Friday Rewind: How grind-it-out approach carried Gilbert to win over Lexington

Chad Leaphart has won some big games as a player and since taking over as a head football coach at Gilbert High School. Friday night’s victory ranks near the top of all those games.

Gilbert used a ball-control methodical attack and a blitzing defense to defeat county rival Lexington, 14-3, at packed Tomahawk Stadium.

“I had a lot of wins here over the years, but that one there is one of the finest,” Leaphart told his team following the game. “They are a 5A school ranked third in the state, coming to our house in front of our people. And we got the dub in a grind-it-out game — so proud of you guys.”

It was the Indians’ second win in five tries since the two Lexington 1 teams separated by nine miles started playing.

Fans started arriving early, and it turned out to be a standing-room-only crowd with packed student sections on both sides.

Leaphart talked this week about the importance of the game and how there are a lot of connections between the two schools. At one point, students who attended Gilbert played at Lexington until there was enough interest to form its own team in 1972. That 1972 team was honored at halftime of Friday’s game.

And unlike most of Leaphart’s 71 wins since taking over at his alma mater in 2017, this was done with defense and a grinding attack on offense.

After a scoreless first quarter, Tyler Chavis put Lexington up 3-0 with a field goal with 3:45 in the second. Gilbert answered on the next drive as Drake Braddock hit a wide open Matt Edwards to make it 7-3 at halftime.

The Indians (4-0) put together a couple of methodical drives, including one to put the game away in the fourth quarter. Gilbert converted on three third downs on the drive, which was capped off by a Jaylen Jay 6-yard touchdown run to make it 14-3 with 6:17 left.

“In 3A, we are usually the bigger team, and this is one of the times where we are not the bigger team,” Leaphart said. “They have a lot more depth than we do. … So we knew it was going to be a grind-it-out affair. We knew it wasn’t going to be a 49-point game like we usually have. That was going to be the way we were going to have to win, and that is the way we did.”

Lexington (3-1) had a chance to cut the lead and moved the ball to the Gilbert 32, but the Indians came up with a big sack. The Wildcats then failed to convert on a fourth-and-22.

Gilbert got the ball back and ran out the clock. The Indians’ defense had six sacks of Lexington QB Taiden Mines.

“Since last year, we have been thinking about them and preparing the entire year for them. The entire school can testify that this is one of the biggest games of the year.” Gilbert defensive lineman Caleb Strese said. “I am just so happy to get this win with all my friends out here.”

Milestone win for Camden

Camden football got a historic win Friday night when the Bulldogs defeated A.C. Flora, 52-27, for the 700th win in program history.

Camden trailed 13-0 in the second quarter before scoring 24 straight points to lead 24-13 at halftime. The Bulldogs dominated in the second half to snap a two-game losing streak.

Quarterback Grayson White threw four touchdown passes and ran for one. Receiver Aidan Heriot caught three passes and threw one.

Final scores from this week’s Midlands and SC high school football games

Irmo sends a message

Irmo football team proved that it’s going to be a title contender Class 4A as it went on the road and defeated Hartsville, 35-21, in a battle of unbeaten teams ranked in the top 10.

Running back Jaden Allen-Hendrix ran for four touchdowns and AJ Brand threw a TD to Donovan Murph as the Yellow Jackets moved to 4-0.

Streak stopper for RNE

Richland Northeast claimed the Sword and Saber Trophy for the first time since 2011 by defeating Spring Valley, 49-27. The winner of the game between the Richland 2 schools gets to keep the trophy for a year.

RNE quarterback Will Wilson threw three touchdown passes and ran for two. O’Darian Grier had a TD run, and James Willingham returned the opening kickoff back for a touchdown.

Around the Midlands

Dutch Fork 41, North Augusta 12: The Silver Foxes broke open a close game in the second half to defeat the Yellow Jackets. Quarterback Ethan Offing threw for 204 yards and two touchdowns and running back Maurice Anderson ran for 172 yards and two TDs. Trey Starks had a TD run and catch for the Silver Foxes, who led 13-9 at halftime.

Chapin 38, Brookland-Cayce 31: Chapin jumped out to a big lead and held on to win its fourth straight game. The Eagles led 24-0 in the second quarter before holding off a second-half B-C rally. QB Brady Albro threw three touchdown passes and Tanner Short had two TD runs for Chapin.

White Knoll 66, South Aiken 7: Freshman Tiyon Fleming had three touchdown runs as the Timberwolves stayed unbeaten on the season. DJ Dingle rushed for 109 yards and a TD. Quarterback Landon Sharpe threw for 227 yards, two touchdown passes and also had a rushing TD.

Ridge View 40, Dreher 14: Backup quarterback Tre Howard threw four touchdown passes in the Blazers’ win. Howard started in place of an injured Breylon Boyd. Jordon Gidron had three touchdown catches and Kristian Jackson had one. Aidan Keefe ran for a touchdown and Breylon Boyd returned an interception for a touchdown.

Goose Creek 31, Blythewood 28: Goose Creek kicked a field goal in the final seconds to deny the Bengals a come-from-behind win. Blythewood trailed 28-14 but tied the game up late in the fourth.

Airport 35, Fox Creek 18: Jesse Hoover threw two touchdown passes to Shiloh Perry and also ran for a touchdown as the Eagles won their fourth game of the season.

Hammond 25, Wilson Hall 7: Kinson Holland had two touchdown runs and Naheem Newton had one in the Skyhawks’ victory.

Fairfield Central 27, Keenan 8: Myles Robertson and TyDarion Grier had touchdown runs in Fairfield Central’s region opener. Cam McMillon had a TD pass to KJ Golden and Chris Pearson returned an interception for a score.

River Bluff 44, Lower Richland 6: Toriaun Leaphart rushed for 103 yards and Trace Nettles had 100 yards in the Gators’ win. The two running backs each had a TD run. Quarterback Parker Murray threw for 164 yards and a TD to Stephen Collier, who also had a TD run.

Cardinal Newman 53, Heathwood Hall 14: Quarterback Duncan Skehan threw four touchdown passes and also ran for one as the Cardinals moved to 4-0.

Batesburg-Leesville 28, Newberry 26: Amadre Woodson rushed for 151 yards and a TD in the Panthers’ win over the Bulldogs.