Miller, Hubbard, Rogers honored

HUBBARD

By PATRICK ENZOR
Item Assistant Sports Editor
penzor@theitem.com

Manning High School head football coach Robbie Briggs implored his team to take the “playoff mentality” into last week's regular-season finale against Waccamaw with a home game in the first round of the 2A state playoffs on the line.

Given that, he was overly pleased with the play of his senior quarterback, Brandon Miller. Miller rushed for 141 yards and two touchdowns on just 10 carries while completing three of five passes for 183 yards — and all three completions went for touchdowns.

For his efforts, Miller is the Chick-Fil-A/The Item Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. Wilson Hall's Zach Hubbard is the Offensive Lineman of the Week and Sumter's Timmy Rogers is the Defensive Player of the Week.

“I thought it was his (Miller) most complete game of year,” said Briggs, whose team won 55-14. “He threw the ball the best he has all year. In the playoffs, you have to play more consistently.

“A lot of people look at our score and don't realize how good Waccamaw actually was,” he added. “They were a very solid 7-2 team and should have been 8-1. We set a goal for six weeks and it started last week.”

Rogers was in just his third week back after leaving Week 2's game against Stratford with an injury. The senior rover had 12 tackles, one tackle for loss and returned an interception 38 yards in the Gamecocks' 55-14 win over Conway.

“It was tough for him,” said SHS head coach Paul Sorrells. “He gave up about half his senior year. There is nothing structually wrong, but it's one of those things that needed some time. He's back, he's full speed and says he doesn't even feel he has a problem.”

Sorrells said that he figured heading into the season that to be successful on defense, Rogers would have to stay healthy. In his absence though, the Gamecocks have allowed just 12.4 points during their eight-game winning streak.

“I'm really proud of the way the defense filled in in his absence,” said Sorrells. “It speaks volumes of the guys that filled in.

“Timmy is quarterbacking the defense and has a really good grasp of what we're trying to accomplish,” he added. “He is a leader of that defense in terms of attitude and spirit. We did great in his absence, but it's good to have him back.”

Rogers was just happy to be back on the field. Plus, when he was finally healed from his injury, the flu bug got him.

“It was hard sitting out,” Rogers admitted. “We had a rough start, but I was just glad they could keep winning without me. I think that made us a better team, a deeper team. It just feels good to be back.

“I was cheering them on from the sideline and hoping they did their best,” he added.

Hubbard graded out at 91 percent as the Barons rolled up 359 yards rushing in a 34-7 win over Pinewood Prep. The week before, Wilson Hall passed for over 300 yards.

“Our offensive line did a great job,” said Wilson Hall head coach Eddie Talley. “That enabled us to rush for over 350 yards. You can't have that without good play up front.

“Zach had his best game of the year,” he added. “He made the right blocks and stayed with his man. It was very satisfying to watch that on film.”

The three players will be honored at the Sumter Touchdown Club's weekly breakfast meeting on Friday at the Sumter Family YMCA beginning at 7:15 a.m. Big South Conference commissioner Kyle Kallander will be this week's guest speaker.

MILLER

ROGERS