By Thomas Grant Jr.
Thanksgiving was quiet around the Gray Collegiate Academy football facility a year ago.
This season, the War Eagles are spending the holiday preparing for a berth in the Class 4A championship game.
Last Friday, Gray Collegiate defeated Hilton Head Island 31-28 on a walk-off field goal in the third round of the playoffs. With three seconds remaining, placekicker Weston Mims calmly drilled a 19-yard field goal as time expired. The game-winner was set up by a 37-yard strike from freshman quarterback Xavier Wright to Corey Gleaton.
The Seahawks had tied the game at 28-28 moments earlier on a touchdown run by Thaddeus Czarnecki, his third score of the night.
Wright finished 16-of-29 for 250 yards with two touchdowns—one rushing and a 35-yard pass to Royce Williamson. Gleaton hauled in eight catches for 131 yards, marking his fourth 200-plus-yard game of the season. Running back Trevon Williamson added two touchdowns and 231 rushing yards.
The win was the War Eagles’ 10th straight. Now, Gray Collegiate (11-2) turns its attention to two-time defending state champion South Florence.
The Bruins (12-1) rolled past North Augusta 49-14 in their quarterfinal matchup, responding to an early deficit with 49 unanswered points.
Friday’s Lower State final marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The winner advances to the state championship to face the Upper State champion—either Westside or South Pointe.
