Landsharks save best for last
OCA Senior Peyton Shaw making a catch in the Class AAA state title game.
By Rob Gantt
Special to the HSSR
MT. PLEASANT – Say what you will about clichés being overused, but in the case of the 2024 Oceanside Collegiate football team there’s no better way to describe the campaign that came to a close last month than to simply say the Landsharks saved their best for last or claim it’s not how you start but how you finish.
The Landsharks ended the season with nine straight victories after stumbling out of the gate to a 2-3 start, pulling away from Belton-Honea Path, 35-17, in the Class 3A state championship game. Interim coach John Patterson guided Oceanside to its second straight crown after taking over early in the season. The Landsharks won the Class 2A title in 2023.
“It means a lot, but I’m just a guy on a team, man, seriously,” Patterson humbly told the HSSR after the championship game. “I don’t think my role on the team’s any different than anybody else’s. Sometimes you play. Sometimes you film. Sometimes you manage the trainers. Sometimes you’re the assistant coach or the head coach. And the head coach gets way too much credit, honestly. All the credit should go to the assistant coaches and certainly the kids.”
The season was the last for 17 seniors, including a trio of receivers that lit it up for sophomore quarterback Aidan Manavian. Senior Will Virgilio capped the season with 70 grabs for more than 1,100 yards and 10 touchdowns. Peyton Shaw and Gavin Gaspar combined for more than 80 receptions and 1,300 yards. Gaspar caught two scores in the finale to finish with six touchdowns. Shaw hauled in a touchdown in the championship and tied with junior running back Terrence Johnson for the team lead with 11 touchdown catches. Manavian tallied more 3,500 yards passing and 42 touchdowns through the air.
Backfield mate James O’Connor, a sophomore, is back also.
Up front, center Charlie Bean and Carson Lee are seniors.
On the other side of the ball, talented linebackers Kael Gilchrist, Max Moorman and AJ Zarzaca suited up for the final time. Gilchrist and Moorman cruised past 100 stops each from the second level and Zarzaca finished with around 70 tackles. On the back end, senior players were corners Jack Wattie and Nate Sturm and safety Grayson Freeling. Sturm also handled punting and kicking duties.
As for 2025, the Landsharks can return seven starters on offense and most of a very disruptive defensive front powered by juniors Sawyer Arnold and Mike Jones. Arnold finished with more than 20 sacks and Jones, who also doubles as an offensive lineman, wasn’t far behind in that category. Sophomore free safety Michael Strickler was close to 90 total tackles.
