What We Saw: Oceanside Collegiate 35, Belton-Honea Path 17

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>ORANGEBURG |</strong> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1094944' first='Aiden' last='Manavian']</strong> has received various college offers in two seasons at Oceanside Collegiate.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Since becoming starting quarterback, the sophomore has proven he's comfortable playing in a college atmosphere. For the second straight year, Manavian led the Landsharks to a state championship at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium at Willie E. Jeffries Field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oceanside Collegiate defeated Belton-Honea Path 35-17 to win the Class 3A title. After a come-from-behind 35-28 win over sister school Gray Collegiate, Manavian had the Landsharks ahead from start to finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He finished 21-26 for 326 yards and four touchdowns. The Landsharks (11-3) finished the season with nine straight wins for the second year in a row.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It feels great coming out here getting it done,” Manavian said. “All glory to God. He helps me come out here every day. He gives me the opportunity. So it feels great coming out here getting it done with my guys.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Aiden, he's a fantastic player,” interim Oceanside Collegiate head coach John Patterson said. “He's only a sophomore. He's got ice water in his veins. He's a good player, but he's a better kid.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maravian credited getting toughened up by a “Murderer's Row” schedule which included non-region road games against two state finalists.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Tough opponents make you better,” he said. “Dutch Fork just won its Class 5A (Division I) championship. Irmo's playing for a state championship tonight. Great teams build us up, makes us better to come out here as opposed to those who are easier.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Maravian picked off from where he ended last season. Protected by offensive linemen<strong> JB Crady</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1549022' first='Grant' last='Castellow']</strong>, <strong>Charlie Bean,</strong> and two-way player <strong>Mike Jones</strong>, he completed his first seven passes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wide receiver <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809757' first='Will' last='Virgilio']</strong> once again a favorite target. This year, the Landsharks picked up a new weapon in versatile junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1592182' first='Terence' last='Johnson']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He scored the first of his and Maravian's two touchdowns in the first quarter. After a 42-yard reception by Virgilio, Maravian hit Johnson in the left corner of the endzone for a 9-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton-Honea Path (13-2) answered back with a 15-play, 70-yard scoring drive. Shrine Bowl running back <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='605525' first='Marquise' last='Henderson']</strong> carried the load on the 7 ½ minute series which ended with a three-yard touchdown run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big reason for Henderson's 188 rushing yards is a prodigious offensive line. The group is highlighted by the tallest players on the field, 6-foot-7, 310-pound tackle <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1157043' first='Oliver' last='Marett']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Rounding out the Bears' offensive line were centers <strong>Brody Smith</strong> (6-foot, 290 pounds) and <strong>Brady Spearman</strong>, tight end <strong>Jamiah Galbreath</strong> (6-foot 3, 225 pounds) and guards <strong>Keylan Dixon</strong> (5-foot 11, 250 pounds), <strong>Xavier Montalvo</strong> and <strong>Keagan Mosher</strong> (5-10, 280 pounds).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Landsharks held their own upfront. It was juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1025774' first='Sawyer' last='Arnold']</strong> (6-foot 4, 205 pounds), <strong>Joey Harriott </strong>and <strong>Mike Jones</strong> and sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1693098' first='Jaxson' last='Bean']</strong> and linebackers <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809745' first='Max' last='Moorman'] </strong>and leading tackler <strong>Kael Gilchrist</strong>. He had a game-high 14 tackles and helped the defense stop the Bears twice on fourth down.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A turn of events put Oceanside Collegiate Academy ahead in the second quarter. It started with Maravian's 25-yard touchdown pass to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578702' first='Peyton' last='Shaw']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After missing the PAT, <strong>Nate Strum</strong> sent a high squib kick towards Belton-Honea Path. The kick was not fielded and was recovered by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='809752' first='Grayson' last='Freeling']</strong> at the 32-yard line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Shaw had a catch and run reception to the 1-yard line, followed by a one-yard touchdown by Johnson. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I got real comfortable and then, it's started coming easy,” Johnson said. “And I was like ‘You know what? I might as well have fun with it' and that's what I did.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Belton-Honea Path had its own chain of quick events in the third quarter. It first put together another six-minute plus scoring drive dominated by ball carries.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bears ran the football on 12 of the 14 plays on the 66-yard drive. It ended with a four-yard touchdown run by <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1253982' first='Justin' last='Lathon']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Less than a minute later, Belton-Honea Path got the ball back. Maravian's pass tipped off the wide receiver and was intercepted and returned 16 yards by <strong>KJ Miles</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 42-yard field goal by <strong>Christian Bridewell</strong> brought the Bears within 21-17 with 29 seconds left in the third quarter. Manavian redeemed himself in the fourth quarter with two straight 80-yard scoring drives. On each one, he displayed his mobility, quick release and passing touch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He opened the first drive with a 13-yard run and ended it by rocketing a 19-yard pass to <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1180863' first='Gavin' last='Gaspar']</strong> in the endzone. With 4:07 left in the game, they got together again on a game-clinching 13-yard touchdown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Keep working hard,” said Maravian about his future. “Do the same thing over and over and get better every single year. Come out here and try to get another one.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->