North Carolina’s top high school football players from Round 1 of the playoffs
Here are the NC high school football players of the week for the first week of the playoffs, the Grice’s Gems.
The players are selected by Jonathan Grice and Sam Greiner of the weekly Talking Preps high school sports show.
Chance Blake, North Stanly: Blake threw the game-winning touchdown pass to Jaylen McCoy with 20 seconds left in North’s 34-32 win over High Point Andrews. In 62 years, North Stanly has had 18 coaches. One three have led their team to the playoffs, including current coach Chad Little. This was North Stanly’s first ever 2A playoff win. Blake was 19-24 for 325 yards and 3 TDs
Tyjhere Crudup, Wilmington Laney: Crudup ran 35 times for 226 yards and three touchdowns in Friday’s 27-13 win over Middle Creek.
Jaden Marshall, Chambers: in a 45-20 win over Northwest Guilford, the junior quarterback — starting in place of injured starter Tre’ Robinson — completed 13-of-19 passes for 330 yards and four touchdowns.
Cameron Melvin, Cleveland: in a 57-13 win over Gray’s Creek, Melvin had five tackles, 3.5 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and five quarterback pressures. He forced six holding calls.
Zymire Spencer, Pinecrest: in a 45-31 win over South Garner, Spencer ran 30 times for 223 yards and three touchdowns.
Jayden Jones, Independence: the Patriots sophomore ran 12 times for 156 yards in a 35-0 win at Lake Norman. Jones averaged 13 yards per attempt.
This story was originally published November 7, 2023 at 7:00 AM.
