The SC Sandlappers' Dec. 21 Shrine Bowl roster will be revealed at 3 pm Sunday on Facebook Live. 

Annually selecting the top seniors from over 200 SC High School League schools in 5 classifications is always an arduous task for each Shrine Bowl staff. 

It’s especially difficult when coaches are limited to picking only 2 players from each school. 

Another challenge they face in the coming days is when there’s a plethora of candidates at 1 position. This is true at the quarterback position where more than a few senior standouts are making a strong case for consideration:

- Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate): The Holy Cross-bound War Eagle is among the state and national leaders in passing (1,224 yards). He’s averaged 400 yards in all 3 games played this season and thrown 13 TDs.

- Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork): The reigning Lexington County Chronicle Player of the Year and Clemson-bound pitcher has led the Silver Foxes to 3 straight Class 5A titles and 28 straight games without a loss. Through 3 games, he’s thrown for 759 yards and 9 TDs and set a school record for career touchdowns (68) against Irmo. 

- Jy Tolen (Gilbert): After 2 seasons sharing duties with Josh Strickland (currently starting at Blythewood), the senior through 3 games has completed 73% of his passes for 1,001 yards, 10 TDs and no interceptions. He also has 3 rushing touchdowns. 

- Aveon Smith (White Knoll): The Miami (OH) commitment has been 1 of Chronicle Country’s top dual threat quarterbacks. In leading the Timberwolves to a 3-0 start for the 2nd straight year, he’s thrown for 500 yards and 8 TDs and is 2nd in rushing (208 yards, 3 TDs).

- Roger Pedroni (Chapin): Another dual threat quarterback, the senior Eagle has his team off to a 3-0 start. For the season, he’s thrown for 546 yards and 5 TDs and rushed for 136 yards and 5 TDs. 

TEAM OF THE WEEK - River Bluff 

Even with top running back Braden Walker sidelined, the Gators have started 2019 in similar dominant fashion as last year. In last Friday’s 62-0 rout of Pelion, they held the Panthers to 14 total yards and a record 2 safeties.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Roger Pedroni (Chapin)

The senior quarterback led the Eagles to a dramatic 32-28 comeback win over Lugoff-Elgin with 2 touchdown passes in the final 4 minutes. He finished with 281 passing yards to go with 2 rushing touchdowns. 

WEEK 2 GRIDIRON GIANTS

- Markco Coleman (Airport) - 131 passing yards, 3 TDs

- Nanders Lawrence (Airport) - 152 total yards, TD 

- Marvin Gantt (Batesburg-Leesville) - 143 yards, 3 TD

- Tre Robinson (Batesburg-Leesville) - 141 passing yards 

- Zavier Short (Chapin) - 9 receptions, 155 yards, 2 TDs

- Dylan King (Chapin) - 17 tackles

- Jake Hames (Chapin) - 15 tackles

- Ryan Horwood (Chapin) - 12 tackles

- Noah Rankin (Chapin) - 10 tackles 

- Ty Olenchuk (Dutch Fork) - 252 passing yards, 4 TDs

- Jon Hall (Dutch Fork) - 80 rushing yards, 2 TDs

- Jy Tolen (Gilbert) - 287 passing yards, 4 TDs, 60 rushing yards

- Hunter Helms (Gray Collegiate) - 416 passing yards, 5 TDs

- Omarion Dollison (Gray Collegiate) - 200 receiving yards, 3 TDs

- Tristan Allen (Lexington) - 5 receptions, 109 yards, TD; 43 yards per punt average

- Elijah Ogden (Lexington) - 185 passing yards, TD

- David Cromer and Levi Gulasa (Lexington) - 10 tackles each 

- Jackson Stone (River Bluff) - 135 total yards, 4 TDs

- Aveon Smith (White Knoll) - 123 yards, 3 TDs; 91 rushing yards, TD

- Kennedy Ramsey (White Knoll) - 4 receptions, 98 receiving yards, 2 TDs

STREAKS CONTINUE

Dutch Fork’s 47-7 win over Irmo extended its undefeated streak to 28 games. It was also the Silver Foxes’ 21st straight road win dating back to October 2015. 

BY THE NUMBERS

Gilbert wide receiver Deandre Harris has 20 receptions for 340 yards...Brookland-Cayce will face its 3rd Class 5A opponent this Friday against Irmo. The Bearcats are in Class 4A...Gilbert is in a stretch by facing 3 straight opponents (Lexington, Airport, River Bluff) in higher classifications...River Bluff has outscored its first 3 opponents 160-9. 

QUOTABLE

“The reality of it is...the Shrine Bowl is picked so early, it’s picked on what a guy did last year and that kind of thing and the combines and all that...But, I don’t know of a quarterback that’s played better these first 3 games than Jy Tolen.” - Gilbert head coach Chad Leaphart.