By Thomas Grant Jr.
It’s truly a different year for Gray Collegiate Academy football.
A year ago, the War Eagles had their region and state title aspirations abruptly halted by the S.C. High School League. Sanctions for recruiting violations resulted in penalties which included forfeiture of victories, exclusion from the playoffs and a suspension from team activities for head coach DeAngelo Bryant.
With Bryant back on the sidelines, Gray Collegiate Academy is headed back to the post-season on a mission. This past Friday’s 48-0 win over Aiken was its sixth straight win and clinched the Region 4-4A title.
Junior transfer Trevon Williamson rushed for 231 yards and two touchdowns. It was the second 200-yard plus game for Williamson, who faces his former school Gilbert at home Thursday.
Freshman Xavier Wright completed 10-16 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns. On defense, linebacker Michael Boulware finished with 23 tackles, J.P. Sweat had 13 tackles and Tye Rivers finished with 10.
With the region title wrapped up, Gray Collegiate (7-2, 6-0) now looks to hold its high seed for the post-season. It currently sits fourth in the RPI ratings which is used to determine playoff seeding, trailing region rival North Augusta for third place.
Meanwhile, other CWC teams close out the regular season Thursday against their district archrivals.
Brookland-Cayce (2-7, 2-4) travels to Airport (0-9, 0-6) and newly-christened Les Evans Field. The Bearcats have won the last seven meetings over the Eagles, five by shutout, and look to end a 2-game losing streak.
Airport looks to snap a 14-game losing streak dating back to last season.
Over in The Swamp, River Bluff (5-4, 1-3) plays host to Lexington (3-6, 1-3). The two teams are tied for fourth place in Region 4-5A and are separated by percentage points in the Class 5A Division I rankings.
Both teams are coming off region losses. The Gators were shut out 37-0 by Dutch Fork to drop to 0-11 all-time in the series and Lexington was defeated by White Knoll 37-6.
SCISA action
Northside Christian Academy (3-6, 0-3) heads on the road to close out the regular season at Camden Military Institute (1-6, 0-3).
The winner clinches fourth place in the region and a SCISA Class 3A playoff berth. The Crusaders also look to snap a 2-game losing streak.
RPI RATINGS
CLASS 5A DIVISION I
(Lower State)
Carolina Forest, 8-1, 0.70650, James Island, 8-1, 0.68427, Stratford, 8-1, 0.68369, Sumter, 8-1, 0.67157, Summerville, 7-2, 0.63234. Ashley Ridge, 5-3, 0.58677, River Bluff, 5-4, 0.51004, Fort Dorchester, 4-5, 0.49345, Lexington, 3-6, 0.48490, Wando, 4-5, 0.47583, Cane Bay, 3-6, 0.46038, West Ashley, 2-6, 0.40900, Stall, 1-8, 0.34323
CLASS 4A
(Lower State)
South Florence, 8-1, 0.68808, Hilton Head Island, 8-1, 0.67120, North Augusta, 8-1, 0.66691, Gray Collegiate, 7-2, 0.64540, Bluffton, 7-2, 0.64384, Hartsville, 6-3, 0.60510, Midland Valley, 7-2, 0.57746, May River, 7-2, 0.57806, Bishop England, 6-3, 0.57331, Crestwood, 5-4, 0.54517, Wilson, 5-4, 0.53931, Lower Richland, 6-4, 0.53768, Gilbert, 4-4, 0.49730, South Aiken, 4-5, 0.47271, Darlington, 3-6, 0.44539, Beaufort, 3-6, 0.43129, Brookland-Cayce, 2-7, 0.41232, Aiken, 2-7, 0.39424, Colleton County, 1-8, 0.36786, Airport, 0-9, 0.31939 and Lakewood, 0-9, 0.31862
S.C. PREP FOOTBALL MEDIA POLL
Class 4A
1. South Pointe (18) (7-1), 2. South Florence (1) (7-1), 3. AC Flora (8-1), 4. Gray Collegiate (6-2), 5. Daniel (7-1), 6. North Augusta (7-1), 7. Hilton Head Island (7-1), 8. Seneca (8-1), 9. Camden (6-2), 10. Wren (6-2)
Others receiving votes: May River, Hartsville, Midland Valley, Bluffton
Photo by George Matsui – Gray Collegiate running back Trevon Williamson
