War Eagles Bouncing Back From Season-Opening Loss

By WORTHY EVANS

Contributing Writer

Columbia – Gray Collegiate Academy head football coach De’Angelo Bryant didn’t waste time talking about Chambers, N.C.’s 50-21 win over the War Eagles in the season opener Aug. 21.

“They killed us,” Bryant said. “They did a good job with extended plays and once they got us to a point where their offense was on the field longer than we were. They did a good job of sustaining drives and taking big chunks of the field.”

The Cougars put up 478 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, and a whopping 637 yards of total offense.

Gray only mustered 60 total rushing yards, but sophomore quarterback Xavier Wright had a decent passing night, going 16-for-30 for 216 yards and a touchdown. He had two interceptions.

Wright, who passed for 2,202 yards and 28 touchdowns to eight interceptions in his freshman year, returned under center after having limited practice since sustaining an off-field injury over the summer

“He’s not really taken any snaps in a month and a half, and last week he was shaking off the rust,” Bryant said. "He made plays throughout the course of the game, and in time he’ll be able to do all of the different things to be successful.”

Bryant added that Wright is working hard to avoid a literal sophomore slump.

“It’ one of the hardest things to avoid,” he said. “But he’s still humble and still hungry. A wonderful young man.”

Wright connected with the team’s top receiver, senior Corey Gleaton, eight times for 142 yards and a touchdown. Gleaton had 52 catches for 1,243 yards and 12 TDs last year.

Last week the War Eagles notched a 27-0 shutout over River Bluff. Trevon Williamson had 227 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries, and Xavier Wright was 8-for-17 in passing for 140 yards and a touchdown. Royce Williamson had three catches for 54 yards and a score, and Gleaton caught a 54-yarder.

The schedule isn’t getting easier.

With the Gators game in the books, this week Gray Collegiate faces Lowcountry power James Island (1-0) which reached the AAAAA lower state championship game last year.

Besides Wright working hard at getting his play back on track, Bryant said the offensive line is a little banged up, but the team as a whole is dedicated to getting better game by game.

“It’s one of those deals where we don’t use the word ‘losing,’ we use the word ‘learning.’” He said. “We’re trying this week and every week to focus on us and not our opponents: to do the things we can do to get better. This week (preparing to face River Bluff) the guys have responded well. We’ve changed a couple of different things and we practiced a lot of high-pressure situations this week as well.”

Next on the schedule comes Spartanburg academy Mountain View Prep Sept. 11, defending AAAA defending lower state champion South Florence Sept. 18, and defending AAAAA state champion Dutch Fork Sept. 25 to round out the non-Region 4-AAAAA slate.

“That’s a really good James Island football team coming to us, and we’re looking at a coming rivalry between us and Mountain View, and then Dutch Fork. The next three weeks are going to be a great opportunity to challenge us before we get into the region.”

In getting through the season, Bryant said he is glad to have this bunch of War Eagles rather than any other team.

“We have a great group of young men. When you talk to the character of the team, it’s no question,” he said. “Some teams have better athletes and more stars, but I wouldn’t trade these guys for the world. They’ve seen every challenge and they are just as eager to win.”