Brost, Gilbert Run Past AC Flora

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>COLUMBIA |</strong> Gilbert went into halftime Thursday night against AC Flora thinking they had plenty of missed opportunities.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>But behind a huge offensive line led by 6-foot-7, 255-pound [player_tooltip player_id='1819918' first='Wyatt' last='Oswald'], the Indians salted away the 24-14 victory with a 12-play, 79-yard drive that consumed nearly five minutes off the clock. The drive was capped by a four-yard [player_tooltip player_id='1664620' first='Gavin' last='Elliott'] touchdown run that put the finishing touches on the 2-0 start for Gilbert.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I had to be better, and we all had to be better,” Oswald said. “My mindset was I had to get better and I went out with a different mindset in the second half than I had in the first half and that's what helped us win the football game.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gilbert coach Ozzie Exume said he challenged the entire team at the half and the response they showed with the outcome in the balance was exactly what he was looking for.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I challenged them and made it personal. At the end of the day, they were either going to fold or come out and play, and they came out and played,” Exume said. “We knew it had to happen up front and they answered the challenge.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oswald is obviously the one that stands out when you look out onto the field, but he had plenty of help in the trenches. [player_tooltip player_id='1819910' first='Mason' last='Huppertz'] [player_tooltip player_id='2251197' first='Hudson' last='Smith'] [player_tooltip player_id='1819916' first='Henry' last='Harmon'] <strong>Kaiden Werner</strong> joined Oswald up front to help power Gilbert to 241 yards rushing and 335 yards of total offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sophomore running back [player_tooltip player_id='1823421' first='Jaylen' last='Brost'] (pictured above) was the biggest benefactor running behind the offensive line that averages 255 pounds. The Indians were missing a starter due to injury, so it was sort of a revamped line on Thursday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brost carried it 34 times for 164 yards and two touchdowns. He carried it 21 times for 96 yards in the second half alone and helped set the stage for Elliott's clinching TD.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“(Brost) grew up today,” Exume said. “It's been tough for him and his confidence has dropped some. We gave it to him a bunch and he stepped up. I'm extremely proud of him.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Brost churned out yardage, transfer quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='1672924' first='Kendall' last='Wright'] offered a change of pace with 53 yards rushing on 12 carries and 117 yards passing on an 8-of-14 night with no interceptions. Despite being banged up, [player_tooltip player_id='1809066' first='Chandler' last='Guthrie'] was still his main target. Guthrie had three catches for 60 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“(Wright) brings a little bit of spontaneity, especially on some of the runs,” Exume said. “He's an amazing kid that listens well and actually wants to learn. From a football standpoint, he's experienced and tough but he's still learning our offense.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indians defense also forced three turnovers, giving them six forced turnovers in two games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1819914' first='Logan' last='Taylor'] recovered a fumble on the Falcons opening possession to set the stage for Brost's 1-yard TD eight plays later. [player_tooltip player_id='1822427' first='Kelsyn' last='Felton'] jarred a ball loose in the final minute of the half that Elliott recovered at the Gilbert 22-yard line that kept the halftime score 10-7 in favor of the Indians at the half.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyson Lewie had an interception in the fourth quarter. [player_tooltip player_id='1822425' first='K'Mari' last='Brown'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1822423' first='AJ' last='Doria'] were key to the Indians defensive scheme. Both made huge plays when needed and applied pressure against the run and the pass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brost scored on an 18-yard run that gave Gilbert a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter. But [player_tooltip player_id='1825156' first='Logan' last='Price'] returned the ensuing kickoff 83 yards to the Indians 7-yard line. Two plays later, [player_tooltip player_id='1817082' first='Zion' last='Gaddist'] weaved his way for an eight-yard touchdown, setting the stage for the decisive Gilbert drive.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1821802' first='Riggs' last='Scott'] completed his first 18 pass attempts of the night, including one that was deflected but he was able to catch. He finished 19-of-21 for 179 yards and an interception. He completed passes to nine different receivers with [player_tooltip player_id='1822543' first='Mac' last='Hughey'] leading the way with four catches for 56 yards.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaddist finished with 76 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Defensively, [player_tooltip player_id='1603712' first='Jordan' last='Davis'] [player_tooltip player_id='2163707' first='Brannon' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1819887' first='Justin' last='Conyers'] played well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":1819918,"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":2348080,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a910996f0c17"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You automatically notice Oswald when he gets off the bus. He towers above everyone at 6-foot-7 and walks with an air of confidence despite this being his first season playing varsity football.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He added nearly 50 pounds from last season and has room to get much bigger. He's starting to understand the game on a different level and once everything begins to click for him, defenses better take notice.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He's versatile as he lined up all over the place Thursday night and he more than held his own against a talented AC Flora front. He has good technique and he can turn a defender in the direction he wants them to go. College coaches will soon be asking for film because the one thing you can't coach is size and Oswald has plenty of it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->