Landsharks finish strong to capture second win of season
Aiden Manavian runs for a first down during Oceanside Collegiate’s 35-21 win at Ashley Ridge Sept. 12. Photo by Roger Lee.
By Roger Lee
HSSR Contributing Writer
Summerville – Oceanside Collegiate Academy demonstrated it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.
Oceanside (2-2) fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter at Ashley Ridge (2-2) Sept. 12, but was impressive in the second half as it earned a 35-21 victory.
“Tonight was a big team win,” said Oceanside coach Brent LaPrad. “We leaned on some guys who don’t always make a lot of plays for us and they came in and did tonight. Our backup running back, Julyun Bonneau, had some great runs and first downs. We got Ethan Ranew back tonight and our big guys, Terence Johnson and Anthony Williams came up big when we needed them. We didn’t play our best, but we played together and fought and that’s what it’s all about.”
After accepting the opening kickoff, the Swamp Foxes marched 76 yards to open the scoring. Quarterback Trevor Kalisz completed passes to Josiah Mitchell, Caleb Sharo and Jagger Spivey to move the ball inside the 10-yard line. Kalisz also had an 11-yard run on the drive, which he capped with a 1-yard run into the end zone.
After a defensive stop by each team, Ashley Ridge’s Nolan Beatty intercepted a pass at the Swamp Foxes’ 7. The next play running back Ryan Campbell broke free for a 93-yard TD run and a 14-0 Swamp Foxes’ lead with Wyatt Carter’s second of three extra-point kicks of the evening.
Turnovers, as well as penalty flags, were abundant during the game between 5A Ashley Ridge and Oceanside, which is the seventh ranked 3A team in the state’s latest High School Football Media rankings.
Early in the second quarter, Ashley Ridge moved the ball to the Landsharks’ 10. Then Oceanside’s Michael Strickler intercepted a pass and returned the pick all the way to the Swamp Foxes’ 23. It didn’t take long for Zakhi Muncey to find the end zone from nine yards out for a 14-7 score with Jackson Summey’s first of five extra-point kicks of the evening.
Thanks in no small part to Oceanside defensive back Cole Gaspar’s interception of an Ashley Ridge pass in the end zone, the lead held until the third quarter.
Swamp Foxes’ linebacker MJ Respess recovered a Landsharks’ fumble on the first possession of the second half, but his team was unable to capitalize on the turnover.
With Aiden Manavian leading the way, Oceanside put together a 94-yard scoring drive to tie the game 14-14. The QB completed passes to Williams, Ranew, and Johnson while Muncey and Bonneau contributed key runs. Manavian capped the drive with an 11-yard TD pass to Johnson.
The Swamp Foxes responded with a good drive, but it ended with Keith Glaser’s interception in the Landsharks’ end zone.
Kalisz broke the stalemate with a 47-yard run into the end zone with 8:07 remaining in the final quarter. However, it would be the Swamp Foxes’ final TD.
Oceanside continued to spread the ball around to its various weapons and drove 65 yards to score on a 5-yard run by Manavian for a 21-21 score with 6:08 remaining.
Later in the fourth, Oceanside drove 53 yards to score on a 6-yard run by Johnson for its first lead of the game. The TD run came on a direct snap to the receiver.
Ashley Ridge drove across midfield on its ensuing possession. However, Sawyer Arnold recovered an Ashley Ridge fumble on the sidelines and dashed 40-plus yards for a TD with 1:18 remaining to ice the victory.
