Costal Pines Student-Athletes of the Week

         By Kevin Price 

Photo Courtesy of Andrea Heflin

Jaiden Knight isn’t just one of the best running backs in Southeast Georgia. He’s one of the best in the state and showed as much this past Friday night as Appling County knocked off Toombs County 11-7 in a huge Region 3-AAA game. 

Knight rushed for 204 yards on 24 carries for the second-ranked Pirates who took over the top spot in the Class AAA state poll that was previously held by the Bulldogs with the victory. 

His performance in the game which put the Pirates in position to claim the region championship this week in the final game of the regular season against Pierce County has earned Knight the Coastal Pines Technical College Player of the Week award from 912 Sports in our Southeast Georgia coverage area. 

“Jaiden Knight is the playmaker on our offense and one of the top playmakers on defense,” said Appling head coach John Davis Sellers. 

“Jaiden is incredibly humble and possesses great discipline to focus on what he can contribute to the team. His competitiveness is unwavering and he does a great job of leading a strong senior class.”

Against Toombs, the 6-foot-1, 193-pound senior standout ran for a touchdown in addition to all the yards he gained with the ball in his hands. He also ran for a two-point conversion. 

While playing linebacker for the Pirates on defense, he recorded six tackles in the victory. 

For the season, Knight has had limited carries as he has only played two quarters in several games that the Pirates won going away with a running clock throughout the second half. 

He has carried 73 times for 1,201 yards and 22 touchdowns. He averages 16.5 yards per carry and also is averaging 133.4 yards a game for the Pirates who are 9-0 after the win over the Bulldogs. 

He also has a 59-yard punt return for a score which gives him 23 total touchdowns. 

“His stats are not indicative of his true production when you look at how few carries he’s had. His yardage average per carry is much more of an indicator of his true production,” Sellers said. 

As a linebacker, Knight has recorded 43 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. 

The Appling-Pierce County matchup Friday night will be played in Baxley. 

The Pirates can win the region title outright with a victory. A loss could put Appling, Toombs and Pierce in a three-way tie for the top spot in the region. Toombs plays Tattnall County Friday night in its final region game. 

Other Noteworthy Performances from 

Week 11 games

* Nigel Garner, RB, Brunswick: Ran for 260 yds. and 2 TDs in 56-42 win over Effingham.

* Josiah Gibbons, RB, Brunswick: Ran for 220 yds. and 5 TDs in 56-42 win over Effingham

* Jae’Veon Williams, RB, Pierce Co: Rushed for 309 yds. and 6 TDs in 48-6 win over Islands. 

* Antonio Benton, QB, New Hampstead: Was 14-for-26 passing 249 yds. and 6 TDs in 48-34 win over Southeast Bulloch. 

Coastal Pines Technical College

Player of the Week

Week 1 - Cameron Keeve (Bradwell Institute, RB)

Week 2 - Jae’Veon Williams (Pierce, RB)

Week 3 - Bobby Reynolds (Coffee, RB)

Week 4 - Jae’Veon Williams (Pierce, RB)

Week 5 - Jackson Hunter (Glynn Acad., Cross Country)

Week 6 - Kobe Hill (Jeff Davis, FB-LB) 

Week 7 - “Moo Moo” Mckoy (Ware Co., RB) 

Week 8 - Malachi Sanders (Brantley Co., RB-DB)

Week 9- Malakhi Poole (Camden Co., RB)

Week 10 - Bobby Reynolds (Coffee, RB) 

Week 11 - Jaiden Knight (Appling Co. RB)  

      By Kevin Price

Brantley County’s softball team had a memorable season, and so did Edie Lowther, the team’s star pitcher. 

With Lowther playing a major role in the recent third-place finish in Class AAA by the Lady Herons, she has been chosen by 912 Sports for the Coastal Pines Girls Student-Athlete of the Week honor in our Southeast Georgia coverage area. 

“She means so much to our Lady Herons because of her leadership, work ethic and commitment to her teammates,” said Brantley head coach Kayla Nance. “She leads by example, showing up ready to work and encouraging those around her to be their best. 

“I’m proud of the athlete she is, but even more proud of the young women she continues to become.”

At the Elite Eight last week in Columbus, she shut down the big bats in the Pike order while in the pitching circle for the Lady Herons, leading the team to an 8-5 win in its second game at the final site. The Lady Herons had already knocked off Worth County in their opening game.

Assured of a top-3 finish,the best in school history, the Lady Herons fell 5-3 in the winner’s bracket to eventual state champion Sonoraville. 

Lowther went to the circle in the first inning after Sonoraville scored four runs and allowed only one run the rest of the way. 

In the third-place game, Lowther pitched 10 innings, allowing only two earned runs, but the Lady Herors fell 5-2 to Appling County which went on to play for the state crown. 

For the season, Lowther pitched in 13 of Brantley’s 20 regular-season games and made nine starts. She allowed 31 runs, struck out 41 and walked 28. 

Among her highlights was a perfect game against South Atlanta in the first round of the state tournament as Brantley reached the Sweet 16.

In the Sweet 16, Lowther allowed only four runs in two games against Pierce County as the Lady Herons advanced to Columbus to play in the Elite Eight. 

“ When she steps on the mound, she commands the field and trusts that her teammates have her back. 

Edie’s faith guides how she carries herself on and off the field, and she gives all the glory to the Lord. I’m proud of the athlete she is, but even more proud of the young woman she continues to become.”  Nance said. 

Coastal Pines Technical College

Girls Student-Athlete of Week

Week 1 - Ella Edge (Coffee, softball) 

Week 2 - Hadley Johnson (Appling, softball)  

Week 3 -Ellie Harrison (Wayne Co., softball)

Week 4 - Alyssa Martin (South Effingham, softball) 

Week 5 - Cassidy King (Glynn Acad., cross country) 

Week 6 -Isabella Marx (Pierce Co., volleyball)

Week 7 - Lauren Dunn (Frederica Acad., cross country)

Week 8 - Morgan Rust (Camden Co., volleyball)

Week 9 - Alexa Anderson (Richmond Hill, volleyball) 

Week 10 - Sophia Brewster (Long Co., softball)

Week 11 - Edie Lowther (Brantley Co. Softball)