a monster game, recording thirteen tackles, four tackles for a loss, three sacks, and a forced fumble.

—LB Tyreek Johnson and Lakewood took on McBee and came away with a 28-14 loss.

—Up at York, it was OL Summie Carlay and Laurens taking on the Cougars in a scrimmage, with Laurens winning this one 23-20.

—Eastside was the opponent for Davonne Bowen and Woodmont, with the Wildcats winning 28-21. Bowen started his season off in electrifying fashion as he recorded a 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the third. He also had a big defensive play later on.

—Jay Urich and Wren start next week, when they travel to the Charleston area to take on James Island.

Florida

Kyshaun Bryan (St. Thomas Aquinas), Tavyn Jackson (Rickards), and Damarri Mathis (Lakeland) don’t get underway until next week.