Oceanside Collegiate Pulls Huge Upset Of Dutch Fork, 24-21
OCA's Junior QB Aiden Manavian in the 2024 State Title Game.
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
North Charleston - Anytime two state championship football teams, from the prior season, compete against each other, like Oceanside Collegiate and Dutch Fork did at Charleston Southern on September, 19th , fans can expect a very competitive game, as the Landsharks held on to win the game, 24-20, for an upset of the top ranked Silver Foxes at Charleston Southern University.
With 10 seconds left in the game, Dutch Fork, had moved to the OC six-yard line when a pass from quarterback Jaxon Knotts was intercepted in the end zone by junior DB Cole Gaspar to preserve the hard-fought four-point win for the Landsharks.
First year head coach Brent LaPrad was very up-beat about his team’s win after the game when he talked with the HSSR. “Very proud of how hard our guys battled all game and I felt like the Dutch Fork receiver was open early on that last play but Cole (Gasper) came on quick and he was able to get the interception to give us a huge win,” said Coach LaPrad. “In terms of our over-all team leaders it all starts with senior Mike Jones who plays every snap for us on offense and defense. He starts at left tackle in the offensive line and then he plays defensive tackle on the defensive line. He is our heart and soul. He keeps our defense together and I would trust the guy with my life. For the past three seasons he has played every offensive and defensive snap.
“Jordan Wright was a senior who gave us great play on defense and he is the one who blocked the PAT,” said Coach LaPrad. “That was huge for us. Receiver Terrence Johnosn had a huge game catching the ball and after he made a one-handed grab on the touchdown pass and then he slung the guy off of him and raced in for a touchdown.
“Up-front our senior center Lucas Crady, right guard JB Crady, weigh only 220 pounds but they work their butts off all the time so I am really proud of their play,” said Coach LaPrad. “Also, Lamareon “Bronco” Thompson, who came over from Fort Dorchester plays right tackle for us and we were behind him and Mike (Jones) all night long.”
“Our junior quarterback (Aiden Manavian) is like having a coach on the field,” said Coach LaPrad. “He checks in-an-out of plays all the time and he makes me look like a good offensive coordinator. He does a good job with his RPO’s and he’s calling the routes. You don’t get like him very often.”
Coach LaPrad said he told the team at the half they were going to run the ball more in the second half. “Getting that score at the end of the half, after we had been down by 10 was huge for us,” said Coach LaPrad. “I think I lost to Dutch Fork like five times in the Lower State play-offs when I was at Fort Dorchester so it was great to win this game. Dutch Fork will rebound and they have a very talented team.
“This win is a huge momentum swing for us,” said Coach LaPrad. “We just need to keep playing hard and take them one game at the time.”
On offense, OC was led by talented junior quarterback Aiden Manavian who completed 17-of-26 passes during the game for 276 yards and three touchdown receptions. Terrence Johnson caught two TD catches of four and 59 yards while Anthony Williams caught a 32-yard touchdown pass with 7:34 left from Manavian to pull ahead 24-20 and that ended up being the final score.
Johnson led OC receivers with seven receptions for 104 yards while Willimas was right behind with 97 yards on four catches. Zakhi Muncey added three catches for 16 yards while Tyler Gartner had two catches for 48 yards.
Muncey was the work-horse for the Land Sharks in the back field as he gained 173 net yards on 19 carries and his runs up the middle kept the chains moving a lot during the game. Another key player for OC, in the game, was place kicker Jackson Summey who kicked a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter, and he added three points on PAT’s.
Dutch Fork got solid efforts from numerous players on offense. Knotts completed 16-of-26 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown reception of 9-yards to receiver Brayden Johnson with 11:53 to go in the game to give the Foxes a 20-17 lead at that point. Johnson caught seven passes for 61 yards followed by Shine Sheldon with three catches for 44 yards while Stone Furrey had two receptions for 23 yards. Running back Quinton Wilson also caught two passes.
The Silver Foxes were led in rushing by Wilson who had 9 carries for 46 yards including his team’s first points of the game on a six-yard scoring run with 2:22 left in the first period that put DF up 6-0 after they missed the PAT. Knotts added 40 yards on 13 carries while Sheldon had 20 yards on six carries.
Braydon Johnson scored on a 12-yard run for DF with 2:29 left in the half to put his team up 14-3 after Johnson also caught a two-point conversion from Knotts.
OC closed the deficit to 14-9 with four seconds to go in the first half on a four- yard TD reception to Terrence Johnson and the failed PAT made it 14-9 at the half in favor of the Foxes.
OC received the third quarter kick-off and four plays into their drive Johnson made a one-handed grab of a pass from Manavian and sprinted 59 yards for a touchdown and a two- point play by Williams gave the Landsharks a 17-14 lead with 10:43 left in the third period.
Then with 11:53 left in the game, Dutch Fork capped off a 9 play 68-yard scoring drive to go up 20-17 as Johnson caught a 9-yard TD reception from Knotts. The PAT was blocked by Jordan Wright.
With 7:34 left in the game Williams scored on a 32-yard TD reception from Manavian and the Summey PAT made it the final score of 24-17.
Dutch Fork head coach Tom Knotts was unavailable for comments after the game.
Dutch Fork has this week off before resuming play with a home game against Chapin on October, 3rd. Oceanside will host Atlantic Collegiate Academy this week at The Citadel.
