By Thomas Grant Jr.
A tough second half of the season for Chapin football almost got tougher last week against undefeated Irmo.
With 2:07 left in the second quarter, the senior tight end took a hard hit after making a catch in the middle of the field. Canady went down hard and, while showing some movement, was taken by ambulance off the field to receive medical attention.
Canady’s father provided good news on his son’s health status on social media after the game. He was able to go home and there was no report of any further injuries.
“It was a relief to hear Cooper was going home,” Chapin head coach Ryan Cole said. “He is a tough young man. Our athletics trainers did a great job taking measures to give Cooper the best possible care. It is tough to see a player go through that. I am glad nothing serious happened.”
The good news on Canady was countered by the Eagles’ fifth straight loss of the season. They will look to end the skid in their regular-season finale at Cecil Woolbright Field Friday against White Knoll
A win puts Chapin (4-5, 0-4) back at .500 going into the Class 5A Division II playoffs. Currently fourth in the Lower State RPI Ratings, the Eagles still have an opportunity at getting a favorable position for the post-season.
“It will definitely give us confidence,” Cole said. “We have played a tough region schedule. I hope a win will give us a home-field playoff game. I am not sure how it will turn out. We aim to focus on this Friday and worry about playoffs when they arrive.”
This is the final regular season home game for seniors Canady, quarterback Brady Albro, wide receivers Khalan Bostick, Jonathan Sheppard, Lou Becker and Will Robinson, running backs Anthony Turnbow and John Rossi, linebackers Tanner Short, Gavin Stam, Harrison Ambrose and Talon Chason, defensive linemen Kristopher Carver and Robert Wright, offensive lineman Nathan Gilley, Evan Creel, Evan Canfield, Jonathan Nimmo, Sam Highberger and John Kalogeropoulos, tight end Wyatt Zec, defensive backs James Pinner, Julian Gonzalez, Benson Lominack, Carlos Pinelli and Owen Doerge and athlete Phillip Jones Jr.
“We have a great group of seniors,” Cole said. “It is emotional for them to potentially play their last home game. I try to emphasize to all of our players that their career goes by really fast. These young men have given a lot to our program. I am thankful that they have been a part of it. I hope we can give them a great sendoff for senior night.”
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA RANKINGS
Class 5A
1. Dutch Fork (15) (8-0)
2. Northwestern (1) (10-0)
3. Summerville (10-0)
4. Irmo (9-0)
5. Sumter (9-0)
6. Spartanburg (7-1)
7. Gaffney (7-1)
8. JL Mann (7-2)
9. TL Hanna (7-2)
10. Greenwood (7-2)
RPI RATINGS
Class 5A
Division I
(Upper State)
1.Dutch Fork, 8-0, 0.86398, 2. Spartanburg, 7-1, 0.76197, 3. River Bluff, 7-2, 0.69895, 4. JL Mann, 7-2, 0.67508, 5. Dorman, 6-3, 0.62036, 6. Clover, 7-3, 0.61893, 7. Lexington, 5-4, 0.595882, 8. Boiling Springs, 5-3, 0.56335, 9. Blythewood, 6-4, 0.56370, 10. Rock Hill, 5-5, 0.54581, 11. J.F. Byrnes, 4-5, 0.54255, 12. Mauldin, 2-7, 0.35300 13. Wade Hampton, 0-8, 0.21096
(Lower State)
1.Summerville, 10-0, 0.77742, 2. Sumter, 9-0, 0.75349, 3. Ridge View, 6-3, 0.64056, 4. Ashley Ridge, 7-3, 0.61842, 5. James Island, 6-3, 0.61337, 6. Carolina Forest, 5-3-1, 0.58531, 7. Fort Dorchester, 5-5, 0.51585, 8. Stratford, 4-5, 0.47463, 9. Wando, 5-5, 0.46604, 10. West Ashley, 4-6, 0.45999, 11. Cane Bay, 2-7, 0.36164, 12. Spring Valley, 0-9, 0.29078, 13. Stall, 0-8, 0.24439
Division II
(Upper State)
1.Northwestern, 10-0, 0.81007, 2. Gaffney, 7-1, 0.69433 3. TL Hanna, 7-2, 0.66099, 4. Greenwood, 7-2, 0.64891, 5. Hillcrest, 7-2, 0.61847, 6. Catawba Ridge, 7-3, 0.58371, 7. Riverside, 4-4, 0.52357, 8. Indian Land, 5-5, 0.48252, 9. Eastside, 4-4, 0.44713, 10. Woodmont, 3-6, 0.43356, 11. Nation Ford, 2-8, 0.38028, 12. Greenville, 1-8, 0.34853, 13. Easley, 1-8, 0.30387, 14. Fort Mill, 1-8, 0.29509
(Lower State)
1.Irmo, 9-0, 0.81206, 2. White Knoll, 5-4, 0.61561, 3. West Florence, 6-3, 0.60009, 4. Chapin, 4-5, 0.57090, 5. Berkeley, 5-4, 0.53771, 6. Goose Creek, 5-4, 0.52977, 7. Myrtle Beach, 4-4, 0.50912, 8. Westwood, 5-5, 0.50762, 9. Socastee, 4-5, 0.46390, 10. Lugoff-Elgin, 4-6, 0.45239, 11. Lucy Beckham, 4-6, 0.42940, 12. North Myrtle Beach, 3-4, 0.42128, 13. Conway, 1-8, 0.35036, 14. St. James, 0-9, 0.23213
Photo by Edward Walker
