Published: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 / Updated: Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008 12:50 AM

Chester football teammates pair up for All-Star showcase in Myrtle Beach

MYRTLE BEACH -- Chester's Troy Sanders got an unexpected and, as he described it, "a pretty much upsetting surprise,'' when he walked into Myrtle Beach High School on Monday morning.

"It was already bad enough to lose to Myrtle Beach in the state championship Saturday night, and then drive to Myrtle Beach to practice and play in the North-South Game,'' Sanders said. "But when we walked into the locker room Monday morning for our first practice, it really hit me how tough the loss was.

"The school was doing its morning announcements and congratulated their football team for beating us. They named every player and gave his jersey number. The whole time they were playing a fight song. It really got to me because two years in a row we made it that far and lost both games."

The final score was Myrtle Beach 31, Chester 21. Sanders said it was one of the toughest losses he's been involved in, and going to the SCADA North-South alone wouldn't wash away what happened in Clemson.

But that changed quickly with a bit of good news. Chester athletics director Ricky Campbell, the Cyclones' defensive backs coach, called C.J. Turner off to the side after the game.

Campbell and Chester coach Maurice Flowers found out Friday that Turner had been selected as a replacement North-South player because Byrnes' Riyahd Richardson violated a team rule and had been removed from the game.

"Coach Flowers came up later and asked if anybody had told me yet,'' Turner said. "When I told him coach Campbell had, he told me he was holding off until after our game. He said he wanted me to be focused on the championship game and not be worrying about being picked for the North-South."

Sanders and Turner are defensive backs. Having Turner with him this week, Sanders said, makes his trip more worthwhile. Sanders said Turner gives him someone he knows he can talk to. They aren't roommates, but they are in adjoining rooms.

Since Monday's unexpected greeting, it has been all downhill for the Chester duo. Both are getting plenty of playing time in the North's defensive rotation, and both are accustomed to making big plays.

In the state championship game, Turner had five tackles and a pair of fumble recoveries. Sanders had eight tackles.

Turner, 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, was a first-year senior starter. He led the Cyclones with seven interceptions and made 62 tackles.

Sanders, 6-1, 185, had 124 tackles and grabbed two interceptions.

They are outstanding students and have easily qualified for any scholarship offers that come their way. Sanders has a 3.9 GPA and scored 20 on his ACT exam. Turner is right behind with his 3.8 GPA and a 19 ACT score.

Sanders committed to Wisconsin last summer but said both parties have lost interest. He'll visit Vanderbilt next week and believes he'll end up there.

Turner has no offers, but hopes his grades and a good game Saturday will draw interest from college coaches.

They have always been good students and credit their head coaches the last two seasons for preaching the importance of making good grades over playing football.

Last year's coach was Victor Floyd, who ended a five-year stay by taking the Cyclones to their first state title game since 1963. This year, Flowers took them back after working his team though an early rough spot that accounted for three losses.

"Both coaches are very big on academics and set up study halls for us before practice,'' Sanders said. "And both care about their players; do all they can to make sure we do the right things and stay out of trouble.

"As far as discipline, they treat it differently. Coach Floyd was more hands-on, physical. He'd make us do up-downs, something all players hate. Coach Flowers sits down and talks to us. He's more mental about it, tells us to think about what we did and work it out in our heads."

Turner said the seniors met and talked and decided the losing had to end. They passed on to the underclassmen and their coaches that Friday night belonged to the Cyclones, not the other team.

Chester lost by a point to Union County and York. The Cyclones were 2-2 at that point but lost 45-22 to Northwestern, which prompted the meeting. It was followed by nine straight wins until their loss to Myrtle Beach.

"It was a good season overall and coach Floyd actually told us last year that he felt our class would be the team that won the state championship," Turner said.

"And even though we lost, people in this state can see that Chester is building a tradition," Sanders said. "Chester has a lot of talent coming back next year, Tony McNeal at quarterback, Julius Pendergrass at running back, a big offense line. There will be some spots to fill on defense, but the players are there."

Keith Richardson, Executive Director of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association, is very proud of what's happening at Chester. He calls Sanders and Turner "my boys."

Richardson grew up in Chester and played football for the Cyclones. His mom, Jean Richardson, still lives there. Coach Richardson, who will step down Jan. 1 and turn the SCACA over to Greenwood's Shell Dula, is more famous for his coaching days at Clinton, where he led the Red Devils to six Class AAA state championships.

"I hate it that Chester didn't win this year after losing last year," Richardson said. "But there are some good things going on at Chester, and I look for the success to continue there. Chester is getting back to where it should be and they are making a lot of people take notice.''