The Longest Week
Unlike the Super Bowl or the college football championship, there’s no extra time to prepare for the big game. Just about 60 hours earlier, BHP had shut out Clinton 19-0. As impressive as that was, Dillon took it to a new level. Hosting the Manning Monarchs in the lower state championship, Dillon handed Manning their second loss of the season, 28-0. Inevitably, the defenses took center stage as everyone dissected the matchup. The stage was set, but the hype had just begun.
Both teams came into the game undefeated. Dillon was averaging over 34 points per game and allowing only 11. While Dillon’s defense garnered most of the praise, their offense was equally formidable, led by Emmanuel Benjamin. The 225-pound running back had amassed 1,349 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns coming into the game. Add to that Marshall Davis’ 960 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns, and you had a dynamic backfield duo. The offensive line, averaging 281 pounds, outweighed BHP’s heaviest defensive lineman by nearly 40 pounds. But stats and measurables can only tell part of the story; preparation was now the key factor for this championship week.
When preparing for a big game or championship, head coaches often stress the importance of familiarity, making it feel like just another game. That was the goal for Coach Green and his staff early in the week. Although he and a few players had media obligations in Columbia, the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday practices were just like every other practice all year, except they were held on the game field rather than the practice field.
One thing that stands out about practices that week was how dark everything got. We had never practiced into December—rarely even into November. By the time we took the field, the lights were already on, and the air was chilly. Also, starting in the playoffs, the coaches decided to reduce after-practice conditioning every round, so by the time we got here, there was no more running. For a big guy, that was the best reward of the season.
Inside the program, we tried to maintain a business-as-usual mindset, but outside, the hype was ramping up. Local stores couldn’t keep up with the demand for BHP shirts, hats, and sweatshirts. Encouraging signs lined the streets from one end of Belton to the other side of Honea Path. It wasn’t just the talk of the town; it was the only thing talked about in town. Every day, a new article was written about the matchup, a group of players, or some aspect of the team. Had this happened five weeks earlier, BHP might not have had a shot at the State Championship because of all the attention. But this team had grown and matured and all the outside noise just washed over them like the cheers on Friday nights.
Wednesday was the last normal practice and the last practice this team would have in Anderson County. Back in 2004, when the championship games were played at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia and each team had a designated day to practice there. Thursday was that day for the Bears. The team left class early and boarded two Anderson District 2 buses. As the buses made their way through Honea Path, they slowed down on East Greer Street before turning onto Princeton Road. Waiting there were a hundred elementary students and teachers from Gant Elementary, the converted high school that 38 years earlier had sent a handful of Black students along with White students from Belton and Honea Path to create BHP. With signs and smiles, and cheers echoing, it was a moment that allowed the buses filled with 15, 16, 17, and 18-year-olds to feel a connection to every single person in the town. No longer was this a trip to play football; it was a trip to represent two towns that had invested so much hope in this team.
A few minutes later, the buses were rolling toward the capital city. Upon arrival, we disembarked and made our way to the practice field across Bluff Road from the stadium. Surrounded by an 8-foot fence with Gamecock signage all around, the Bears took to the field for a walkthrough. The differences between practicing at BHP and in Columbia were stark. The smell of diesel exhaust from nearby trucks was inescapable. However, the simple walkthrough practice ensured everyone knew their assignments and key responsibilities for the game and tried to get everyone a little more comfortable in the new environment. Then we all loaded back onto the buses and headed home.
Friday was a blur—it was the last day of school that week, practice was done, and all anyone wanted to do was get to Saturday. That night, there was a community-wide pep rally with over a thousand Bear fans in attendance to send off their team. After speeches from coaches, parents, and of couple players, the band struck up the BHP alma mater. As everyone sang “All Praise and Glory to thee” and then yelled out “Bears Fight, Bears Fight, Bears Fight Fight Fight,” we all knew what time it was. The biggest football game in BHP history was about to unfold, and only time would tell if the team was actually ready.
The Day Had Come
Even though the actual game wasn’t scheduled to kick off until eight o’clock that night, the Bears met bright and early. Not that anyone actually got any sleep the night before. The team gathered and then loaded onto a chartered bus for the trip to the Midlands. Everyone paired up with a seat partner, and although it wasn’t like the usual pregame bus ride where silence was enforced, this trip was eerily quiet. With a police escort, the bus pulled out of the parking lot at 11000 Belton Honea Path Highway. Embarking over ten hours before game time didn’t deter the convoy that formed. Dozens of cars followed the bus, waving navy and red flags, with well-wishes written on their windows, letting everyone know: here come the Bears.
