By Thomas Grant Jr.
Gray Collegiate Academy made an explosive debut in the Class 5A football playoffs.
The War Eagles rolled past Socastee 61-27 to advance to the second round.
Shrine Bowl selection Royce Williamson got things started by returning the opening kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. It was the first of his three touchdowns, two at wide receiver.
After a Braves’ touchdown, War Eagles’ quarterback Xavier Wright found Williamson for a 56-yard touchdown. Jhais McKiever and Trevon Williamson both followed with rushing touchdowns.
Wright threw two more of his four touchdowns in the second quarter to make it 48-13 at the half. He finished with 338 passing yards.
Up next for Gray Collegiate Academy (5-6) is a road trip to Berkeley in the Lower State.
Season ends for Cayce/WC teams
The War Eagles are the lone Cayce/West Columbia team remaining in the post-season.
On Friday, River Bluff was unable to hold a 10-point lead in a 35-31 loss to Spartanburg in The Swamp.
Davis Taylor put the Gators on the board with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Brian Barrineau. After the Vikings tied the game, Liam Flynn made a 25-yard field goal to regain the lead for River Bluff.
After Spartanburg took a 14-10 lead with 40 seconds left in the first half, the Gators turned to a trick play. Instead of a 22-yard field goal, Flynn took the snap and threw a touchdown pass to Reece Huffstetler to put River Bluff up 17-14 at the half.
Huffstetler next scored on defense as he intercepted a Aryan Desai pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown to make it 24-14 in the third quarter.
An 80-yard touchdown pass by Desai 15 seconds left brought the Vikings within 24-21. River Bluff answered with a scoring drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run by Bubba Alexander to open the fourth quarter.
Spartanburg’s Desai threw two touchdown passes to put his team ahead. River Bluff was unable to answer and the Vikings ran out the clock to advance to a second-round matchup with archrival Dorman.
The Gators finished the season 8-3, the same record as Northside Christian Academy. The Crusaders were defeated 57-35 by First Baptist in the first round of the SCISA Class 3A playoffs.
FINAL S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 5A
1. Northwestern (9), 2. Dutch Fork (5), 3. James Island (1), 4. Dorman, 5. Berkeley, 6. Byrnes, 7. Ridge View, 8. Fort Mill, 9. River Bluff, 10. Boiling Springs
Others receiving votes: Summerville, Carolina Forest, Hillcrest
