The senior year for Dutch Fork running back Jarvis Green began and ended in similar, but fitting fashion.

His touchdown return of an onside kick attempt helped seal a season-opening victory over Hough (N.C.) in Charlotte, N.C.

On Dec. 17 at Viking Stadium in Spartanburg, Green’s one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put South Carolina ahead of North Carolina in the 86^th edition of the Shrine Bowl. The go-ahead score gave Green, fellow Silver Foxes defensive back Landon Danley and the Sandlappers the 17-13 win in the first contests between the two states since 2019.

“I told coach to give me the ball, I’ll get it in there, give us a little lead” said Green referring to South Carolina head coach Jerry Brown, who previously coached at Batesburg-Leesville and Northside Christian Academy. “So I just want to thank Coach for leaving me in so I could put us up and give us the lead.”

“I knew you were going to get in there,” Danley said.            

North Carolina took a 7-3 lead just before halftime on a one-yard touchdown run by Kemarion Baldwin. Green and South Florence quarterback LaNorris Sellers, who was named Shrine Bowl Offensive MVP, were instrumental in both second-half touchdowns for South Carolina.

The first score came in the third quarter when Sellers found an open Greenville wide receiver Tyler Brown for a 55-yard touchdown pass to put the Sandlappers up 10-7.

North Carolina answered with a 10-play, 65-yard scoring drive which extended into the opening minute of the fourth quarter. It was a drive aided by three of 15 penalties for 120 yards called on South Carolina, including two for pass interference and another 15-yard personal foul call.

The Tar Heels capitalized upon the penalties to take the lead on quarterback Jaylen Alexander-Raynor’s 5-yard touchdown run.

Gaffney’s BrayShon Littlejohn’s blocked the PAT attempt by Jack Berkowitz to keep the score at 13-10 with 11:28 left.

Facing third and 6 at the South Carolina 27, Spartanburg quarterback Raheim Jeter completed a 29-yard pass to Northwestern wide receiver Elijah Caldwell. The pass initially bounced off Caldwell’s chest into the air but came down in his arms for the reception.

A pair of carries by Green, who finished with 58 rushing yards, and Sellers, who  threw for 20 of his 121 passing yards  on the drive, set up a first and goal for the Sandlappers. Three plays later, Green fought off an initial tackler and burrowed his way into the endzone from a yard out with 4:40 left.

The Tar Heels were forced to punt on their final possession with 2:55 remaining. South Carolina ran out the clock with Sellers’ 8-yard run on 4^th and one ending the game.

“We’ve been here all week with a couple of people talking throughout the week,” said Danley, who finished with five tackles. “We knew there was going to be a good fight on our hands.”

“It’s a great way to end our careers,” Green said. “Us coming from a big program and just winning. To top it off like this for my career, it’s a blessing.”