As the bus made its way through Honea Path, the streets were lined once again with Bear fans sending the team off. But by the time the team hit the Princeton Highway, the bus was silent again. We traveled down Interstate 385, then Interstate 26, and finally onto Interstate 77 to Ridge View High School. That’s where the team would have their pregame meal and meet before heading to the stadium. For kids from Belton and Honea Path, Ridge View looked as big as the University of South Carolina itself. At Ridge View, the team rested, ate, and was led through a devotion. Personally, most of what I’ve written comes from a combination of memories and newspaper articles, but I truly have no recollection of what we ate or who led the devotion. It could have been Anthony Bourdain cooking with the President speaking, and my teammates and I wouldn’t have noticed. There was only one thing on our minds.
After the meal and the meetings, the team hit the practice field for one last walkthrough. Then, in our uniforms, the bus was loaded up one more time. By then, we were nearly two hours from kickoff. It was already almost pitch dark outside as we made the 30-minute ride to Williams-Brice Stadium. But as soon as we came to a clearing on the interstate, like a beacon calling us in, we saw the stadium lights in the night sky. The ride was silent up until that point. But when the team saw those lights, something flipped inside each of us. There was a buzz, nothing loud but like seeing a beautiful landscape, the team was focused on what we were headed towards.
The bus pulled off the interstate and made its way down Bluff Road, pulling under the stadium while the preceding game was still being played. The coaches exited to confirm the schedule and location, giving the players, especially the seniors, a moment to make sure everyone knew what was going to happen. The bus was momentarily quiet, and then one of the seniors shouted, “This is our Ship!”, shorthand for the championship. “They don’t know what fight they’re about to get into, and if there’s any shred of doubt in your mind about how we’re going to dominate tonight, you better not get off this bus.” It wasn’t just a rallying cry; it was a declaration of a collective belief.
When the coaches returned, they found a team not overly excited or hyped up, but seething with a quiet fury, not understanding how anyone could hold the idea they could beat us. Instructions were given, and the team disembarked. Because the previous game was still ongoing, we were sent to the stands to wait. Instead of having us sit on the bus, we watched some of the Broome versus Cheraw 2-AA championship game.
I hope this was a conscious decision, but like so many little choices throughout the season, this one made a lasting impact. Playing in a State Championship game or even in a massive stadium like USC’s Williams-Brice could be overwhelming. By sending us to the north end zone stands, it allowed us to realize that the field was the same dimensions and the game was the same we’d been playing all our lives.
As time ticked on, it got close to warm-up time. The skill positions and kickers went first, warming up on the practice field across Bluff Road. Fifteen to twenty minutes later, it was time for the whole team to get ready. One of the most memorable moments was standing in line in the visitor’s tunnel, waiting to come onto the field for warm-ups. As we waited, the Cheraw team returned to the locker room. We had to make way for them to file back into the locker room, witnessing seniors crying, teammates consoling each other, and others with blank stares of disbelief after their heartbreaking loss. It was a stark reminder that one side would feel that way just 48 football minutes later.
Warm-ups concluded, and the team was back in the locker room, waiting for the final call to the field. Then it was time. The entire senior class made their way to midfield for the coin toss. As if an explosion had gone off, both teams ran onto the field nearly simultaneously, and both sides of the stadium rocked with combined cheers. The biggest game in BHP history was about to unfold, and we were ready.
Kickoff
The Bears' kicking team huddled at midfield for last-second instructions before being sent off to start the game. Andrew Jenkins put his foot to leather, and the game began.
Dillon went on offense first. After a 30-yard return on the opening kickoff, the Wildcats started with great field position. The dominant Wildcat offense took over, looking to pound the ball, but BHP had other plans. On the first play from scrimmage, BHP’s Kyle McClain drove his blocker two yards into the backfield and tripped up the rusher for a loss. On the second play, Dillon ran a running back screen, but the closing speed of Bobby Joe Stewart and Ronnell Harper stopped it for just a 2-yard gain, setting up a third-and-long situation. On the next play, the Dillon quarterback dropped back to pass but found nothing. He tried to take off, but the long arms of Joe Groves wrapped him up, forcing the Wildcats to punt on their opening drive.
