Class 2A Title: Breaking Down Oceanside Collegiate

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The championship game in Class 2A is the way things ought to be as No. 1 Oceanside Collegiate (12-1) takes on No. 2 Abbeville (12-2) for all the marbles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oceanside Collegiate is making its first appearance in the state finals, not bad for a program that started only six years ago. The Landsharks played a non-region schedule that could rank as the toughest among all 2A schools. The only loss came to AAAA's No. 1 ranked team, South Florence in a 29-28 game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>OCA also played, and beat, defending 2A state champion Gray Collegiate. and 5A third-round playoff participants Carolina Forest and Sumter. The Landsharks handed Sumter their only regular season defeat, 28-0.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First-year head coach Chad Wilkes came to OCA from Lamar, where he led the Silver Foxes to consecutive Upper State finals in Class 1A the last two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wilkes knew very early that he had a team at Oceanside Collegiate that could make a state title run this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"“I grew up at a place where I saw what championship teams looked like,” said Wilkes, who played on two state championship teams at Cheraw in 2006 and 2007. “I knew what type of talent level you needed to compete, and I saw that talent level on the very first day. With the size and speed that I saw, with the physicality that I saw, I knew that we could have a good chance. The kids bought in. They have been very focused and very coachable, and we have been fortunate."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Landsharks face an Abbeville program that has won five of the last seven 2A state titles so big-game experience is on the other sidelines.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THE MAINSTAYS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oceanside Collegiate's success starts on the offensive and defensive lines. units that Wilkes says are "100 percent the strength of our team." The state's top-ranked prospect. left tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='89337' first='Monroe' last='Freeling']</strong>, anchors a big, physical offensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior [player_tooltip player_id='139300' first='Ben' last='Britton'] never comes off the field as a starting tackle on both lines of scrimmage, and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146357' first='Tim' last='Castain']</strong> is a force on the inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='89344' first='Vaughn' last='Blue']</strong>, a UNC Charlotte commit, was off to a great start before an injury in the fifth game forced him the sidelines for six weeks. He has returned to rush for 344 yards in the last two playoff games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Junior quarterback <strong>Edward Reidenbach </strong>has passed for more than 1,600 yards and rushed for nearly 600 yards while accounting for 29 total touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2023 receiver/linebacker <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='202746' first='Jace' last='Kraftchick'] </strong>is one of the leading pass-catchers and tacklers. Lineback <strong>Trey Brow</strong>n doubles as an H-back on offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYER TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p> 2023 defensive back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='146381' first='Zach' last='Hagedon']</strong>, who also excels in the return game, may be one of the most complete players on the team. Hagedon has returned kicks and punts for touchdowns this season, while also scoring twice on defensive plays. Hagedon also is a sure tackler, which could be important against Abbeville's run-oriented offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>No.1 Oceanside Collegiate vs. No. 2 Abbeville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>When: </strong>Friday, Dec. 2, 2 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Where: </strong>Benedict College, Columbia, SC</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tickets:</strong> $15 available only through gofan.co. There is also additional $10 parking fee.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->