Landsharks save best for last

Rob Gantt • January 9, 2025

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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.

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First Baptist Hires New AD and Football Coach

By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.