BHP took over on their 23-yard line. On their first play, O’Bryan Clinkscales handed off to Chase Robinson, but Robinson was met by four Wildcats for a short loss. Then, the Bears broke the huddle and lined up in a shotgun formation with four wide receivers, as they had been accustomed to doing since the start of the playoffs. Clinkscales rolled to his right and passed to Bryan Miller for a 25-yard gain. Eight plays later, Clinkscales took another shotgun snap, rolled to his right, and found Miller wide open for a 23-yard touchdown pass. The Bears struck first! Andrew Jenkins converted the PAT, and the Bears were up 7-0 with 4:09 left in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Dillon returner fielded the ball at the 11-yard line but stepped out of bounds inadvertently. On the next play, Dillon lined up in their usual I formation and handed off to their running back. With the offensive lineman being pushed back into the backfield, the runner made a cut into the defense. Joe Groves, with a full head of steam, lowered his shoulder and forced a fumble recovered by BHP’s Travance Jackson. BHP took over on the 15-yard line.
Six plays later, BHP lined up in their full house backfield, with defensive lineman Kyle McClain and linebacker Ronnell Harper leading the way. Clinkscales handed off to Chase Robinson, who powered his way in for a 3-yard touchdown. PAT converted, and the Bears were up 14-0 with 1:14 left in the first quarter.
It didn’t get any better for the Wildcats. On the ensuing kickoff, the Dillon returner got a good return, but nearing the end of the run, BHP’s Joe Groves got hold of the ball carrier and forced another fumble, which was recovered by BHP’s Ray Hunter. The Bears took over on the 36-yard line.
On the next play, the Bears went for the knockout punch. Clinkscales dropped back and fired a deep pass to Bryan Miller. Miller caught the ball but was hit simultaneously by the Dillon defender, causing the ball to pop loose and Dillon to recover in the end zone.
As it had all season, the BHP defense smothered the opposition. Two plays after the fumble, Dillon dropped back, trying for a deep shot. But the Dillon quarterback overthrew his target, right into the hands of BHP’s Mario Glenn. The Bears took over again after a Dillon turnover, ending the first quarter with BHP leading 14-0.
The second quarter opened with three-and-outs from both teams. But as Dillon lined up to punt, BHP’s Ronnell Harper rushed in and blocked the punt. BHP once again took over after a Wildcat miscue. Dillon held strong, limiting the Bears to one first-down pass and three short rushing gains, forcing BHP to attempt a 31-yard field goal. The kick went wide, and BHP came away with no points.
As always, BHP’s defense stepped up and forced another three-and-out. But the Bear offense sputtered again with the short field. After going for it on 4th down, the Bears turned the ball over on downs. Despite the quick succession of possessions, the Bear defense clamped down on Dillon. Even a trick double pass couldn’t penetrate BHP’s defense.
As the clock ticked down in the first half, BHP ran the ball into the middle of the line, running the clock to zeros. The defense was the star once again. At halftime, Dillon had amassed only 8 total yards, 7 rushing, and 1 passing, along with 3 turnovers. Dillon, a team averaging nearly 35 points per game, with a rusher averaging almost 100 yards per game, was shut down as if they were a JV team.
The Bear offense showed spurts of dominance as well. As they had since the playoffs began, BHP put the ball in the air for success, gaining 131 passing yards while rushing for only 35. BHP also held the ball nearly twice as much as Dillon (15:08 for BHP and 8:52 for Dillon). But the most useless stat in football is the score at halftime. Just as BHP dominated the start, Dillon would look to take control in the final half.
Job's Not Done
The Bears accepted the kick to open the second half, but BHP would throw an interception three plays later, giving the Wildcats exactly what they needed. A jolt of energy shot through the Dillon bench as they now believed they had a chance to get back into the game.
Once again, the BHP defense took the field, looking to shut down the Dillon offense, but the Wildcats had momentum. The defense stopped the Wildcats on the first three downs, setting up a fourth-and-five play. Dillon elected to go for it. Their quarterback dropped back and floated a pass to the tight end slipping into the route. But like a gust of wind or a cheetah on the prowl, Travance Jackson swooped in and undercut the route. Jackson, the fastest player on the BHP team, and probably the fastest in the stadium, would not be caught. Eighty-two yards later, the BHP stands were rocking, and the Dillon stands went silent. The Bears led 21-0 with just over eight minutes left in the third quarter.
