For the fourth time in school history, the Gilbert football team are Region 5-3A champions.

The Indians outran Brookland-Cayce 35-21 Friday at Leonard Price Field.

The hyphenated backfield of Jaden Allen-Hendrix and Alias Graham-Woodberry combined for over 300 yards and all five scores in the win.

The contest also saw both teams combined for 26 penalties for 260 yards - 14 for Brookland-Cayce and 10 for Gilbert.

Brookland-Cayce’s first drive went deep into Gilbert territory. A personal foul penalty stalled the drive and the Bearcats turned the ball over on downs.

Gilbert capitalized with a 53-yard scoring drive capped by a 14-yard run by Graham-Woodberry. The PAT put the Indians up 7-0 with 2:45 left 1^st quarter.

Brookland-Cayce answered with a six-play, 55-yard scoring drive which ended with a pair of 20-yard runs. Naahzeikial Mays converted a third and 18 with the first run and Deshaun Washington followed with a scoring run of the same yardage to tie the game.

Washington finished with 115 yards for the Bearcats. 

Gilbert reclaimed the lead on Graham-Woodberry’s 7-yard touchdown run. The drive was extended by a fourth and nine conversion pass by quarterback Drake Braddock to Gooding.

However, Daniel Augustin’s PAT was blocked to keep score at 13-7 in the second quarter.

After Brookland-Cayce’s next drive ended with a missed 27-yard field goal, Gilbert’s backfield marched downfield while running down the remaining minutes of the first half. With 45 seconds left and third down at the Brookland-Cayce 16, Braddock was intercepted in the endzone by Will Young to keep the score unchanged at the half.

Gilbert takes the opening drive of the second half for a score on a diving 1-yard touchdown run by

Allen-Hendrix. Braddock completed a two-point conversion pass to Chance Jennings puts the Indians up 21-7 in the third quarter.

The Bearcats answered with a 65-yard scoring drive highlighted by a 35-yard run and 1-yard scoring run by quarterback Tanner Staton. Gilbert’s running game continued to amass yards and take off minutes on the clock and Graham-Woodberry’s five-yard touchdown run made it 28-14 with 2:18 left in third quarter.

After forcing a punt, Gilbert looked to add to its lead. For the second time, however, Will Young picked off Braddock and returned it to the 20-yard line.

A personal foul penalty on Gilbert set up Staton’s second 1-yard touchdown run to bring the Bearcats to within 28-21 with 10:40 left in the fourth quarter.

Gilbert reverted to its running game and Allen-Hendrix broke through for a 35-yard touchdown with 8:01 remaining. He finished with 139 rushing yards to go with Graham-Woodberry’s 189 rushing yards.

Young would collect his third interception, but Brookland-Cayce was stopped on downs with less than three minutes left.

Both teams will open the Class 3A playoffs at home.

River Bluff 70, Chapin 21

Cooper Johns rushed for 227 yards and five touchdowns and Parker Murray threw for 179 yards and two touchdowns as the Gators set a school record for points in The Swamp.

After Eagles’ quarterback Brady Albro throw the first of his three touchdown passes to make it 14-7, the Gators (6-4, 2-2) scored 35 unanswered points. This included a blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Conner Clamp.

As a third seed, River Bluff (7-3, 2-2) will open the playoffs on the road. Chapin (3-7, 0-4) will await the possibility of an at-large berth.

Spartanburg Christian Academy 36, Northside Christian Academy 20

A 24-0 first quarter deficit was too much for the Crusaders to overcome in the matchup to decide the SCISA Region 2-2A title.

Jefferson McCallum put the Crusaders (6-4, 2-1) on the board with a touchdown pass to Jordan Martin in the second quarter. Sam Burks and Gavin Ford also had touchdown runs.

Northside Christian will open the SCISA Class 2A playoffs next week.

W.W. King Academy 36, Wardlaw Academy 24

The Knights clinched the SCISA Region I 8-man championship with the victory.

W.W. King Academy (9-1, 5-0) will open the SCISA playoffs at home.

Irmo 38, Lugoff-Elgin 21

Quarterback A.J. Brand threw for 234 yards and rushed for 173 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Yellow Jackets.

With the win, Irmo (6-4, 2-3) is currently a third seed in Region 5-4A. However, if Ridge View loses its appeal on sanctions handed down by the S.C. High School League for ineligible players, Irmo will move up to second place and have a first-round home game.

Gray Collegiate 56, W.J. Keenan 34

Montgomery rushed for over 200 yards and backup quarterback Blain Redmond rushed for 170 yards to lead the defending Class 2A champions.

Quarterback Riley Staton threw two touchdowns before leaving the game after taking a hard hit. 

Gray Collegiate (7-3, 6-0) will open defense of its title next week at Midlands Sports Complex in West Columbia.

Saluda 24, Batesburg-Leesville 7

Korey Williams rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in the loss by the Panthers. 

Batesburg-Leesville  (4-6, 2-3) will open the Class 2A playoffs on the road as a fourth seed. 

Orangeburg-Wilkinson 7, Swansea 0

Silver Bluff 54, Pelion 12