Tuesday, Nov. 03, 2009

Two Seahawks named to North-South game

Myrtle Beach's Steven Cobb and Morgan Byrd will be the Grand Strand's only two representatives for the 62nd Annual South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association North-South All-Star Football Game.

The rosters for the game were announced Tuesday. The game features some of the top seniors in the state in a North versus South format and will be played at Myrtle Beach's Doug Shaw Stadium with kickoff set for noon Dec. 12.

Cobb has been a standout on offense and defense for the Seahawks while Byrd has been what first-year Seahawks coach Mickey Wilson calls a ''jack-of-all-trades.''

''This has been [Cobb's] first full year of playing both tight end and linebacker,'' Wilson said. ''He is such a threat at tight end. He really stretches the field for us offensively.''

Byrd has lined up at multiple offensive positions and is listed as a wide receiver on the South roster while Cobb is listed as a tight end.

''Morgan can do it all,'' Wilson said. ''He has played at receiver, running back and all of the special teams this season. He is very valuable to us.''

Last week, Myrtle Beach cornerback Khiry Watts along with Carvers Bay running back Davious Chestnut and South Columbus (N.C.) tight end Ethan Farmer were named to the Shrine Bowl, which pits the top seniors from North Carolina and South Carolina in an all-star game. The Shrine Bowl picks its squads first with the North-South rosters selected once the Shrine Bowl teams have been announced. The Shrine Bowl will be played Dec. 19 at Wofford College

The defending Class AAA state champion Seahawks open the playoffs at home on Friday against Lake Marion. While several other Seahawks were hopeful of making a postseason all-star game, Wilson said his players understand the situation.

''I think all of our kids realize that anytime you have these all-star selections and all-region teams, there are going to be [deserving] people that don't make the teams,'' Wilson said. ''It's a hard process picking those things. Plus our kids are focused on winning another state championship.''

Gaffney's Phil Strickland will be the North's head coach while Orangeburg-Wilkinson's Tommy Brown will lead the South. Hemingway's Ken Cribb will be an assistant on the South squad.

The South won last year's game 24-14.