Deo'vonte Doe - WTOC Player of the Week - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

Deo'vonte Doe is a junior running back at Ridgeland-Hardeeville and helped the Jaguars to an important victory last Friday night.

He and teammates Michale Horton and Marquis Griffin gashed North Charleston for nearly 400 yards rushing. Doe accounted for more than half of that but shares the credit for his performance. "A lot of hard work and the coaches, the coaching staff, and the blocking," said Doe. "We put a lot of hard work and a lot of reps into our blocking."

Doe carried the ball 17 times last Friday for 225 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 34-0 victory at North Charleston.  The win gave the Jaguars a 3-1 record in region games this season, just a game behind the leaders.  "I had to focus," said Doe. "I felt it was going to be a good game.  We needed the win because it was a region game and I felt I could make a difference in the game and I tried my best."  Coach Blake Raley added, "It's kind of his typical what he shoots for.  Marquis and Horton, they did a good job blocking.  The other two running backs in the backfield, the blocking of the offensive line obviously did a good a job and the wide receivers made some key blocks down field so that helps spring some big runs."

The Junior now has 1,038 yards for the year.  He says hard work has allowed him to accomplish that goal so quickly.  "With me, I try not to take the game too serious," said Doe.  "I try to have a little fun because it's not all about being serious in the game of I had a little fun.  When it was time to take it up a notch, I did what I had to do with the team."

Coach Raley describes his view of what makes Doe such an effective running back, "He hits the hole very hard.  He's elusive but at the same time he's not afraid to run some people over, too, so, lower his shoulders and run through people.  He's going to hit the hole hard and make a move when he can make a move."

Doe has a lot of moves he uses to get free and enjoys making tacklers miss, "Like, just set them up and make them look bad.  It's an experience," said Doe.  Raley chimed in with, "He's got a few runs this year that shook a few people and kind of turned some ankles.  He was a starting running back last year.  He got 10 games experience even though he was a sophomore.  He's always been a running back since he started playing football.  We expect him to continue working hard."

This week, the Jaguars travel to Dorchester to face Woodland, unbeaten in Region AA-6.

Other nominees:

Juan Foster - Vidalia

Ran for 212 yards and 2 touchdowns in 35-6 win at Atkinson County

Jake Clemens - Calvary Day

8-of-8 passing for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns, 9 carries for 145 yards and 4 touchdowns in 48-7 win over Country Day

Casey Hughes - Benedictine

Ran for 140 yards and a touchdown and caught 4 passes for 54 yards in 21-9 win at Bryan County

Ryan Day - Thomas Heyward Academy

20 carries for 169 yards and 4 touchdowns in 60-14 win over Hilton Head Prep

C. J. Frazier - Bluffton

20 of 33 passing for 310 yards and 4 touchdowns in 34-10 win over Beaufort

Earl Washington - Memorial Day

14 of 24 passing for 254 yards and 4 touchdowns (plus a pair of 2-pt conversions) in 42-36 win at Bethesda