Gray Collegiate turned in a dominating performance to open its Class 2A title defense playoff run on Nov. 4. 

The War Eagles defeated Fox Creek 54-0 at Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia.  The win extended their current winning streak at eight games after capping off their regular season with a 6-0 unbeaten region run.

The War Eagles (8-3) got off to a fast start when wide receiver Zai Offord returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown. A missed extra point gave them a 6-0 lead in just the opening minute.

Gray Collegiate scored again on their next two series, with backup quarterback Blaine Redmond setting the first touchdown up with a long run to inside the 10-yard line, then B.J. Montgomery going in for the score on the next play. 

After Fox Creek was unable to answer on their own offensive series, the War Eagles scored again, with Devin Johnson scoring from the 10 to make it 20-0 with 2:54 left in the first. 

Johnson also added a touchdown reception in the last seconds of the first quarter as Gray Collegiate opened up a 27-0 lead.

The War Eagles’ offensive onslaught slowed down in the second quarter, but only slightly. Montgomery added two more trips to the end zone to extend the lead with a short touchdown run on a third and goal play. On a fourth and five play, Montgomery turned it into a long scoring run to put the War Eagles up 40-0 at the half. 

Gray Collegiate opened the second half with an interception by Offord to end the first Fox Creek offensive series. The War Eagles had to punt for the first time in the game after the Predators were able to stop them with just under eight minutes remaining in the third. 

Fox Creek was still unable to mount any kind of sustained offensive drive, however, with the War Eagles defense shutting down in both the run game and in passing as well. 

After another interception by Offord, four plays later running back J.P. Sweatt ran it in for another touchdown to increase the lead to 47-0. Third-string quarterback Dre’ Dopson got involved in the scoring himself to cap off the War Eagles points with a touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

After the game, War Eagles head coach Adam Holmes noted that it was a good win considering the week the team had just had off the field.

“We had a bunch of guys out sick this week and didn’t get everyone back until Wednesday and Thursday,” he said. “We came out and played decent and this gave us a bunch of live reps for them to get back into playing.” 

They’ll need all the players they can get for next week’s second round matchup against Saluda, Holmes admitted.

“They are a good program that plays in a good region, so their two losses were to two good teams,” Holmes said. “They were ranked number one in the state at one point this season. We are only guaranteed the next 48 minutes, if we don’t win we pack up and go home.”

Whatever happens with the remainder of their season, one thing is certain. The War Eagles will play in their own, brand new stadium next season.

“We were hoping to get in by next week, but that’s not going to happen,” Holmes said of the team’s new home field. “Midlands Complex has been very good to us. We’ve never lost a game here over the last four years. I thank Lexington Recreation (and Aging Commission) for allowing us to come out here and play. You never really want to leave a field you’ve never lost on, but we are excited about the new stadium.” — Kevin Oliver

Brookland-Cayce 37, Hanahan 7

Brookland-Cayce won a first-round state playoff game at Fort Knox. 

The Bearcats defeated Hanahan 37-7 on a stellar night for Naahzeikiel Mays as he scored four touchdowns, surpassed 1,000 yards on the season and took most of the snaps at quarterback.

With the win, Brookland-Cayce will travel to Dillon next week for a round two playoff game. 

Brookland-Cayce (7-4) wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. On the first play of game, Will Young raced 59 yards for a touchdown. The extra point was no good. 

Brookland-Cayce quarterback Tanner Staton was in a sling before the game and did not play. 

Hanahan, with the help of a pass interference call that negated an interception by Will Young, moved the ball to the Bearcat three-yard line before turning the ball over on downs. 

With 10:22 left in the second quarter Mays scored on a 1-yard TD run. A Young pass to Jayden Johnson was good for the 2-point conversion to make it 14-0.

The Hawks' Javatre Shepard wasted no time answering that score. He took the squib kick back for touchdown to cut Brookland-Cayce’s lead to  14-7 with 10:11 left in the second quarter. 

When Brookland-Cayce got the ball back, its drive ended when Mays scored his second touchdown of night at the 5:49 mark in the second quarter. The extra point was no good and the Bearcats were  up 20-7. 

The Brookland-Cayce defense forced a Hanahan punt. On the first play after punt, Mays scored his third touchdown on a 52-yard run to put the Bearcats up 28-7 following the 2-point conversion with 2:17 left before the half. 

Hanahan took the second-half kickoff but failed to move the ball. On Brookland-Cayce’s next possession, Mays scored his fourth touchdown of the night. Johnson ran in the 2-point conversion to give the Bearcats their final score in the third quarter.   

Brookland-Cayce only ran 16 plays in the second half and only attempted two passes on the whole night. — Terry Ward