Gilbert and Gray Collegiate faced tall tasks in their quest to reach the SC High School League state football finals for the 1st time.

Both teams found themselves playing their respective Class 3A Lower State and Class 2A Upper State finals at traditional powers. 

The Indians and their strong following headed up Interstate 20 to Zemp Stadium for the 1st time to meet fellow undefeated Camden. The War Eagles travelled up Interstate 26 nearly 2 hours to Hite Stadium to face top-ranked Abbeville.

Despite their efforts, each team returned home with a loss. Gilbert was defeated 58-7 by the Bulldogs, while the War Eagles fell 28-10 to the Panthers. 

Camden 58, Gilbert 7 

As a linebacker for Gilbert, head coach Chad Leaphart experienced the pain of a Lower State final loss in 1992.

On Friday 28 years later, he had to console his proud team following the worst loss suffered during his successful tenure. 

Frustration started early for the Indians after a promising opening drive was stopped after running back Colton Mason was marked short on 4th down on the game’s opening possession. Gilbert regained the football after forcing Camden quarterback Jaffari Peterson to fumble near the Red Zone. The Indians were forced to punt, but James Crim made blocked the kick and returned it into the endzone to put the Bulldogs on the board.

Camden’s Leroy Bracey Jr. scored the 1st of his 3 touchdowns on the next possession from 12 yards. The failed 2-point conversion kept the score at 13-0.

Bracey’s 2-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 19-0 in the 1st quarter. 

Gilbert finally got on the board on quarterback Izayah Whiteside’s 44-yard touchdown run down the visiting sidelines. The PAT made it 19-7 with 10:24 left in the 2nd quarter.

Whiteside finished 9-21 for 89 passing yards and rushed for 33 yards. Colton Mason was held to a season-low 82 yards. 

It was the only score of the night for the Indians. Peterson scored on a 14-yard touchdown run and the Bulldogs converted the 2-point conversion with 3:51 left in the 1st half and Van Blank connected on a 36-yard field goal as time expired to make it 30-7.

Camden dominated the 2nd half with touchdown runs by Bracey, “Mr. South Carolina Football” finalist Willie Jones and scoring passes by Pearson and backup Cauthen Best.

Gilbert ends the season 8-1, while Camden (8-0) will face Daniel in the Class 3A title game Dec. 5 at 3:30 pm at Harry Parone Stadium on the campus of Spring Valley High School. Daniel defeated Wren in the Upper State final.

Abbeville 28, Gray Collegiate 10 

By Skylar Rostad

srolstad@indexjournal.com

Oddsmakers had the War Eagles as a 27-point underdog against the undefeated Panthers.

In the 1st half, Gray Collegiate erased an early 7-0 deficit and a KZ Adams' 5-yard touchdown run gave it a 10-7 lead with 2:13 left in the 2nd quarter. It marked just the 3rd time this season the Panthers had trailed in a game. 

A 64-yard bomb on a halfback option pass from Ty’rell Haddon to Antonio Harrison with 1:24 left in the half regained the lead for good for Abbeville.

"Not much. Not much at all," Haddon said after the game about how often he's passed the ball.
"We said 'I put my trust in you," Harrison said. "So he threw the ball and I caught the ball." 

Penalties (12 for 130 yards) and missed opportunities would hurt the War Eagles in the 2nd half. Abbeville got a touchdown pass to Haddon from Thomas Beauford and Seth Griffith scored after recovering a blocked punt to close out the closing. 

Abbeville coach Jamie Nickles said the Panthers' 2nd half may have been the best half of football he's ever coached.

Nickles, winner of six state titles, has coached plenty of successful halves of football.

"I thought we saved our best for last," Nickles said. "That second half was a thing of beauty in all phases in the game. We did have one hiccup on special teams, but other than that, that was a beauty."

Adams rushed for 155 yards and quarterback Tre Robinson threw for 165 yards for the War Eagles, who ended the season 8-1. The Panthers (9-0) will seek their 11th state title against Marion at 5 pm Dec. 4 at Harry Parone Stadium on the campus of Spring Valley High School. 

Marion defeated Andrews 36-33 in the Lower State final.