North defeats South, 35-27, in Touchstone Energy Bowl; Northwestern Safety Tamarrion Watkins Named SC Mr. Football
By David Shelton
Senior Writer
Myrtle Beach – High school all-star football games can be vanilla, but this year’s Touchstone Energy Bowl was a surprisingly entertaining game.
The 78th Touchstone Energy North-South all-star game was won by the North, 35-27, on Dec. 9 in Myrtle Beach.
The game featured big plays on offense, defense, and special teams with two blocked punts, and a kickoff return for a touchdown.
“We just played an all-star game and threw it to the endzone for a chance to go into overtime and that’s what people want to see,” said South head coach Brian Smith of Barnwell. “Nobody wants to see 7-3 or 10-7 game, and nobody wants a game 40-10 either. I think it was an exciting game. Proud of the way our kids played and proud of the way their kids played.”
Pickens head coach John Boggs directed the North all-stars. The win for the North gave them a 42-33 edge in the overall series.
“What an effort on both sides,” Boggs said. “One team refusing to give up and the other team refusing to give up. Just two teams battling it out. Heck of a football game. Obviously, I am glad to come out on the winning side but just proud of how hard all these kids played.”
Bluffton quarterback Aeden McCarthy was named the South’s Most Valuable Offensive Player while South Florence’s Terry Gordon was the South defensive MVP. McCarthy completed seven of 17 passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Stratford receiver JQ Crosby had eight catches for 115 yards. Gordon had six tackles.
South Pointe running back RJ Brown was the North Offensive MVP and Indian Land defensive end Mike Foster was the Defensive MVP for the North team. Brown had 88 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 20 carries. Quarterback Roper Wentsky of A.C. Flora completed nine of 11 passes for 102 yards and one touchdown.
Wentsky connected with Stone Furrey (Dutch Fork) on a seven-yard scoring pass to give the North a 7-0 lead with 7:14 left in the first quarter.
The South answered with a McCarthy 34-yard pass to Marcus Cann (Bamberg-Ehrhardt) with four minutes left in the quarter.
Brown’s six-yard run in the second quarter pushed the North back in front. South kicker CJ Falatico (Philip Simmons) booted a 25-yard field goal with :15 seconds left in the second quarter to make the halftime score 14-10.
With 5:18 left in the third, Ware Shoals running back Jayden Johnson scored on a one yard run to make it 21-10 in favor of the North. A blocked punt by Foster set up another North touchdown as Brown’s two-yard run gave the North a 28-10 lead with 3:21 left in the third.
McCarthy hit Carter Coleman on a 13-yard pass to make the score 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. Falatico’s 25-yard field goal pulled the South closer to 28-20 with 8:44 left in the game.
Clinton’s Javen Cook returned the ensuing kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown, giving the North a 35-20 lead. Bishop England quarterback Quinn Mahoney’s eight-yard rushing score with 5:06 left in the game made it 35-27. The South had one last possession in the final two minutes and reached the North 13-yard line but was unable to score.
Watkins Named Mr. Football
At halftime of the all-star game, the South Carolina Coaches Association named Northwestern safety Tamarion Watkins the 2025 Mr. Football honoree. Watkins has signed with Texas A&M. The other finalists for the award included Zay Robertson of Dillon, Zion Guiles of Carver’s Bay, Kentavion Anderson of Dorman, and J’Zavien Currence of South Pointe.
“The opportunity to hold this trophy and know it is mine, I am blessed,” Watkins said. “I just thank my community, coaches and family for everything they have done for me.”
Watkins had 80 tackles and three interceptions this season. Northwestern won its second straight AAAAA Division II state title on Dec. 5.