But there was still plenty of time left in the game. Dillon took the field after the BHP pick-six and started their next drive. After the Wildcats converted their first first down of the game, they had a first-and-10 opportunity at the 50-yard line. Dillon dropped back and struck deep down the field, just out of reach of the leaping Bear defender. Dillon scored their first points with 7:52 left in the third quarter. Momentum was beginning to shift towards Dillon. A few plays later, as BHP looked to answer the Dillon score, the Bears threw another interception. The Wildcats now had new life and a sense of confidence they hadn’t felt all game.
After a long completed pass, Dillon was threatening once again. With a third-and-two on the 26-yard line, Dillon had two shots at gaining the first down. But after back-to-back tackles for loss by Joe Groves and Ronnell Harper, BHP took over and regained the momentum.
Just as the defense showed up every time, the offense would rise to the occasion as well. On third down, O’Bryan was flushed from the pocket but, as he rolled out, he found Kyle Coleman, who took it 51 yards down to the 18-yard line. Two plays later, Clinkscales found Andrew Jenkins for a 21-yard touchdown (from speaking to Andrew and I not knowing what any passing play was named, this touchdown pass was called 324 Zorro for those who want technical details). With that score, BHP went up by three touchdowns, and the game was virtually over given how the defense was playing.
Now down by 21, Dillon was forced to air it out. But with rushers like Kyle McClain, Joe Groves, Dejuan Raney, and Andrew Jenkins, Dillon had no chance of even completing a pass. The Bears took possession again and ran the clock out to end the third quarter. The Bears led 28-7 going into the final quarter, with only 12 minutes standing between them and their first State Championship.
As the fourth quarter started, BHP reverted back to their roots: run, run, run, and then run some more. Chase Robinson broke a few big runs, getting the Bears down to the 7-yard line. BHP lined up once again in their heavy full-house formation. Clinkscales handed off to Ronnell Harper, who ran over a handful of Dillon defenders to score the last touchdown of the game. BHP was up 34-7 with just over 11 minutes left.
Even with over 11 minutes left, BHP didn't let up on defense. Although the Wildcats made it down to the 15-yard line, Bryan Miller stepped in front of a Dillon pass for another takeaway. BHP ended up punting on the next drive, but as the Wildcats took over, the backups started coming in for the Bears.
Another interception, seventh turnover on the night, a handful of BHP rushes, and a few more defensive stops, and the clock ran out. Ice water hit the back of Coach Green’s windbreaker, and chants of “B-H-P” rang out. The Bears had done it, their first and only State Football Championship.
Players hugged, coaches smiled ear to ear, and fans cheered. Coach Green gathered his two children, took a knee between them, held their hands, and said a quick prayer. Maybe he was giving thanks for the win, perhaps praying for bigger things ahead, or maybe, just maybe, thanking the good Lord above for players like O’Bryan Clinkscales, Bryan Miller, and Kyle McClain.
The party had just started in the East stands. But first, the teams shook hands. One team was elated and had to hold back their joy as they spoke to a team that was completely devastated. But like the foundation of this team’s leadership, others always came first.
As the last handshake was exchanged, players sprinted back to the BHP sideline. They rushed to the hedges separating the fans from the field. Crying mamas, beaming dads, ecstatic friends, and proud classmates lined the edge of the field. Hugs, smiles, and laughs were shared one by one. One of the most iconic moments was when a BHP player picked up a huge cheerleader’s flag with a giant bear paw centered on it and ran from one end of the sideline to the other. It was a display of true solidarity, a fully focused group that had put everything on the line for one cause—a battle cry, a representation of all who are called to be a Bear.
Let the Celebration Begin
The celebration continued into the trophy presentation. As tradition holds, the losing team receives their medals on the field first. Although the Dillon team were receiving medals for coming up short, it must have sounded like they had won it all. Their fans were proudly supporting their team, but the Bear fans were still going strong, partying in the east stands.
