OCA Advances in AAA Playoffs with Win Over Dillon

By:  David Shelton

HSSR Senior Writer

Charleston - The defending Class AA state champions from Oceanside Collegiate are making a run at the Class AAA title in 2024.

The Landsharks moved a step closer to their goal on Friday night, knocking off perennial state title contender Dillon, 28-21, at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

Oceanside Collegiate won their seventh straight game and improved to 9-3 on the season. The Landsharks will travel to Loris next Friday night.

“Every week the competition gets tougher so we will have to play better to advance,” OCA interim head coach John Patterson said. “We did some good things tonight but we also had some mistakes that allowed them to get back into the game. We have to clean some things up.”

Sophomore quarterback Aiden Manavian threw for more than 200 yards and three touchdowns and Will Virgilio scored three times to lead the way offensively for the Landsharks.

Things started badly for the Landsharks as they muffed a short kick on the opening kickoff. Dillon took advantage with a 30-yard scoring drive, taking a 7-0 lead on Rahmond Hamilton’s 12-yard pass to Jamarion King with 10:18 to play in the first.

It was all OCA for the rest of the first half. Manavian threw three touchdown passes and totaled more than 170 yards in the first two quarters. Manavian connected with Peyton Shaw on a 36-yard pass to tie the game with 9:22 remaining in the first period.

A pass interception by Jack Wattie set the OCA offense up at the Dillon 10 and Will Virgilio scored on a four-yard run for a 14-7 lead, still with 7:01 left in the opening quarter.

A three-yard pass from Manavian to James O’Connor made it 21-7 with 7:44 left in the second, then combined with Virgilio on a 26-yard score to push the halftime score to 28-7.

Dillon was the more inspired team in the third quarter, taking their first possession downfield and getting a 22-yard touchdown pass from Hamilton to Fling to cut the lead to 28-14. The Wildcats then forced a three-and-out and regained possession near midfield after a punt. OCA’s defense, however, held on four downs.

The Landsharks appeared to be headed for another score later in the third but the drive ended in a fumble. Dillon immediately answered with a 52-yard touchdown run by Fling with 1:26 left in the third, cutting the lead to 28-21.

Midway through the fourth, the OCA defense came up huge, stopping Dillon on fourth down from the OCA two-yard line to preserve the lead.

OCA ran out the final 4:51 off the clock, converting three times on third down, to close out the win.