The Friday night football game between Gilbert and Brookland-Cayce was a closely contested match between two region rivals. 

Defense was practically non-existent as almost every drive ended with a touchdown. And despite trailing for most of the game, the Indians scored a touchdown in the final minutes and converted a go-ahead two-point try to seal the win, 50-49. 

Every drive ended in points for either Brookland-Cayce or Gilbert, except two. Right before halftime, Gilbert attempted a field goal and missed, and on the game’s final drive, the Bearcats attempted what would have been a game-winning kick but missed with no time left. 

“I'll be honest, this felt good because I've been at Gilbert since 2016, and we played here three times in that frame, and we've come close,” Indians head coach Ozzie Exume said after the game. “Our focus was we have a chance to do something that hasn't been done here. And I think our kids were riled up, and there was some chippiness.” 

Emotions were high throughout the game with multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Even as the clock hit all zeros, tensions were still hot as neither team participated in the postgame handshake. 

“The referees were doing their job to try to keep us under control, but we lost ourselves a little bit,” Exume said. “We were able to come back.” 

Gilbert got the ball back for its final drive with three minutes left in the game. Brookland-Cayce had just driven downfield and capped a seven-minute drive with a Dre Dopson rushing touchdown. 

Sparked by a powerful rushing attack, Gilbert moved the ball into Bearcat territory looking to even the score. The team eventually stalled and found itself in a fourth-and-nine situation. Gilbert called a timeout and looked for a play that could keep their hopes alive. 

Out of the break, quarterback Cooper James snapped the ball and went through his progressions before firing a pass to Trevon Williamson for a 17-yard touchdown. Despite only needing an extra point to tie the game, Exume kept his offense on the field. 

That gamble paid off as James found Connor Gooding in the back corner of the endzone to put the Indians up for the first time all game with 1:30 left on the clock. 

“Coach Jimmy Frost called that last one in that timeout, and we practiced that two-point play for a few weeks, and we haven't used it, and it was just an opportune time,” Exume said. “We knew that if we scored, that we had to go for it. At the end of the day, the play worked, the kids executed, was a great job.” 

Brookland-Cayce had a shot to retake the lead in the final 90 seconds after executing a few solid plays. The Bearcats just did not have enough time to find the endzone and instead had to settle for a 28-yard field goal try. The Bearcat kick was wide left with no time on the clock, clinching the Indians win.

Gilbert overcame a 14-point deficit in the game. The team trailed by seven at halftime after missing a field goal before the break but were set to receive the second-half kick. Instead, the Bearcats started the half with a surprise onside kick and recovered. Brookland-Cayce then went downfield and scored to go up two possessions. 

With both defenses struggling to get stops, the Indians attempted their own onside kick after scoring a touchdown at the end of the third. Gilbert recovered the kick and quickly evened the score with a pass from James to Gooding. 

James finished the game with six touchdown passes and 242 passing yards. Gooding had four catches for 92 yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. Williamson and Jaylen Jay did the work on the ground, rushing for a combined 249 yards. 

“Cooper James played a hell of a football game. The line blocked. We were able to establish the running game. Both backs were huge for us,” Exume said. “I say it every Friday, playmakers have to make plays. I think they were ready to make plays, and they did.”

Dopson threw for three touchdowns and ran in three more for the Bearcats. Tyrone Jackson ran for 109 yards and a touchdown. Tyree Johnson led the Bearcats in receiving with seven catches for 198 yards and two touchdowns. 

Both teams are looking to move on from a shaky non-region season. The Bearcats were winless before playing conference foes, and Gilbert had just one win. The Indians are now 2-1 in conference games and the Bearcats are 2-2. 

“We had a slow start. It was frustrating,” Exume said. “I think there was things that we just didn't do well. Our focus was we wanted to keep on pushing ourselves and pushing our kids. It's not going to be easy. It's not supposed to be easy.”

The teams have a few more games left this season but will play an odd schedule after Hurricane Helene forced the region to move games around. 

The Bearcats will play two games this week on Tuesday and Saturday before ending their regular season on Nov. 1. 

The Indians will also play two games this week before ending the season with games on Nov. 1 and Nov. 6. 

“The hurricane break, the storm was terrible. But I'm being honest, I think it helped us recalibrate, refocus, and get cleaned up on some things,” Exume said. “Now we're coming out, trying to play our best ball.”

Full Area Scoreboard 

Dutch Fork: 45, Lexington: 0

Irmo: 35, White Knoll: 21

River Bluff: 30, Chapin:6

North Augusta: 56, Airport: 8

Gray Collegiate: 63, South Aiken: 13

Silver Bluff: 56, Swansea: 26

Batesburg-Leesville: 45, American Leadership: 0

Strom Thurmond: 55, Pelion: 6

Northside Christian: 28, Trinity Collegiate: 20