With high school football rapidly approaching, I look forward to being on air for my 12th season. It all began for me in 2012 as a junior at Boiling Springs High School. At the time, Bulldog Football games were broadcasted on ESPN Spartanburg with Tom Dixon and Phil Cox. I began by keeping stats for the broadcast crew and that is where my story started. The next year, I went to the field as the sideline analyst for what was an internet broadcast for the next 7 years. In 2019, I left UpstatePrep-Cast for ESPN Upstate where I became the Voice of the Byrnes Rebels for the next 3 years. I was not involved in the fall of 2022 as I was living in Dallas, Texas. In 2023, I returned to the field as the sideline analyst for the WZZQ broadcast at Gaffney High School. After joining The Fan Upstate (previously ESPN Upstate) full time in March of 2024, I am back serving as the Play by Play Voice of the Byrnes Rebels for my 4th season.
When Gaffney traveled to Dutch Fork in the 2023 state playoffs, I completed my 130th high school football broadcast. Along the way, I have hosted Saturday morning call in shows, appeared on ESPN +, CW62, & many other sporting broadcasts.
With the 2024 season approaching, I wanted to do some reminiscing and take a look back at the best 10 games I have seen with my eyes over the last 12 seasons.
#10: 9/25/20 Byrnes 41, Spartanburg 21
The final score of this game was not close so you may ask why it made my Top 10. In his first start, I witnessed sophomore Mack Long rush for 309 yards and break the Byrnes High School single game rushing record that was previously held by Marcus Lattimore. The Rebels only played five games in 2020 but this game was one for the ages.
#9: 8/27/21 Byrnes 37, Chapman 27
It did not take us long to see a instant classic in 2021 as we witnessed an incredible back and forth contest between Gabe Rogers & Drew Settle. In a game where Mack Long accounted for 206 all purpose yards, the Rebels came out victorious. DJ Black put on a show that night for Chapman totaling over 202 receiving yards but it was not enough to get the win at home.
#8: 9/22/23 Gaffney 48, Fort Dorchester 40
The "Beach Ball" game will be one that is inked in my memory for several reasons. There was a pregame scuffle between the Patriots & Indians that may have been exactly what the doctor ordered for Gaffney to "wake up". Riley Staton helped lead his Indians to a huge non-region win that night with over 300 passing yards and 5 touchdowns in a game that will go down as one of the best in 2023.
#7: 11/15/13 Summerville 29, Boiling Springs 28
With a win being all the Bulldogs needed for an upper-state title appearance, this night the ghosts of Summerville were on the side of John McKissick. Daniel Thompson played an exceptional game that had the Bulldogs right where they needed to be until the side judge missed an obvious face mask in the 4th quarter that nearly ripped the helmet off of the QB's head. The Bulldogs drive would have been extended, however, the Green Wave got the ball back and David Kennedy kicked a game winning field goal to send Summerville to another upper-state championship.
#6: 9/27/19 Byrnes 57, Gaffney 30
While this game was not close when it was all said and done, it makes my Top 10 because of an individual effort by Rahjai Harris. Harris carried the rock 32 times in this contest and ran for 300 yards and and 4 touchdowns. There are few times I have seen one player dominate the way that Rahjai did on this September night in Gaffney. The Rebels offense was on another level this particular evening.
#5: 12/7/19 Dutch Fork 34, Dorman 31
In one of the best state title games I have ever covered, regulation was not enough for the two best teams in the state in 2019. Dutch Fork jumped out 14-0 in this contest but Hayden Lee & the Cavaliers put together a valiant comeback. In true Dave Gutshall fashion, the Cavaliers dominated time of possession for the rest of the game keeping Ty Olenchuk & Jalin Hyatt on the sidelines. However, Dutch Fork did what Dorman could not in overtime and that was score a touchdown.
#4: 11/22/21 Gaffney 34, Byrnes 20
This was one of the wackiest football games I have ever witnessed. Gaffney had several fumbles in the first half that Byrnes was not able to capitalize on. If you were a fan at Nixon that night and saw how Gaffney came out in the first quarter, you would have thought it would be a long night for the Indians. However, Dan Jones & company wanted it more and came out victorious.
#3: 11/15/13 Boiling Springs 48, Gaffney 41
All streaks come to an...
The Bulldogs did the unthinkable on this cold November night as they ended the home playoff win streak of the Indians that dated back to the 1980's. Gaffney star quarterback Shaq Davidson missed this game with a knee injury which led the Indians to go with Eddie Studyvance. With 9:51 to go, the Indians held a 41-27 lead. However, Daniel Thompson & company pushed the Bulldogs over the edge in the second half as Boiling Springs scored the last 21 points of the game and came out with the win.
#2: 12/17/16 Dutch Fork 28, Boiling Springs 21
What felt like a year of destiny for Boiling Springs ended up with heartbreak as the Bulldogs fell short in their first ever state title appearance. The Bulldogs had by far the most talented roster they have ever had and when they needed a touchdown late in this one, the Dutch Fork defense locked in. Even though it didn't go their way, Boiling Springs still allowed me to see the best high school game I have ever seen with my own eyes. That leads me to...
#1: 12/9/16 Boiling Springs 14, Spartanburg 13
Yes, that's right, I said it. The BEST high school football game I have witnessed with my eyes. This all happened on a FRIGID December night in Boiling Springs, SC. These two teams needed double OT to decide who would play in Columbia the next week. Spartanburg led 7-0 at the half and led into the 4th quarter before Boiling Springs tied the game to force OT. The Bulldogs scored in double OT which forced Chris Miller to make a HUGE decision if he scored. Well, he did. What happened next is the play that I will remember forever. William Yex walked towards the line of scrimmage and the ball was snapped, but not to Yex. The Vikings had a trick played lined up but the Bulldog defense stood strong and sent Boiling Springs to their first ever state championship.
There have been some great memories made along the way and to all of those who have helped me on this journey, I say thank you.
Let's spot the ball.
