“We’re headed to the show, baby!” — Gray Collegiate head coach Adam Holmes said.

The War Eagles have finally landed in the Class 2A final.

Since the school’s inception in 2014, Gray Collegiate head football coach Adam Holmes has kept taking the program further in the postseason.

This season, playing a formidable non-region schedule which included two state finalists (Camden and Gaffney) and competing in an even more challenging region more than prepared Gray Collegiate for the postseason.

It showed as the War Eagles finally defeated two-time defending champion Abbeville and held off Region 3-2A rival Newberry 35-28 to claim the Class 2A Upper State title.

“It’s been eight years of what we’ve been working for,” Holmes said. “Came close last year, made the Upper State championship. Our goal was to obviously keep getting better every single year and we did it this year. It’s all in what they did. They’ve been working for all year to get to this point, get back at it. I couldn’t be more proud of what we’ve done to get here.”

Having set a school record for victories, Gray Collegiate (13-1) now faces traditional power Silver Bluff for the state title Friday at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium.

Mr. 3K

Leading Gray Collegiate into the title game is running back KZ Adams. The Georgia State-bound senior became the first Palmetto State running back to surpass 3,000 rushing yards in a single season.

“Coming into this game, my coaches were like, ‘Do you have the will to get past 230 to get to 3K?’” said Adams, who entered the game with 2,770 rushing yards. “I was just telling them like, ‘C’mon, why don’t you ask a big question? You know what I mean.’ My offensive line did great. I want to thank God for that. They were making massive holes for me. They let me do what I wanted to do.”

Adams is one of two Mr. South Carolina Football finalists to make the “Weekend of Champions” along with Daniel quarterback Trent Pearman. Retiring Newberry head coach Phil Strickland, who oversaw a former award winner in quarterback Malcolm Long at Gaffney, voiced his support for Adams for the award.

“He’s very worthy of it,” he said. “I’m sure there’s some other good players out there that I don’t know about. I’ve seen him twice. I know enough that he’s really good and he would probably have my vote.”

For all the attention Adam receives, Gray Collegiate has proven to be more than a one-man team. Quarterbacks Tre Robinson and Riley Staton have adeptly led the offense with their contrasting styles and weapons like wide receivers Devin Johnson, who had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Newberry, Savion Smith and Austin Harris.

Holmes has pointed to the improved play of the defense as helping to put the War Eagles over the hump. Linebackers Zach Glenn and Jordan Robinson and hard-hitting safety Tory Kelly also have over 100 tackles, linebacker Savien Jones leads the teams in sacks (eight) and defensive tackle Jakiaus Hilton (six sacks) is part of a defensive front Holmes believes is one of the best in the state.

The Bulldogs are seeking their sixth state title and are making their eighth appearance.

For the season, Silver Bluff (11-0) is averaging 50.8 points a contest led by junior quarterback Malik Williams (1,237 yards, 11 TDs, 487 rushing yards, eight I TDs), running back Travian Dunbar (1,306 yards, 20 TDs) and wide receivers Nick Brown (403 yards, five TDs) and Angel Rodriguez (464 yards, six TDs).

The Bulldog defense has posted six shutouts and are holding opponents to an average of 8.1 points per game.

Defensive tackle Jaden McLeod had a team-high 57 tackles and seven sacks and is joined up front by Davon Simpkins (45 tackles) and Jordon Boyd (44 tackles, three sacks). Middle linebacker Vernon Lawrence also had 57 tackles to go with four sacks and cornerback Zaden Davis leads the team with four interceptions.

Kickoff for the game is 7 p.m. and it will air on Spectrum (Channel 1250).