What We Saw: Gilbert beats Saluda in Shortened Game

GILBERT | Replacing an entire backfield with two 1,000-yard plus rushers would seem like a daunting challenge.   From the outside, the cupboard may have looked bare at Gilbert with Alias Graham-Woodberry graduating and [player_tooltip player_id='267430' first='Jaden' last='Allen-Hendrix'] now running the football for undefeated Irmo.   All the while, head coach Chad Leaphart saw his diamond in the rough. In junior Jaylen Jay, he saw a running back more than capable of filling that void but having to wait his turn.   Friday night at Leonard Price Field, Jay (pictured) put his talents on display against undefeated Saluda. He scored four touchdowns, two rushing and two receiving, and accounted for 251 total yards in the 49-27 win.   "Jaylen hadn't really had his opportunity, but I'm the one and as coaches, we're the ones seeing him at practice and stuff,” Leaphart said. “He was stuck behind those guys last year, but he got his opportunity and really, deep down, I felt like that he could have a big year this year and that's exactly what he's doing."   After a scoreless first quarter, Saluda took a 13-0 lead on two touchdown passes by Drew Arant, who finished with 232 passing yards.     Leaphart decided to go up tempo on Gilbert's next series. Senior quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='782263' first='Drake' last='Braddock'] completed 6-of-7 passes on a 93-yard scoring drive capped by a 27-yard touchdown to [player_tooltip player_id='1157968' first='Krew' last='Morris'].   After a Saluda punt, Braddock and Jay helped drive the Indians into scoring position. Following a one-yard run by Jay, Saluda was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct which moved the football to the eight-yard line.   This was the first of six called on the Tigers, who were penalized 13 times for 130 yards. A series of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties eventually forced the officials to stop the game with 10:07 left in the fourth quarter.   Braddock's 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end [player_tooltip player_id='1249788' first='Connor' last='Gooding'] gave Gilbert a 14-13 lead.   "We knew we could get back in,” said Braddock, who finished with 262 yards and four touchdowns. "Trust in the gameplan. Trust in Coach Leaphart. Trust in teammates. We know that's what going to get the job done is trust."   Just before halftime, Arant found a wide-open Josh Uhler for a 60-yard touchdown to give the Tigers a 19-14 lead. Uhler finished with eight receptions for 151 yards.   The first four minutes of the second half were dominated by special teams. Javonte Adams recovered the first of two pooch kickoffs to get the ball back for the Indians.   Gilbert capitalized with Braddock throwing a screen pass to a very open Jay who scampered 40 yards for the touchdown.   Placekicker Vikram Cheema's next kickoff was sent into the endzone. [player_tooltip player_id='617664' first='Brayden' last='Williams'] fielded the football and raced down the visitor sidelines for a 100-yard touchdown.   Williams rushed in the two-point conversion and the Tigers regained the lead at 27-21.   The Indians turned to Braddock and Jay to respond. Through the air and on the ground, they managed to drive Gilbert downfield and set up a six-yard touchdown run by Morris.   Gilbert would not trail again. Another recovered pooch kickoff by Adams gave the Indians the back at the 40-yard line. Braddock completed a 23-yard pass to Gooding and Jay scored from 11 yards to make it 35-27.   Saluda moved the football into Gilbert territory when Arant's potential touchdown pass to JT Lott was intercepted by Eli Mayers. The senior cornerback was trailing the taller Lott when he reached out and made the over the shoulder catch.   He was tackled at his own six, but Gilbert's offense had the momentum. After Saluda was called for an illegal substitution, Braddock and Jay hooked up again for a 52-yard touchdown to extend the lead to 42-27.   Leaphart cited Mayers' pick as the turning point of the game.   "It was one of those that kind of pinned us back deep, but interceptions are sometimes psychological," he said. “Even though that was really probably as good as a punt could have been, the psychological impact, the momentum of the game impact of making that play. Those guys feeling down about it, our guys getting pumped up about it and, then of course, we went 99 yards on a huge drive or 98 yards, whatever it was after that. That was huge and we had Big Mo on our side."   Penalties reared its head on Gilbert's final scoring drive in the third quarter. The ball was at its own 33 following a two-yard run by Morris when Saluda players began to show frustration.   That frustration led to three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties called on the play. The official walked 45 yards before downing the football at the Saluda 20.   A pass interference penalty set up a 11-yard catch by Matt Edwards and one-yard run by Jay to open the fourth quarter.   Things completely went off the rails for Saluda on its final series. It was held to just one yard before head coach Stewart Young was called for the team's sixth unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.   The officials then gathered and announced the end of the game.   The win gave Gilbert a 5-0 record for the fourth time under Leaphart. Given the players lost, this current team is taking pride in the achievement.   "A lot of people doubted us," Jay said. "A lot of people didn't have us winning tonight. A lot of people didn't have us winning last week (against Lexington), but look what happened. We keep working. We just let them talk.   "We know when Jaden left, it was going to be hard. But look at us now. Keep pushing, never stop."

GILBERT | Replacing an entire backfield with two 1,000-yard plus rushers would seem like a daunting challenge.