Waccamaw’s resilience rewarded with win in regular season finale

Waccamaw seniors Kevin Gasque and Kelton Grant played what was perhaps their last high school game Friday night.

And the duo made sure it was a memorable one.

Gasque had over 100 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries and Grant rushed 15 times for 161 yards and two scores to lead the Warriors to a 24-22 victory over Mullins.

“We wanted it bad. As you can see, we played our hearts out,” Gasque said. “We knew it was do-or-die and we needed this win to get into the playoffs, so we got it done.”

Waccamaw’s postseason fate was not immediately known following the game, this the result of a three-team logjam at third in Region VIII-AA. Loris and Mullins joined the Warriors at 2-3 in conference play, with a tiebreaker being used to determine which two teams ultimately would earn postseason berths.

Results of head-to-head matchups were unable to settle the matter, thus forcing the region to employ other methods in an effort to break the tie.

“We needed this and I just applaud the effort by these kids,” Warriors coach Tyronne Davis said. “It was an emotional night, too because it’s the last time the seniors were going to play here.”

While Gasque had a big night on the ground, the senior running back stood out in more ways than one. In the only defensive play he’s been involved in all year, he intercepted Auctioneers quarterback Riyan Gore as time expired to give the Warriors the victory.

“I haven’t played defense all year because of my ankle injury, but when the team needed me to I stepped up and did what I had to,” Gasque said.

Gasque also laid some nice blocks throughout the game to set up big runs by Grant. Of course, Grant didn’t mind returning the favor.

“A lot of people don’t know, but [Grant and I] have a little blocking contest every week,” Gasque said. “I just lay down the blocks and do anything I need to do to help my team win.”

With Waccamaw leading 24-14, Grant coughed up a fumble to give Mullins good field position with just eight minutes to play. Then, Gore scored on an 8-yard run with about six minutes left, and the Auctioneers’ two-point conversion was successful to bring Mullins within two points.

After an unsuccessful Warriors drive, the Auctioneers fielded a punt and returned it to Waccamaw’s 40-yard line with about four minutes left.

However, Warriors’ Trey Franklin intercepted Gore with three minutes left, and that was enough to halt any Mullins’ momentum.

“The defense played really well. I was a little worried, because [Mullins is] very explosive offensively,” Davis said. “This is a game where anything can happen and you can’t let momentum get away from you. In the fourth quarter, we almost let momentum slip when we fumbled the ball and they drove down and scored. But we got some key plays there on that last drive and got it done.”

Davis applauded the effort by Grant and Gasque, who came up big for the Warriors time and time again.

“They’re the horses for us on offense. Everything’s around them; if we can get them the ball and they can rush it for us, it opens up some things,” Davis said of his halfbacks.”

This story was originally published November 7, 2015 at 12:49 AM with the headline "Waccamaw’s resilience rewarded with win in regular season finale."