As the Wildcats received their medals and proceeded to exit the field, it was the Bears' turn to be crowned. The players lined the sideline single file, waiting for the ribbon and medal every one of them had worked so hard for. One by one, the head of the High School League placed the red, white, and blue ribbon holding a bronze medal over each player. The cheers from the stands were as loud for the freshman who only saw playing time in blowouts as they were for O’Bryan Clinkscales.
Once each player and coach had received their medals, it was time to present the State Championship trophy to the team. The trophy was handed directly to Coach Green, and then, almost immediately, he handed it to O’Bryan. O’Bryan lifted the trophy over his head, and a wave of sound rushed over, just like another touchdown had been scored. It was finally ours—the trophy that so many BHP players had dreamed about in the past, the trophy that so many BHP fans had hoped for. It was finally in our hands, and it was worth every second we had waited.
From that point on, it was a whirlwind. The highs of emotions, the recognition that this was the last football game most of the seniors would ever play, and outright exhaustion all set in. Players met with their parents and friends while the coaches tried to wrangle them into the locker room to get everyone back home. In the locker room, the realization once again set in. Coaches smiling and posing with the trophy gave players a glimpse of how much the win meant to them.
The team finally made it back on the bus and pulled out into the pitch-black night, traveling as conquerors.
For the players, it was a mixture of joy, relief, and a bittersweet sense of finality. As the bus rolled away from the stadium, the journey from hopeful contenders to champions was complete. The Bears had done what no BHP team had done before, and in doing so, they had cemented their place in history. This was more than just a football game; it was a testament to perseverance, teamwork, and the unwavering support of a community that believed in them every step of the way.
The Days After
The days following the championship game were breathtaking. From church to school and everywhere in between, it was all congratulations and accolades. But one event quickly came to the forefront. Later that next week, some BHP players learned that one of the Dillon player's homes had burned down during the championship game. Drawing on a foundation that believed in something larger than football, and led by BHP’s Andrew Jenkins, the BHP community raised over $12,000 for the Dillon player and his family. Honea Path Mayor Lollis Myers told the Anderson Independent, “State championships aren’t won every day in a small community, but gestures like helping the Dillon player happen all the time.” This spirit wasn’t just found in that moment; it was another aspect of what made this team and these communities special.
Winning also brought accolades. The entire team was invited to the Anderson County Touchdown Club’s end-of-season award banquet. Along with the Anderson County offensive, defensive, and special team players of the year, the BHP team was recognized for bringing a football state championship back to Anderson County. The Bears weren’t the only champions at the banquet though; the special guest speaker was the newly hired Head Ball Coach himself, Steve Spurrier.
The awards and news articles kept coming but slowed down as the championship receded into the past. A couple of months later, however, it was finally time for the team to receive their State Championship rings. It was one last chance for the team to come together and be celebrated. Dressed in their Sunday best, coaches lined the team up outside the BHP auditorium. The coaches left the team in the hall, waiting to be called in for the presentation. It started to feel like one of those Friday nights, waiting at the locker room door to be called onto the field. The team took advantage of the one last moment together. Spontaneously, they got hyped, huddling, yelling, bouncing, and releasing that championship energy one last time. With the guys they had given so much for, for the brothers who meant so much, they celebrated in a way only they could. The coaches, recognizing the special moment, allowed the team to finish their ritual before bringing them in for the community to greet. Coach Green and others spoke to a captive audience, and as the event wound down, every player walked across the stage to receive their state championship ring. We all knew even if the ring didn’t fit in years to come or ended up in the bottom of a drawer somewhere, its meaning would never be lost and we prized that more than the ring itself.
As time passed, the accolades ended, and the focus shifted to the next season. Just as in life, time moved on, and the past was easily forgotten. This team might now only be mentioned when compared to current squads or during milestone anniversaries. But what they accomplished, both on the field and for the communities they represented, has done more for Belton and Honea Path than anything else in their history.
Personally, for years, I selfishly rooted for the team to lose a game each season, so my team would remain the only undefeated team in school history. Call it maturing or personal growth, but I’ve moved on from that view. I no longer need my team to be the only undefeated team or the only one to win a State Championship. I now root for each and every Bear team that takes the field. Feeling a connection, even if they have no clue who I am or what year I played, I now long for these teams to get a taste of what we had 20 years ago.
Yes, future teams (hopefully this upcoming season) will go undefeated and win a State Championship, but no team will ever win the first. That’s what our team did—we did something no one else had ever done, and we did it perfectly.
