Oceanside Collegiate Academy of Mt. Pleasant is a state champion for the first time. After losing to Abbeville last season in the 2A finals, the Landsharks rallied from a two-touchdown deficit to defeat Gray Collegiate 35-28 Thursday night at South Carolina State University.
Gray tied the game at 28 with 5:47 to play on a 14-yard run by BJ Montgomery. The Landsharks started their winning drive at their own 29. Freshman quarterback Aidan Manavian moved the chains on third and ten with a 19 yard completion. The drive eventually reached a fourth and six on the Gray 26. Manavian then found Will Virgiliio for a 25-yard gain to the one, and Virgilio ran it in on the next play for what turned out to be the winning score.
The War Eagles responded with a a drive that reached the Landsharks 24 yard line. A delay of game set them back five yards, and a run of six yards brought up second and nine. From there, three straight incomplete passes ended the final hope for Gray.
Manavian finished with a 31-43 passing night for 367 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Gavin Gaspar caught eight passes for 125 yards and two scores.
Oceanside finishes the season with a 12-2 record. Gray suffered their first loss to an in-state opponent and finished 14-1.