By james art Friday night’s football game between Gilbert and Brookland-Casey was a closely contested game between two regional rivals.
Defense was virtually non-existent as nearly every drive ended in a touchdown. And despite trailing for most of the game, the Indians scored a touchdown in the final minutes and converted a go-ahead two-point attempt to seal the win, 50-49.
Every ride ended in points for either Brookland-Casey or Gilbert except for two. Just before halftime, Gilbert attempted a field goal and missed, and on the last drive of the game, the Bearcats attempted what would have been the game-winning field goal, but missed with no time left.
“I’ll be honest, it felt good because I’ve been in Gilbert since 2016 and we’ve played here three times in this frame and we’ve come close,” Indians head coach Ozzie Exume said after the game. “Our focus was that we have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done here. I think our kids were fired up and there was a little bit of craziness.”
Emotions ran high throughout the game with numerous penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct. Even when the clock hit all zeroes, the tension was still hot as neither team participated in the postgame handshake.
“The refs were doing their job to try and keep us in check, but we got lost a little bit,” Exume said. “We made it back.”
Gilbert returned the ball for the final shot with three minutes left in the game. Brookland-Casey had just driven down the field and capped a seven-minute drive with a Dre Dopson rushing touchdown.
Challenged by a powerful rushing attack, Gilbert moved the ball into Bearcat territory trying to tie the score. The team eventually stalled and found themselves in a fourth-and-9 situation. Gilbert called a timeout and looked for a play to keep their hopes alive.
After the break, quarterback Cooper James snapped the ball and went through his progression before firing a pass to Trevon Williamson for a 17-yard touchdown. Despite only needing the extra point to tie the game, Exume kept its offense on the field.
That gamble paid off as James found Connor Gooding in the back corner of the end zone to give the Indians their first lead of the game with 1:30 left on the clock.
“Coach Jimmy Frost called that last one in that timeout and we’ve been practicing that two-point play for a couple of weeks, but we haven’t used it and it was just the right time,” Exume said. “We knew if we were going to score, we had to. At the end of the day, the play worked, the kids were fulfilled, it was a great job.”
Brookland-Casey had a chance to regain the lead in the final 90 seconds after making some solid plays. The Bearcats simply didn’t have enough time to find the end zone and instead had to settle for a 28-yard field goal attempt. The Bearcat kick was wide left with no time on the clock, giving the Indians the win.
Gilbert overcame a 14-point deficit in the game. The team trailed by seven at halftime after conceding a field goal before the break, but were set to get the second-half kick. Instead, the Bearcats started the half with a surprising onside kick and recovered. Brookland-Casey then drove down and scored to go up two possessions.
With both defenses struggling to stop, the Indians attempted an onside kick of their own after scoring a touchdown late in the third. Gilbert recovered the kick and quickly tied the score with a pass from James to Gooding.
James finished the game with six touchdown passes and 242 yards. Gooding had four catches for 92 yards, two touchdowns and two scores. Williamson and Jaylen Jay got the job done on the ground, rushing for a combined 249 yards.
“Cooper James played a great game of football. The line is blocked. We were able to establish the current game. Both backs were huge for us,” Exume said. “I say it every Friday, the playmakers have to play. I think they were ready to play and they did.
Dopson threw for three touchdowns and scored three more for the Bearcats. Tyron Jackson ran for 109 yards and a touchdown. Tyree Johnson led the Bearcats in receiving with seven catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns.
Both teams are looking to move on from a shaky non-regional season. The Bearcats were winless before playing conference foes, and Gilbert had just one win. The Indians are now 2-1 in conference play and the Bearcats are 2-2.
“We had a slow start. It was disappointing,” Exume said. “I think there were things we just didn’t do well. Our focus has been that we want to keep pushing ourselves and our kids. It won’t be easy. It shouldn’t be easy.”
The teams still have a few more games this season, but will be playing on an odd schedule after Hurricane Helena forced the region to move games.
The Bearcats will play two games this week on Tuesday and Saturday before wrapping up their regular season on Nov. 1.
The Indians will also play two games this week before closing out the season with games on November 1st and November 6th.
“The hurricane hit, the storm was terrible. But honestly, I think it helped us calibrate, refocus and clear some things up,” Exume said. “Now we go out trying to play our best ball.”
Full scoreboard
Dutch Fork: 45, Lexington: 0
Irmo: 35, White Hnoll: 21
River Bluff: 30, Chapin: 6
North Augusta: 56, Airport: 8
Gray Collegiate: 63, South Aiken: 13
Silver Bluff: 56, Swansea: 26
Batesburg-Leesville: 45, American Lead: 0
Strom Thurmond: 55, Pelion: 6
Northside Christian: 28, Trinity Collegiate: 20