Here is a little gift for you for making it this far in this series. Go back and watch the full game on youtube, click the link in the video below.
Recognition 20 Years in the Making
As I dive back into the memories and research for this project, I’m struck by how many people contributed to making the 2004 season so special. In this final section, I'll attempt to name as many as I can, fully aware that even attempting this I’ll inevitably leave out some very important people. Any omissions are purely my mistake and in no way diminish their contributions to the team.
First, the BHP coaching staff. I’ve written extensively about Coach Green and his pivotal role, but the assistant coaches were just as vital to the team’s success. Offensively, Raphael Tranum was the offensive coordinator, calling the plays on Friday nights and coaching the quarterbacks during the week. Beside him were Steve McGaha, the running backs coach; Joe Sherard, the wide receivers coach; and Russell Blackston, the offensive line coach (who is now the Head Football coach). On defense, Steve Williams led the way as the coordinator. Some, myself included, believe he was the best coordinator at any classification in South Carolina football history. Tim Coates coached the linebackers and Billy Anderson coached the defensive line. Together, Coates and Anderson coached some of the most dominant players BHP has ever seen. These coaches were the ones who had the most impact on players individually, working day-in and day-out developing talent and relationships. Personally, during the football season, I spent more time with Coach Blackston and Coach Anderson than I did with my family, and they did the same with us.
Alongside the designated position coaches at the varsity level, there were other assistant coaches and JV coaches who had responsibilities on the varsity team as well. Jason Burton led the JV team and worked with the kicking specialists. With him coaching the JV team and filling in important positions on Friday night were Josh Burton, Bart Parson, Tom Johnson, and Robin Ashley. Then lastly Sammy Campbell, a defensive quality control advisor before that title was made cool by college programs.
Coaches can't do everything. A mass of people worked hard to keep the team moving, equipped, and encouraged. Marlee Gambell, officially the team manager, did so much more. His constant encouragement and dedication to the team and players were unmatched. Along with him was Keith LauderMilk, who could and did fix anything that needed fixing, think MacGyver but between plays; Paul Davis, the ball guy, who was probably as fast as Bryan Miller racing the sidelines; and Matthew Ballentine, the dedicated team bus driver, the stories he could tell. Along with all those, that made Friday Nights so special. Everyone in the press box running sound, the clock and scoreboard, counting stats, and announcing names and plays over the loudspeaker.
I also want to recognize Joel Kay and Mitch Smalls. Joel, the Voice of the Bears for over 40 years, and Mitch broadcast the BHP football every Friday night on 103.1 FM. Their broadcasts made Bear fans out of listeners from all over the state and even states away. Joel shared a story with me that exemplifies the reach the 2004 BHP team had:
“I (Joel Kay) also remember that our game was the last game to be played that day at Williams-Brice Stadium. Our game was scheduled to kick off at 8 PM, but due to the length of the other games prior to our game, we did not kick off until 8:33 PM. We had decided to do a pregame show that would have started at 6 PM and ended at 7:30 PM just prior to our pregame show. Due to the length of the other games prior to ours, our call-in show was going to have to last 33 additional minutes longer than anticipated.
The BHP fans were sitting across from where we were, and I saw BHP people begin to come to the stadium much earlier than 6 PM. There were so many BHP people at the game that I wondered if there would be anybody back home to call us on a call-in show. I was very much concerned about this and talked to Mitch about it. When we started our call-in show at 6 PM, I think the first call we received was from someone in Fountain Inn, South Carolina. After that, we started getting calls from all over upstate South Carolina and several cities in northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. This was back before the games were on the Internet as well as being over the airwaves so all of the calls that we received were from people who were actually listening on their radios. We wound up having way more calls than we needed to fill even the extra time that we had to cover.”
A massive group of player parents was critical to the team, but I can’t come close to naming them all because much of their work was behind the scenes and they didn’t want their contributions known. Nonetheless, their sacrifices and support were invaluable.
Two coaches I haven’t mentioned yet had huge impacts on their respective towns and the players who came through their programs and eventually brought home the State Championship: Coach Randy Scott, Head Coach at Honea Path Middle School, and Rusty Cloninger, Head Coach at Belton Middle School. These two were instrumental in forming an initial foundation of toughness and football ability early in the players' careers. Middle school was the first time these players played organized football at a higher level than Little League. What these two did for the BHP football program cannot be truly measured. Without these two, the 2004 season may not have happened.
