Big Friday night for Northwestern, South Pointe
The stands at District Three were packed with fans starving for some good football.
A television crew from ESPN had taken over the press box on the home side. Cameras were perched to catch every angle.
It was a made-for-TV doubleheader with four of the nation's top teams: Byrnes vs. Hoover (Ala.) at 4 p.m., following a match-up between Rock Hill's Northwestern, a football program steeped in tradition, and South Pointe, still the new kid on the block despite winning a state championship in its third season.
Little did the fans know, when the first game began, that they were watching two teams that would win state championship, two that were runners-up. And this was the first game for all but South Pointe.
Fans had come to see the senior stars, South Pointe defensive end Jadeveon Clowney, the nation's top player, and Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley.
South Pointe controlled the first half, jumping to a 20-7 lead. Clowney was showing why he was highly regarded. But the third quarter was Worley time as he dazzled the live and TV-watching crowd with five touchdown passes in just under five minutes in a 42-20 Trojans' victory.
Northwestern went to its third straight championship game and crushed Greenwood. South Pointe returned to its second in three years and lost to Myrtle Beach.
Northwestern and South Pointe played each other in 2008, and the Stallions won before moving down and playing in Class AAA last year.
But this is 2011 and there will plenty new when the two line up tonight at South Pointe's stadium at 7:30. Northwestern is ranked No. 8 in Class AAAA. South Pointe is No. 3 in Class AAA.
Clowney is at USC, Worley at Tennessee, Northwestern's Gerald Dixon Jr. and his half-brother, South Pointe's Gerald Dixon at USC and Northwestern's Rod Byers at Clemson after switching from Oregon on signing day.
But that's the tip of the iceberg. Legendary Trojans coach "Moose" Wallace retired and is moving to Myrtle Beach this weekend. South Pointe coach Bobby Carroll didn't change addresses. He left to coach at York, his hometown and where he has always lived.
In their places are a pair of assistants who got promoted, South Pointe's Strait Herron and Northwestern's Kyle Richardson.
"There's so been so much going on I haven't even thought about football," said Herron, who played at Northwestern. "It's like we're not even playing. I hope our guys know it.
"But I had some time today and was thinking about some of the old players I played with at Northwestern. I hope to look up in the stands, either side and see my former teammates. One, Tommy Palmer, I know will be there."
Herron might have fudged a little in his comments because the excitement was obvious in his voice. This is his first game as a head coach and he's trying to play it down to his Stallions.
It's not working. Stallions defensive back Tay Hicklin, the starting quarterback in last year's game, is ranked the 43rd best player in the SCVarsity.com state top 50 list. Odds are at some point, he'll be guarding Trojans wide receiver B.J. Boyd, ranked 40th.
Maybe, Herron said. He will play Hicklin in several spots on offense and will try to keep him rested at times on defense.
"We are treating this like any game, but it would be great to win it for Coach Herron's first," Hicklin said. "I've never defended B.J., so this is our chance to see how we measure up. I'm not worried though. I want to win and will come to play my game."
Richardson said counting Rock Hill, he's never seen a town with so much football talent. It has produced NFL players and college's large and small are homes to former players.
"When I coached college in Louisiana, I recruited New Orleans and Atlanta," Richardson said. "I've never see this much talent in one place, three schools that can win it all every year. If there is one, I don't want to see it. This has to be the best football town in the country."
Richardson played a major role in the three championship games, installing a pass-first offense that had defenders backpedaling. His first season, the Trojans were 12-2 and made the state semifinals.
Players have thrived in his system: former QB Will King, WR Robert Joseph, RB Jarrett Neely, WR Cordarrel Patterson, Worley and now, Boyd.
This story was originally published August 26, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Big Friday night for Northwestern, South Pointe."