Oct. 16—Just before the ball is snapped, the defensive back takes a step toward James Island Charter School wide receiver Raphael Puiu, nods his head and starts clapping his hands.
There's been plenty of trash-talking back and forth between Puiu and the cornerback throughout the night, but it's time to put an end to that.
When the ball is snapped, Puiu takes two quick steps toward the middle of the field, but when the defensive back commits to taking away the slant pass, the junior wideout pivots, plants his left foot in the ground and breaks his pattern to the outside.
The defensive back is left grasping at air when Puiu runs past him. A second later the ball is in the air and there's not a defensive player within 10 yards of Puiu as he easily catches the ball and sprints untouched into the end zone for an easy touchdown.
Puiu celebrates with his teammates. The defensive back can only shake his head in disbelief.
It has been a familiar scene for many Lowcountry defensive players over the past two seasons that have lined up against Puiu.
"Raphael's football IQ is off the charts," said James Island head coach Jamar McKoy. "When you combine that with the physical tools, he's a very special player. His work ethic, the way he approaches practices and games is on a different level.
"The way he prepares during the week is unique. When it's time to play in a ballgame, he just goes out there and has fun because all the hard work has been done during the week. He's just a special, special player."
It's an argument that few opposing coaches would dispute.
"The worst part is that (Puiu) is only a junior, so I've got to see him another year," said one rival coach, who asked not to be identified because James Island is on the schedule next season. "He's got every skill in his toolbox. He's fast, he's strong, he's not afraid of contact, he makes contested catches. He's the total package and I can't wait for him to graduate."
In less than two full seasons, the 6-1, 190-pound receiver is on pace to become one of the most prolific pass catchers in Lowcountry prep history.
Midway through his junior campaign, Puiu already has 96 career receptions for 2,281 yards and 26 TDs. He has averaged more than 24 yards a catch.
A year ago, he was one of the nation's top sophomores with 55 receptions for 1,409 yards and 18 TDs.
This season in seven games, he has 33 catches for 808 yards and 8 TDs.
"As a receiver, I feel like you get to do a little bit of everything and you have to make the most of your opportunities," Puiu said. "The ball isn't coming to me every play, so you've got to work your way up during every game to create those opportunities. There are times when I have to block and I love the physicality of those plays. I just love football."
From soccer to football
Raphael Puiu came to the United States from Romania when he was in grade school.
His father, Daniel, had come to America to get an MBA at Charleston Southern.
Like most European kids, Puiu wanted to play soccer and knew little about American football. He was a striker on his travel teams and was among the best players for his age.
"Raphael is a natural athlete," his mother, Beatrice said. "We tried to teach him to ski, but he didn't like it, he wanted to snowboard. He didn't have a single snowboarding lesson and taught himself in just a day to snowboard. It doesn't matter the sport, he's always been courageous."
While he liked soccer, he didn't love it.
"I kind of just fell out of love with soccer," he said. "There was a lot of travel for soccer, and I was starting to get into football. I couldn't play both, there wasn't enough time to do both, and I picked football."
His parents were mystified by his decision.
"They were shocked, but super supportive," Raphael said. "They understood. I didn't love the game anymore and I needed to switch."
A decision that might have sent many mothers into panic mode, but not Beatrice Puiu.
"I know some mothers are worried about tackling and the physical play, but I just wanted him to be happy," she said.
"A playground legend"
When Raphael Puiu announced he wanted to quit soccer and try American football, his mother was more confused than anything.
She knew next to nothing about the sport.
Raphael spent hours on the internet watching YouTube videos on how to play football. He would practice in the backyard of their James Island home when he got back from school.
"I thought, 'what is he doing?'" Beatrice Puiu said. "The ball is not round. This is not soccer."
When she took her son down to the local recreation department to sign up for youth football, she ran into a language barrier.
"They thought because our last name was Puiu that we were Spanish," she said. "They started asking all these questions in Spanish and I didn't understand them and didn't know what to say."
When Puiu said she spoke English, the language barrier went away, but the questions did not.
"They wanted to know what position he played, had he played before, things like that," Beatrice said. "I didn't have any answers because I didn't know. I'm sure they thought I was stupid."
Raphael was undeterred. Taking what he'd learned from the YouTube videos, he quickly became one of the best players on the field.
"I want my children to be courageous when they play and Raphael has always played an age group above him," she said. "He wasn't afraid of anything."
Beatrice became a student of the game, learning things as she went along.
"I went from minus-zero to being an intermediate now," she said with a laugh. "I know the rules and terminology better now."
Jamar McKoy can still remember the first time he saw Puiu on the football field.
It was during a youth football game when Puiu was still in middle school.
"I saw him play in the seventh grade and he was dominating everyone at that level," McKoy said. "We knew he was gonna be special, but we didn't know how special because at that age some kids dominate and that's their plateau.
"He was one of those playground legends you hear about as a coach, but he's gotten better and better each year and that's the difference. He was nowhere near reaching his potential. His best football is still ahead of him."
"Most competitive person I know"
As good as Raphael Puiu is at football, he might not even be the best athlete in his own family.
His mother was an avid sports enthusiast growing up in Romania — skiing and competing in the heptathlon in track and field.
Because of her athletic prowess, she eventually earned a spot on the Romanian bobsled team and was a member of the 2018 Winter Olympics team in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Over the summer, she set a record in the World Masters Athletics Championships in the Heptathlon. scoring more than 5,600 points in the event.
"She's probably the most competitive person I know," Raphael said. "I get a lot of my competitiveness from her."
A sentiment shared by Beatrice.
"He gets 110 percent of his competitive drive from me," she said. "We have similar personalities. We can't sleep at night if we don't reach our personal goals for that day."
It's why Raphael has become such a hot commodity on the recruiting circuit.
"He's hearing from everyone, I mean everyone," McKoy said. "Wisconsin, Miami, everyone is reaching out to him."
Puiu said he talks mostly with coaches from Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Illinois and Cincinnati.
Virginia is coached by former James Island standout Tony Elliott. Elliott still holds most of the program's receiving records.
"We talk about every week," Raphael said. "We talk a lot about James Island and when he was here and the places he went. We have that connection about him playing here and the things he did when he lived here."
When his career is done, McKoy is convinced that fans will talk about Puiu the way they do about Elliott and former James Island star Roddy White, who went on to become an elite receiver in the NFL.
"He will definitely be in the conversation," McKoy said. "You can't project how good a player someone will be at the collegiate and pro level, but he has that potential, no doubt."
Reach Andrew Miller at 843-937-5599. Follow him on Twitter @APMILLER_PandC