Gators win Region 7-5A opener

       By Rob Gantt

       Special to the HSSR

GOOSE CREEK – Goose Creek High School’s football team pulled out a victory in its Region 7-5A opener Oct. 4, holding off visiting Wando High School, 21-20.

With the win, Goose Creek improved to 3-3 overall and moved to 1-0 in the region. The Gators travel to Berkeley Oct. 11 before hosting Lucy Beckham and Cane Bay Oct. 18 and Oct. 25. They complete the region slate Nov. 1 at defending league champion Stratford.

“The goal is to win the region and go undefeated in the region,” Gators coach Jason Winstead said. “We’ve been better on defense this season and if we keep playing that way, we’ll give ourselves a chance on Friday nights.”

Against the Warriors, running back Trevon Goss rushed for 82 yards and scored a touchdown. Jahvae Bowman added 58 yards on the ground. Through the air, quarterback Kymani Clary threw for 144 yards and connected with Teru Davis and Micah Adams on touchdown passes. Davis led Gators receivers with 72 yards. Adams finished with 46 yards and Jaylin Grant chipped in 26 yards.

Wando rallied from a 21-6 deficit in the fourth quarter to make it close. Winstead was impressed with the improvement the Warriors have made under first-year coach Isaiah Perrin.

“Wando is playing hard and they’re a much better football team than they were last year,” Winstead said. “I’m really impressed with their quarterback. We have some good quarterbacks in the Lowcountry. We have played at least three games just like Friday night and lost the first two at the end. I was proud of the guys for making the plays we needed to win.”

Winstead was referring to a 21-20 loss to Fort Dorchester and 10-7 loss to James Island.

Goose Creek is still playing without reigning region player of the year, running back Meliq McGowan. The junior has been out with an injury. Winstead hopes to get McGowan back soon.

“Meliq is such a playmaker and it’s been a struggle without him,” Winstead said, “but Trevon has stepped up and done a good job.”

Goss leads the Gators with 406 yards rushing on the season. He’s scored three touchdowns. McGowan had 274 yards rushing and five touchdowns before his injury. Clary has passed for 708 yards and six touchdowns, while rushing for 289 yards and three scores.