St. James coach Billy Hurston finally feels his team might be in a place to start getting in the win column.
Hurston, whose team is 0-5 heading into Friday's Region VIII-AAA opener against Georgetown, said Tuesday that quarterback Chase Smith is healthy enough to not only start for the Sharks, but contribute like he's used to.
Smith was eased back into the lineup very slowly after he had knee surgery in May and then suffered a back injury related to his upper body being out of line from his leg problems. Smith started last week's game against Scott's Branch, and he completed 12-of-16 pass attempts for 151 yards and three touchdowns.
Smith's health means Hurston can move Carl Buddin back to defense, where the coach would prefer to have him anyway.
"Carl was going to be QB until No. 15 was heeled," Huston said, No. 15 being Smith. "I'm still not in a two-platoon where I’m going to play Chase and Carl. Chase is our starting quarterback."
Smith and Buddin comprise two of the best athletes on the team. And while Buddin (6-foot-1, 185 pounds) may not look like the prototypical defensive end, that's where he'll start Friday against Georgetown. Smith, meanwhile, will not play defense, Hurston said, "until we have to absolutely have him."
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In other injury-related news at St. James, DeShawn Cox is going to be seeing the field more and more in the coming weeks.
Cox, one of the Sharks' fastest players, brok his tibia and fibula (the two primary bones in the lower leg) in his right leg earlier this year. He was playing cornerback, as well as some spots on offense.
However, he will be lining up at inside linebacker this week.
"I don’t know if he’ll ever get back to full speed," said Hurston, who said Cox was a sub-4.5 guy in the 40 prior to the injury.
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More injury updates, this time from Socastee.
Braves coach Tim Renfrow said cornerback Darryl Simmons (hip/groin) is back now after several weeks of rehab. Simmons, who suffered the injury in Week 2, will certainly provide some help to a defense that badly needs it, even if it only comes in the form of depth.
The Braves have allowed all five opponents to score at least 28 points, three -- Carolina Forest, Ashley Ridge and Conway -- to score at least 31, and last week's opponent (Lake City) to score 54.
Socastee kicks off its region slate Friday against North Myrtle Beach.
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