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The 2024 North Carolina versus South Carolina all-star game, known as the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, will feature some of the absolute best senior football players from the two states.
The biggest and best school’s best players get chosen to represent their state. Schools like Irmo, Gaffney, Dutch Fork, and North Augusta will be sending representatives to this game. For 2024 you can add Blackville-Hilda to that prestigious list. That’s right, Blackville-Hilda’s star player, Jaquel Holman, has been chosen to play as one of South Carolina’s best players to go against the best players from North Carolina. The Shrine Bowl will be held at Spartanburg High School this December 21.
The Shrine Bowl has been one of the longest running bowl games in the country. The Shrine Bowl has been running since the 1930’s.The Shriners’ proceeds from the game go to the Shriners Hospital that helps children with medical needs. Some of the many well-known former Shrine Bowl players include NFL legends Sonny Jurgenson, William “Refrigerator” Perry, Duce Staley, Charlie Waters, Julius Peppers, and many more. Current NFL stars Stephon Gilmore and Jadevion Clowney were both Shrine Bowl players. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Rice was also a Shrine Bowl player.
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Blackville-Hilda’s Jaquel Holman has been selected to compete in the 2024 NC/SC Shrine Bowl to be held at Spartanburg High School this December 21.
Blackville-Hilda’s Jaquel Holman has been selected to compete in the 2024 NC/SC Shrine Bowl to be held at Spartanburg High School this December 21.
Blackville-Hilda’s Jaquel Holman has been selected to compete in the 2024 NC/SC Shrine Bowl to be held at Spartanburg High School this December 21.
Jaquel Holman plays on both sides of the ball for the Hawks and can return kicks, if any team is brave enough to kick it his way. Holman is a very strong running back that is averaging more than 10 yards per carry and has rushed for 12 touchdowns. These are not inflated stats to make him look good, as a matter of fact, they are even better than they appear. Blackville-Hilda head coach Kevin Jones has been sitting Jaquel out for parts of many of their games.
This past week, Jaquel only carried the ball nine times, but those nine carries were for 206 yards and four touchdowns. For those of you not wanting to do the math, that was more than 22 yards per carry!
Coach Jones was asked about Jaquel being selected for this very prestigious game and he said, “We were all really happy for Jaquel and his selection to the Shrine Bowl. He has made an unbelievable impact on our program and school. We know he is ready for the remainder of our season and then heading off to the University of South Carolina. He has only carried the ball 84 times all year for us but still has 854 yards rushing at this point and 12 touchdowns. I have never been a believer in running a kid 25 or more times a game. It is just too much wear and tear on the player and Jaquel understands and appreciates that commitment to his future. Due to him being a little banged up to start the season, we didn't play him on defense much until the last few games. Even with that, he is closing in on 30 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble. He hasn't had a chance to get involved with our return game on kicks because nobody will kick it in the same zip code as to where he is positioned on the field.”
If you need any more convincing that Jaquel is a special athlete, then consider the fact that he earned three gold medals at the 2024 State Track and Field Championships. Jaquel finished first in both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash. He was also part of the gold medal winning 4x100-meter relay team.
The Shrine Bowl has listed him as an “athlete”. There is not a better description for Holman. He can play running back, linebacker, defensive back, special teams, or just about anywhere needed.
When asked about making the Shrine Bowl, the very humble young man said, “I felt great and I am truly blessed, but I wouldn’t be in this situation if I wasn’t for God, my parents, my coaches, and the community supporting me.”
Coach Jones thinks Holman’s success with the Hawks is a “lesson for the young kids coming up that you don't have to chase opportunities at charter schools, private schools, or 5A schools. You can get recruited by major universities and get selected to high level all-star games by just becoming the best player you can be in your own surroundings."
“I think playing against the best North Carolina players and playing with the best players from South Carolina is a big accomplishment because coming from a small school people think you don’t get noticed, but by being at a little school I’m really encouraging a lot of kids in my area to go for their dreams. I can show them that just because they are from a little town, doesn’t mean they can’t still fulfill big dreams,” said Holman.
Blackville-Hilda High School, the Town of Blackville, and the whole Barnwell County are proud of your accomplishments, Jaquel Holman. We are all looking forward to watching you finish this season on a high note, then competing in the Shrine Bowl, and moving on to joining the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.
Jaquel is proof that big things can come from small towns.
