ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Gray Collegiate Academy had hopes for a second 2A state championship in the last three seasons and things were looking good at S.C. State's Dawson Bulldog Stadium as the War Eagles led Oceanside 14-0 after one quarter. The War Eagles would helped by a fumble by Oceanside which the War Eagles took back to the Landshark four yard line.
But Oceanside didn't panic, cutting the lead to 14-7 by halftime and then tying the game at 14 after the opening drive of the third quarter.
The teams would trade touchdowns and with the scored tied at 28 in the fourth quarter, Oceanside converted a fourth-and-six with a 25 yard completion from Aiden Manavian to Wil Virgilio which put the Landsharks at the Gray Collegiate Academy one yard line. Virgilio would take it in out of the Wildcat formation and Oceanside would take a 35-28 lead.
Gray Collegiate Academy would get it to the Oceanside 23 yard line but could not convert a fourth-and-nine and Oceanside would secure its first state championship in football, denying Gray Collegiate a second title in the last three seasons.
The loss spoiled a homecoming of sorts for Gray Collegiate Academy head coach Adam Holmes who was in charge of the Orangeburg Prep program before being hired by GCA.