ST. MATTHEWS -- Walt Wilson has made it a point to get away from high school football.

Since Saturday’s stunning 40-34 playoff loss to Bamberg-Ehrhardt, the Calhoun County head coach has tried to get it out of his system. But, one of the few bright spots in his week thus far has been the very thing he’s tried to escape. Sunday night, Wilson received a message that was made official Tuesday, Calhoun County quarterback David Sims is one of seven finalists for the Mr. Football of South Carolina award.

“That kid is one of the best in the state ... if not the best at the position he plays,” Wilson said.” After Saturday, when I texted him and told him ... at first (with all that happened Saturday) he was like, ‘I don’t want it.’ But, I told him, ‘look man, you have earned everything you get.’

“I was never more proud of him than I was Saturday.”

Sims, a Kentucky commit, has accounted for 63 touchdowns this season; rushing for over 1,400 yards and passing for over 2,000 yards.

“David is a great student,” Wilson said. “He has already qualified. He has cleared the clearing house and came into his senior year with 23.5 credits. He only needs 24 to graduate. He is a kid ... if our school had a curriculum to graduate early he could have if he wanted to. Right now, he is taking college courses at OC Tech. He is a leader, a good person ... a kid that you can trust. He has a lot of great qualities besides being an athlete.”

The winner of the Mr. Football award will be named Dec. 12 at the 2008 BB&T Awards Program that will be held at the Myrtle Beach Performing Arts Auditorium. The event begins at 7:30 p.m.

The other finalists for the award are South Pointe High School’s Stephon Gilmore, West Florence’s Mallicial Goodman, Sumter’s Roderick McDowell, Northwestern’s Jarrett Neely, Greenwood’s D.J. Swearinger, Myrtle Beach’s Jamere Valentine and Timberland’s Quinton Washington.

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