South Columbus has unforgettable football season

The disappointment of Saturday’s loss in the state 2A championship game is something that will probably linger for a while among members of the South Columbus High football team and its supporters.

But that disappointment should be tempered by the fact that the season itself was a true reward to all involved.

After all, this was the year that the Stallions had the talent and the drive to take it all the way. Through their first 15 games, they had shown without a doubt that they were more than capable of bringing home a state championship.

But it didn’t turn out that way Saturday as a determined team from Lincolnton came away with a 28-14 victory in the state title game at N.C. State University’s Carter-Finley Stadium.

In the wake of losing a state championship game, there is initially very little consolation in looking back on the entire season and remembering the big wins and fun times that were involved in a march toward a state title bid.

That time will come soon, though, and the memories will be fond and forever treasured.

I guess the thing that impressed me the most about this year’s team was its maturity and the way a strong group of senior players set a strong example of leadership and fortitude.

It’s hard to try to figure out why this team had the difficulty it did in the first half of its game with Lincolnton High.

A defense that had been truly invulnerable all season suddenly became vulnerable against a versatile Wolf offense.

The score at halftime was 21-0 with Lincolnton getting its third touchdown with 10 seconds remaining on the first half clock.

The third quarter was a complete reversal as the Stallions stopped getting shoved around and started doing some shoving of their own. Their swagger was back and their fans were loving it.

In less than six minutes of third quarter, the Stallions had cut the deficit to 21-14. Lincolnton had found itself back on its heels and appeared to be playing more to protect their lead instead of trying to match the Stallions’ new-found intensity.

The Wolves prevented a game- tying touchdown with a big defensive stand after South Columbus had driven the ball the LHS 13 in the fourth quarter. Then on the Stallions’ next possession, Lincolnton defensive back Jimmy Angle picked off a flat pass and returned it 45 yards for a game-sealing touchdown with less than 3-1/2 minutes remaining.

It was an unfortunate ending to an otherwise truly remarkable, record-breaking season at South Columbus High School.

Coach Joey Price and his staff have constantly implemented a program that sets a high standard for high-school football teams in southeastern North Carolina. Pride and honor have always accompanied Stallion football, and this year’s team has provided a lot of extra pleasure and excitement for its school and community.

AS I VIEWED SATURDAY’S game from the Carter-Finley Stadium pressbox alongside longtime buddy Richard Walker of the Gastonia Gazette, I suddenly found myself getting eerily reminded of another state championship game played 29 years ago.

It was a cold, cold night in the Catawba County town of Maiden, on Friday, Dec. 1, 1978, when the Tabor City Red Devils (the SCHS predecessor) took the field against the Maiden Blue Devils in the state 2A championship match-up.

This hot-natured Texas boy nearly froze to death that night while walking the sidelines wearing a huge parka and heavy sweat pants under my Levis. All the while, Maiden head coach Tom Brown roamed the other sidelines in shorts and a T-shirt.

Coach Jack Holley’s Tabor City team came into the game with a 13-0 record having virtually steamrolled all opposition on its way to the Eastern N.C. 2A title.

The Red Devils had shut out their first three playoff opponents - Red Springs, Lejeune and Hobbton - by a combined score of 116-0.

Maiden, which at that time was dubbing itself “The Biggest Little Football Town in the World,” had an 11-2 record and had just knocked off defending state champion Charlotte Catholic for the Western N.C. title. Whiteville native Jimmy Hickman was an assistant coach for the Blue Devils.

Maiden ran its veer offense to near-perfection that night, fully utilizing the talents of a sophomore tailback named Bruce Ikard and pony-sized fullback named Marty Beal. The Ikard kid was a specimen, matching his 195 pounds with 4.4 speed in the 40-yard dash.

Tabor City was led by Shrine Bowl-bound running back Anthony Elliott, and the passing combination of quarterback Boyd Byerly and receiver Cornie Lewis. A future UNC cheerleader named Joey Ray (now a Columbus County attorney and a strong cog in the Stallion Club) was the starting center. However, the Red Devils had a hard time keeping stride with the Maiden squad that night as the Blue Devil defense was paced by senior defensive lineman David Ikard, Bruce’s older brother.

Maiden got a big lift right before the half when linebacker Kevin Wilson (who went on to play for UNC) picked off a Byerly pass and returned it for a touchdown for a 22-6 halftime lead.

Maiden added two more touchdowns in the second half to pull away to a 36-14 victory, and it was a long ride back to Tabor City.

Maiden is just 10 miles north of Lincolnton, and although the two schools are not in the same conference, they are the staunchest of rivals (a la South Columbus-Loris). In fact, Maiden defeated Lincolnton this year. Tom Brown is still the Blue Devils’ head coach.

While watching Lincolnton turn in such a strong first half against South Columbus Saturday, I told Richard Walker that the game reminded me a lot of that night in Maiden.

Walker then informed me that Demery Brewer, Lincolnton’s standout tight end/linebacker, who wore No. 82, is a nephew of the Ikard brothers.

In the immortal words of Yogi Berra, “It was deja vu all over again.”