fter a year’s absence, the Gray Collegiate football team returned to the postseason in a big way.

Trevon Williamson scored four touchdowns as the War Eagles defeated Brookland-Cayce, 63-7, on Friday in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Gray Collegiate will host Hartsville in the second round next week.

It was Gray’s first playoff win since making it to the championship game in 2023. The War Eagles were ineligible for the playoffs last season because of a recruiting violation, and head coach D’Angelo Bryant wasn’t allowed to coach the team’s final two games.

But Bryant’s second season has been more smooth and without incident. The War Eagles won the Region 4-4A title for the first time, have an eight-game winning streak, and are ranked No. 4 in Class 4A.

“I told the guys and the coaching staff that this time last year, we were playing our last football game,” Bryant said. “We set out early in the season to be able to control our own destiny. That is what we have been able to do.

“… I’m just happy for our kids overall. Some of the things that they have had to go through especially the seniors. There were games forfeited on them when they were sophomores and having to get on a bus and drive to Florida and Washington D.C. Then having their season abruptly taken from them. I am proud of the resiliency that they have had during the entire process.”

And Bryant doesn’t want his team to be satisfied with just one playoff win, and reminded his team of that in the post-game huddle. He thought his team’s energy and attention to detail wasn’t where it needed to be.

“I just felt this week we didn’t prepare, and our focus level wasn’t where it was in a lot of different games,” Bryant said. “Guys know they didn’t play well and know that they have to go back to the drawing board, roll up our sleeves and get back to work on Monday.”

Gray started a little bit slowly against Brookland-Cayce, which opened the game by recovering an onside kick. Quarterback Andrew Frick hit Bennett Plane on a touchdown to put the Bearcats up 7-0.

That score got Gray’s attention as the War Eagles responded with 35 straight points to close the half. Trevon Williamson had three touchdown runs and Royce Williamson, son of former Gamecock Troy Williamson, added two. Royce also picked off a pass.

Trevon Williamson finished with 222 yards rushing. Nate Dixon added three touchdowns in the second half. Gray QB Xavier Wright was 11-of-15 passing for 161 yards.

B-C finished the season at 3-8 in Louis Clyburn’s first season as head coach.

Class 4A Playoffs

Camden 38, Greer 20: Navier Boykin rushed for 122 yards and scored three touchdowns as the Bulldogs advanced in the 4A playoffs. Camden rushed for 263 yards as a team. The Bulldogs go to Daniel next week.

AC Flora 49, York 14: Running back Jalen Simmons scored three touchdowns and QB Roper Wentzky had two TD passes in the Falcons’ win in the 4A playoffs.

Wentzky went over 8,000 career passing yards during the game. Blake Betette returned an interception for a TD. AC Flora will travel to Seneca in the second round next week.

Gilbert 38, Bluffton 21: Kitt McLauchlin threw two touchdown passes to Chandler Guthrie and Gray Gunter threw a TD pass and ran for a score as the Indians went on the road and knocked off the Bobcats in the 4A playoffs.

Gilbert, which trailed 14-3, will travel to North Augusta next week. Kamari Brown also returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown.

Daniel 14, Dreher 10: Second-seeded Daniel scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to deny Dreher’s upset bid.

Jace Grass hit Trey Wimbley on a 4-yard pass with 6:28 left.

The Blue Devils played the game with heavy hearts as offensive line coach Christopher Allen died earlier in the week. Dreher led 10-7 going into the fourth quarter. Brandon Mack had a TD run and McAuley Kalish hit a 42-yard FG.

Class 5A Playoffs

Blythewood 42, Clover 23: The Bengals rallied from a 17-0 deficit and scored 35 points in the second half to advance in the Class 5A Division playoffs.

Blythewood will go to second-seeded Dorman next week. Daquan Davis and Michael Ford returned interceptions for touchdowns. QB James Veasey had two TDs, Landyn Strong and Ben Hendrix also had TDs for Blythewood.

River Bluff 24, Cane Bay 13: Darius Carter caught three touchdown passes as the Gators moved on in the 5A Division I playoffs. RB travels to Stratford next week.

Brayden Moore had two TD throws to Carter and Davis Taylor also had a TD pass to the junior receiver. Carter finished with six catches for 168 yards. Running back Hayden Myers added 156 yards on the ground.

Fort Dorchester 24, Lexington 21: Mykell Warthen had the go-ahead TD for Fort Dorchester with 1:03 left in the fourth quarter to end the Wildcats’ season.

Lexington trailed 17-7 but took the lead on Sawyer Hadley’s TD catch in the fourth quarter.

Lugoff-Elgin 42, Socastee 6: Jarkese Grant ran for five touchdowns as the Demons moved on in the Class 5A Division II playoffs. L-E goes to top-seeded Irmo next week.

It was L-E’s first playoff win since 2017. Max Williams threw a TD to Shamil Saadiq.

Westwood 41, St. James 14: Jovan Howard and Angelo Rios each had two TDs in the Redhawks’ win.

Elye Owens also had a TD pass to Tyrek Jenkins and Jayden Rischer had a TD run. Tyrese Drakeford also picked off three passes for Westwood, which goes to Berkeley next week.

Class 3A

Newberry 54, Aynor 14: Kenton Caldwell threw two touchdown passes to Jamere Crooks and also ran for two scores to move on in the 3A playoffs.

Newberry will host Hanahan next week. BJ Jones had two TD runs for Newberry.

Marlboro County 49, Swansea 13: Tre Blakney threw for 283 yards and three touchdowns in the Marlboro’s win. Troy Hailey rushed for 111 yards and a TD.

Swansea’s season ends at 8-3.

Class 2A

Saluda 33, Mid-Carolina 13: QB Brayden Williams rushed for three scores and threw a TD in the Tigers’ win in the 2A playoffs. Saluda goes to Clinton in the second round.

Williams finished with 269 yards of total offense. RB Tristan Daniels added 195 yards and a TD for Saluda. Ryker Woolstenhulme had a TD run and Davis Ruff threw a TD for M-C.

Batesburg-Leesville 42, Eau Claire 0: Reese Boehnke threw three touchdowns to KD Whitt in the Panthers’ win in the 2A playoffs.

Whitt also had a 70-yard TD run. RB Amadre Wooden went over 5,000 career rushing yards and had a TD for B-L, which plays Chester next week.

Fairfield Central 50, Chesnee 21: The Griffins moved on in the 2A playoffs and go to Andrew Jackson next week.

Kaden Diggs and Kenyan Douglas each scored two touchdowns for the Griffins. Kaylin Culp returned a kickoff for a TD.

Liberty 35, Pelion 14: Tre Jackson and Brady Cottingham had TD runs in the loss for the Panthers.

Class A

CA Johnson 12, Calhoun County 0: Stacey Isaac had a TD pass to Carter Bennett and Jeremiah Knightner had a TD in the Green Hornets’ win.

CAJ faces Blackville-Hilda next week.

SCISA 4A

Heathwood Hall 48, Ben Lippen 14: Patrick Belk threw two touchdown passes to Chip Ravenell and also ran one in for the Highlanders.

Heathwood travels to Hammond in the semifinal matchup next week.

Julian Hughes had a TD run and Patrick Richardson kicked two field goals.

Caption:

Jeff Blake Jeff Blake Photo

Brookland-Cayce Bearcats Bennett Plane (6) is brought down by Gray Collegiate Academy Michael Boulware (7) during their game at Gray Collegiate Academy, 11/7/25.

November 12, 2025 | State, The (Columbia, SC)
Author/Byline: Lou Bezjak; Staff Writer | Page: 6B | Section: Sports