Photo from Gilbert
By Thomas Grant Jr.
“We’re not afraid of anybody. We’re not ducking smoke like the kids say.”
Those were Gilbert head coach Ozzie Exume’s words following the 28-24 “Homecoming” win over Class 5A Chapin.
Down 10-0 to open the game, the Class 3A Indians rallied back for the first of five lead changes. With 6:07 left in the game, they took the lead for good on a 9-yard touchdown run by Army commit Gavin Elliott.
The win snapped the Eagles’ 4-game winning streak. It was also the Indians’ third win over a Class 5A school, with previous victories over Lexington and River Bluff.
“At the end of the day, we’re going to prep every team,” Exume said. “I see it just like this. From 5A to 1A, high school kids are being coached, our coach is to prep our guys and I truly don’t care who we’re playing. We need to be the best version of us.”
Quarterback Kendall Wright threw for 224 yards and a touchdown to Chandler Guthrie. Running backs Jaylen Brost and Daniel Preston both had rushing touchdowns for the Indians.
At 4-1, Gilbert now turns its attention to Region 5-3A. The opening opponent is ranked Camden, a team that is coming off a 62-14 rout of Camden and has won the two lone meetings with the Indians, both in the playoffs.
“This is great,” Exume said. “We’ve played three 4A teams and a 5A team out of region. So, we want to be battle-tested and we know who are next opponent is. They’re tough, they’re well-coached and we owe them from a couple of years ago.”
As for Chapin, it heads to The Swamp where it faces River Bluff in each team’s Region 4-5A opener. The Gators (5-1) won their fourth straight game in a 38-7 win over A.C. Flora.
River Bluff scored 38 unanswered points after falling behind early to the Falcons. Quarterback Davis Taylor threw two touchdowns, Brayden Moore had one and Bubba Alexander rushed for a 41-yard touchdown off a fake punt attempt.
Young wins 100th game
Region 4-5A play begins this Friday for Lexington and River Bluff.
The Wildcats (4-1) play host to 4-time defending Class 5A champion Dutch Fork. They have lost 12 consecutive meetings to the Silver Foxes, who are 49-2 in region play since 2015.
Lexington is riding a 4-game winning streak and is coming off a 28-21 win at Blythewood. Easton Crocker threw for 197 yards and a touchdown to Ian Danson, who had 11 receptions for 144 yards.
Shannon Lytes led on the ground with 104 yards and a touchdown. It was the 100th career win for head coach Stewart Young, who previously won a state title at Saluda.
Mid-Carolina still perfect
The Rebels remained one of 20 teams still undefeated in the S.C. High School League. They defeated Brookland-Cayce 36-14 as Cash Knight had two touchdowns and Ryan Woolstenhulme had 144 total yards and a score.
B-L rallies to beat ranked Red Devils
The Panthers scored 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter and overtime to stun ranked Clinton 35-28 and pick up their first win of the season.
Trailing 28-13 at halftime, Batesburg-Leesville tied the game in the fourth quarter. It got a 6-yard touchdown run by Mario Waters, followed by a 2-point conversion, and a game-tying 2-yard touchdown run by Terrance Cook with 16 seconds left.
In overtime, Cook found Graham Pierce for the game-winning 10-yard touchdown pass. He finished 9-21 for 169 passing yards and Cook had 112 rushing yards.
OTHER WEEK 6 SCORES
Emerald 55, Saluda 54
Wagener-Salley 28, Pelion 14
Powdersville 38, Newberry 7
Buford 36, American Leadership Academy 12
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA WEEK 6 POLL
(Class 3A)
1. Daniel (18), 2. Bishop England, 3. Hanahan, 4. Wren, 5. Camden, 6. Chapman, 7. Loris, 8. Oceanside Collegiate, 9. Emerald, 10. Gilbert
Others receiving votes: Pickens, Powdersville, Belton-Honea Path, Aynor, Hartsville
Class 2A
1. Strom Thurmond (18), 2. Marlboro County, 3. Dillon, 4. Clinton, 5. Orangeburg-Wilkinson, 6. Mid-Carolina, 7. Woodruff, 8. Saluda, 9. Keenan, 10. Battery Creek
Others receiving votes: St. Joseph’s, Southside Christian, Crescent, Woodland, Chesnee, Andrew Jackson
WEEK 7 SCHEDULE
(Friday’s Games)
American Leadership Academy at Saluda
Batesburg-Leesville at C.A. Johnson
Dutch Fork at Lexington
Chester at Mid-Carolina
Columbia at Newberry
Pelion at Orangeburg-Wilkinson
Chapin at River Bluff
Swansea at Airport
River Bluff at White Knoll
