South Carolina hands out state football titles

The Byrnes (Duncan) Rebels exacted a little revenge over the weekend.

One year after losing in the 4A Div. I state championship to county and region foe Dorman, the Rebels left Columbia's Williams-Brice Stadium with a 34-14 win on Saturday.

It was the Rebels' third title in four years and seventh since 2000. The program now has 10 state championships, tying Woodruff for third most in state history.

Tailback Shakeem Wharton did the most damage, as he ran for 159 yards and scoring runs of 1, 5 and 11 yards on 31 carries.

"We knew we were going to run it and give it to Shakeem 40 times if we had to," Byrnes coach Chris Miller told the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. "He did a great job and so did the offensive line."

One of the more interesting tidbits from the game was that one player did win back-to-back titles. Byrnes linebacker Marcus Mohrmann, who had an interception in the game, played last season for the Dorman Cavaliers. He played for the Cavaliers until the end of October, even helping the Cavaliers knock off the Rebels in the regular season, before a family move took him to Byrnes.

THIRD TIME'S A CHARM
The Northwestern Trojans and Central Eagles had each lost back-to-back state title games. They didn't lose a third straight time.

The Trojans dominated Greenwood in the 4A Div. II title game and won 42-10 behind five touchdown passes from Justin Worley, including three scores to Robert Joseph.

"We've played against some tremendous players in this game the last two years," Northwestern coach Jimmy Wallace told The State. "But tonight, (Worley) was on our side. Players make plays, plays don't make players, and we had some kids that made plays tonight."

Central's 2A title wasn't as easy, as the Eagles needed two late scores to shock Dillon (winners of the last two titles) 20-17. Central trailed 17-7 with more than four minutes left in the game.

Central scored with 1:23 left and couldn't recover an onside kick. Dillon attempted a pass during the next possession, but it was intercepted, and two plays later Mardu Smith scored from a yard out to win it.

"I can't even describe this feeling," Central coach Joey Mangum told the Florence Morning News. "To lose two like we had the last two years and to be able to come back like we did today makes it even more special. It's a great thing."

GOLSON LEADS MYRTLE BEACH TO TITLE
Myrtle Beach quarterback Everett Golson helped his team overcome a nine-point halftime deficit to earn a 27-23 win over South Pointe for the 3A title. Golson threw for just 46 yards in the first half, but battled back and threw for 134 yards and two scores in the second half.

The Seahawks, who won the title in 2008 but lost in the championship game last year, were outgained 256-187 during the game and still won.

"I was very disappointed [at halftime] but as the leader of my team I couldn't let that show because everybody would get down," Golson told the Myrtle Beach Sun News. "So I just kind of pushed through, went off to myself to try to clear my head of everything. I give it to my teammates for helping me through that. They kept uplifting me. When you have teammates like that the world is yours."

WORLEY EARNS HONOR
Northwestern quarterback Justin Worley has earned the state's Gatorade Player of the Year award.

Video of Justin Worley

Worley, who led the Trojans to the 4A Div. II state championship over the weekend, threw for with 5,315 yards and a state-record 64 touchdown passes.

"I am still excited and humbled every time I win an award. That comes from coach (Jimmy) Wallace and my parents," Worley told the Rock Hill Herald. "This one is a big deal because it is statewide and it's not just for breaking Northwestern records. I'm happy to win because it has to do with character and there were a lot of deserving players that could have won it."

The award doesn't just look at athletic performance, but also academic achievement and character. Worley is now a finalist for the Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award.

Worley follows in the footsteps of some outstanding Palmetto State players in winning this award, including former Byrnes tailback Marcus Lattimore (now starring at South Carolina), who won the award the past two seasons.

MORE HONORS HANDED OUT
Each year, the South Carolina Football Coaches Association names an all-star team of players and coaches. Those honored then compete for four bigger awards.

Last week, during a banquet before the state championships, the association handed out these awards.

Earning awards were: Dorman's Dave Gutshall (Coach of the Year), Northwestern's Justin Worley (Back of the Year), South Pointe's Jadeveon Clowney (Lineman of the Year) and West Florence's Alex Howell (Specialist of the Year).

Video of Jadeveon Clowney

FIRST ALL-STAR GAME THIS WEEK
The S.C. Automobile Dealers Association North-South All-Star game will be played at noon Saturday in Myrtle Beach. The game pits some of the top talent across the state against each other.

One of the most talented players won't be in the game, though, as Chester quarterback Tony McNeal opted not to play. The Clemson commitment stayed out of the game to get ready to join the Tigers in January, the Rock Hill Herald reported.

Dorman quarterback Nelson Hughes, who guided the Cavaliers to a 14-1 record, was named as his replacement.

"Now that I'm here and away from school it takes the edge off what happened a couple of days ago," Hughes told the paper. "We beat Byrnes in the regular season, get to No. 1 in the state and 14-0 and they (Byrnes) beat us, beat us bad (34-14) in the state championship."

GAMECOCKS GET FIRST 2012 COMMITMENT
Williston-Elko tailback Kendric Salley committed to the South Carolina Gamecocks late last week, becoming the SEC school's first commitment for the 2012 class, according to Palmetto Recruiting.

Salley finished his junior season with 173 carries for 2,191 yards and 30 touchdowns. The Gamecocks were Salley's first official offer.

"He's always wanted to go to USC," Williston-Elko coach Dwayne Garrick told the Web site. "He grew up a Gamecock fan. He said he doesn't care who else might come in, South Carolina is where he wants to be. He said it's where he's always wanted to go."

Jason Gilmer is an award-winning writer who has covered football in South Carolina for more than a decade. He does a statewide high school football blog on GoUpstate.com. You can reach him at palmettotalkblog@gmail.com.