OCA football looks to finish strong

David Shelton • October 17, 2024

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Oceanside Collegiate's senior WR Gavin Gaspar

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

Mt. Pleasant – Coming off their first-ever state championship, the Oceanside Collegiate football team came into the 2024 season with the highest of expectations.

The Landsharks won the Class AA title a season ago but moved up to Class AAA this season. While the competition was expected to be tougher, the Landsharks returned a large amount of starters with more than a year of experience.

Things have not gone as smoothly as expected but the goals set early on are still attainable. The Landsharks played one of the toughest non-region slate of games, including games against top AAAAA state contenders Dutch Fork and Irmo.

After the season-opening loss to Irmo, head coach Chad Wilkes resigned from his post due to personal reasons, leaving the program in disarray. Named interim head coach was assistant John Patterson, a veteran coach with head coaching experience.

The Landsharks also have battled some injuries and have had a few discipline issues that required some time off the field. After a 2-4 non-region record, the Landsharks opened region 6-AAA play with a resounding 49-7 win over Hanahan.

“With all this group has been through, getting off to a good start in the region is exactly what we needed,” Patterson said. “It’s been a struggle but everyone knows the potential we have on this team. We have good players and good coaches. If we can stay healthy and stay focused on what we have to do we can have a great finish to the season.”

The Landsharks were as healthy as they have been in a few weeks in the win over Hanahan. Sophomore quarterback Aiden Manavian took advantage of a healthy receiving corps, tossing five touchdown passes in the win. Will Virgilio and Terence Johnson each caught two scoring tosses while Gavin Gaspar also snared a six-pointer. Transfer Payton Shaw has been a key addition at receiver as well.

“The quarterback, when we give him time, he’s as good as anyone. He’s very accurate and he has a bunch of guys he can throw to,” Patterson said.

Junior Mike Jones has been a mainstay as a leader along the offensive and defensive lines. Charlie Bean and Carson Lee also return as starters on the offensive line.

Sawyer Arnold, Max Moorman and Grayson Freeling also rate as key defenders. Freeling, a safety, returned a fumble for a touchdown against Hanahan.

The win over Hanahan put OCA in the driver’s seat for a region title. They have remaining region games against North Charleston, Orangeburg-Wilkinson and Battery Creek. They will be favored to win all three games.

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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.