The Starting 22: Best players from week eight of high school football

Each week, HighSchoolOT will release the Starting 22. It is a list of the best performances from every position across North Carolina.

Coaches should send in performance nominations to jbryant@wral.com for consideration each week

Offense

QB — Braden Atkinson, junior, Rolesville

• Completed 300-of-40 passing attempts for 418 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions in Rolesville’s huge 53-30 conference victory over Millbrook.

RB — Ethyn Muhammad, junior, Harnett Central

• The junior found 230 yards and five touchdowns on the ground over 24 attempts in Harnett Central’s huge 45-28 win over Terry Sanford.

RB — Tylik Mitchell, junior, Southern Nash

• Mitchell crossed the 1,000-yard mark on the season with a 244-yard, four-touchdown output against Bunn. He attempted just seven rushes.

WR — Damon Duke, senior, Currituck County

• Duke, one of the state’s leading receivers, had six receptions for 241 yards and three touchdowns against a good Holmes team in Currituck’s 37-33 win.

WR — Brody Keefe, sophomore, Myers Park

• The young Power 5 prospect caught four passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns and had a two-yard rushing touchdown in the Mustangs’ crucial 32-16 conference victory over Ardrey Kell.

FLEX —.Gus Ritchey, junior tight end, Northwood

• The NC State commit caught five passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns in Northwood’s blowout victory over Graham.

OT — Gavin Major, senior, Charlotte Christian

• Major played very well at left tackle against a strong Christ School defense. The Knights ended up passing for 244 yards and rushing for 163.

IOL — Braxton Smith, senior, Dudley

• The senior all-conference performer led a Dudley line that allowed the offense to rack up 452 yards and six touchdowns in a running clock win over Northeast Guilford.

IOL — Jani Norwood, senior, Eastern Randolph

• The senior UNC commit plays right tackle for Eastern Randolph, but he projects to be an interior guy for the Tar Heels. Norwood was dominant in the Wildcats’ 48-0 win over Trinity.

IOL — Lane O’Dell, senior, Hayesville

• The four-year starter has been a strong player for the Yellowjackets throughout his career and has put together a notable senior season. Against a tough Swain County team, Odell and the offensive line helped give quarterback Tate Roberts enough time to throw for 163 yards and allowed the running backs to find 109 yards on the ground. Hayesville was the first team to rush for over 100 yards against Swain all season. The 1A Maroon Devils played four higher classification public schools and Charlotte Country Day in non-conference.

OT — P.J. Dean, sophomore, West Forsyth

• The young 4-star prospect helped pave the way for West Forsyth’s season-high rushing output in the Titans’ 35-26 loss to Reagan.

Catch up on previous editions of the Starting 22

• Week 1
• Week 2
• Week 3
• Week 4
• Week 5
• Week 6
• Week 7

Defense

EDGE — Jaden Warren, senior, Salisbury

• With a sack against East Davidson on Friday, Warren has now recorded at least one in each of the last six games. He has at least a one sack in seven of eight games this season.

DL — Jordan Frink, junior, Overhills

• Also a dominant offensive lineman, Frink played his biggest game on defense in Overhills’ 38-19 win over Westover. He finished with six tackles, two tackles for a loss, two sacks, and a forced fumble.

DL — Chris Kinsey, senior, Clayton

• The Comets’ defensive tackle registered six tackles, two tackles for a loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery in Clayton’s dominant 49-6 win over South Garner.

EDGE — James Nesta, senior, Hough

• The 4-star Oklahoma commit showed off his excellent pass rush prowess in limited opportunities against West Charlotte, recording a sack. Nesta also did a good job setting the edge in a key matchup against the run.

LB — Anthony Walker, senior, Hough

• The James Maidson commit was a force against a talented and tricky West Charlotte rushing offense, compiling 10 tackles and a tackle for a loss.

LB — Mason Hinnant, senior, Hunt

• Hinnant has been a prolific tackler so far this season and continued to put up good numbers in a 35-0 shutout win over East Wake with 11 stops and two tackles for a loss.

LB — Jackson Forrest, junior, Northwest Cabarrus

• Northwest Cabarrus doesn’t post defensive stats, but on film Forrest is a smart, destructive defender from his middle linebacker position. Forrest and the defense shut out Carson 37-0. It was their fifth shutout in seven games.

DB — Jamari Farmer, junior, Monroe

• The safety managed to have six tackles, four tackles for a loss, and three sacks in Monroe’s 55-7 rivalry win over Parkwood.

DB — Max Riley, senior, Cannon/Concord

• Riley is up to 44 tackles and six interceptions this season after recording five stops and three picks in a big 21-7 win over Charlotte Latin.

DB — Braylon Peebles, sophomore, Cardinal Gibbons

• Continued his smart and physical style of play from his defensive back position against Enloe, recording a tackle for a loss. He also had a 54-yard punt return.

FLEX — Tequon Moore, senior, Southside

• Moore recorded seven tackles, two tackles for a loss, and a forced fumble from his safety position in Southside’s 34-12 loss to Northside-Pinetown. He’s also an excellent offensive weapon, having accumulated 592 total yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season.