Prep Football Third Round Playoff Roundup
Nov. 17—Class AA Upper State
Gray Collegiate Academy 35, Strom Thurmond 28
A 55-yard interception return with under a minute to play gave second-ranked Gray Collegiate Academy a 10-point lead over No. 5 Strom Thurmond, leaving the Rebels with too little time to complete their rally and extend their season beyond the third round of the Class AA playoffs.
Michael Blocker rushed for 46 yards and two touchdowns and Cam Blacks rushed for 62 and one score for Strom Thurmond (10-3). Quan Edmond went 19-for-32 passing for 184 yards and only his second interception of the season.
Demarius Tolen caught eight passes for 107 yards, and Braylon Staley had nine catches for 59 yards.
Abbeville 16, Silver Bluff 6
No. 8 Silver Bluff's season came to an end in the third round of the Class AA playoffs at No. 1 Abbeville.
The Panthers held the Bulldogs (9-4) to negative yards offensively in the first half, but a 3-yard Aden Coates touchdown run cut Abbeville's lead to 9-6 late in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs couldn't get any closer, though, as the Panthers were able to put the game away to advance to the Upper State finals against No. 2 Gray Collegiate Academy.
Class AA Lower State
Oceanside Collegiate Academy 43, Barnwell 6
Barnwell's season ended in the third round of the Class AA playoffs with a loss at No. 4 Oceanside Collegiate Academy.
Cameron Austin got the Warhorses (8-5) on the scoreboard first with a 12-yard touchdown run, but the Landsharks scored 43 unanswered points from there.
Oceanside Collegiate will face Hampton County in the Lower State title game.
Class A Upper State
Christ Church Episcopal School 27, Blackville-Hilda 7
Blackville-Hilda's season came to an end in the third round of the Class A playoffs in a loss at No. 2 Christ Church Episcopal School.
The Fighting Hawks finish the season with a record of 10-3. Christ Church will face St. Joseph's Catholic School for the Upper State title.