A group often forgotten but deserving recognition is the coaches’ wives and families. They brought 50+ high schoolers into their families without hesitation. Many hosted dinners weekly, others met each player with hugs and encouragement before and after every game, and some provided the love and support that some players did not receive anywhere else. For the coaches, the dedication to an occupation that took so much personal time away from their families wasn’t just a coaching decision, it was one shared and lived through by the whole family. Even after over 10,000 words I have written in this project, I cannot formulate a sentence to thank this group enough.
As I mentioned, there are so many more people I couldn’t possibly name. So many worked behind the scenes, unknown to even me. Teachers, community members, school staff and administrators, and countless others played crucial roles. You may not have been thanked then or since, but 20 years later, from me personally, thank you for everything you did. The game in Columbia may have been won on the field, but the season and everything that came with it was won by every single person who was a part of the BHP community.
The Players Themselves
Lastly, let’s talk about the players—the ones who made the plays, sacrificed their bodies, and represented something larger than themselves. Most of these guys have known each other for over three decades now. I'll forever remember the small details, like who sat next to who in the locker room or the “Yo Mama” jokes on the bus after a win.
I encourage you to talk to any of the players who were part of that 2004 season. Each of them has special details and stories that mean so much to them. Allowing them to share these stories keeps that season alive, reminding us all of what we achieved together.
All of the players below were on the team in 2004. I would love to write stories for each player, and we may in a later project. But for now they are just listed.
| # | Name | Class |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Jermaine Sloan | 10 |
| 3 | Hykeng Paul | 10 |
| 5 | Chase Robinson | 11 |
| 6 | Kyle Coleman | 12 |
| 7 | Stephen Culbertson | 11 |
| 8 | Mario Glenn | 12 |
| 9 | Travance Jackson | 12 |
| 10 | Jay Cox | 11 |
| 12 | O'Bryan Clinkscales | 12 |
| 15 | Josh Tavernier | 12 |
| 20 | Jarvis Dubose | 9 |
| 21 | Tanaze Richey | 10 |
| 23 | Jemery Dial | 10 |
| 24 | Robbie Stewart | 9 |
| 25 | Anthony Ragsdale | 10 |
| 31 | Micheal Mattison | 10 |
| 32 | Chris Bagwell | 10 |
| 33 | Bobby-Joe Stewart | 11 |
| 38 | Zach Mitton | 11 |
| 40 | Rayford Hunter | 12 |
| 41 | Ronell Harper | 12 |
| 43 | Bryan Miller | 12 |
| 44 | Evan McClain | 10 |
| 48 | Getty Washington | 11 |
| 50 | Chris Rogers | 12 |
| 53 | Blake Culbertson | 10 |
| 54 | Jared Tavernier | 10 |
| 55 | Jeremy Gilstrap | 10 |
| 56 | John-Michael Quales | 10 |
| 58 | Kyle McClain | 12 |
| 59 | Kelton Smith | 12 |
| 62 | Maurice White | 12 |
| 63 | Pete Dial | 10 |
| 66 | Blake Bell | 10 |
| 67 | Kayne Evans | 12 |
| 70 | Stephon Williams | 9 |
| 71 | Barry Humphries | 12 |
| 72 | Justin Kyle | 12 |
| 73 | Seth Wright | 11 |
| 75 | Nick Wiles | 10 |
| 77 | Brandon Hawkins | 12 |
| 78 | Donovan Brock | 11 |
| 80 | Joe Groves | 12 |
| 81 | Trever Bell | 10 |
| 85 | Andrew Jenkins | 12 |
| 90 | D.C. Evans | 12 |
| 91 | Dojuan Rainey | 11 |
And there you have it, a tale of how two towns came together and a team that embodied their highest aspirations. Thank you for joining me on this journey. This story is deeply special to the towns I grew up in, the school I attended, and the teammates I called brothers. There are hundreds more stories and memories that I could have delved into, each turn revealing something special. But that is enough from me. I would love to hear your stories and memories. The more we share this story, the more we celebrate and spread what that team stood for.
Although there has only been one State Champion and one undefeated season in BHP history, we hold out hope and expectation that there will be plenty more in the future—hopefully the near future!
Just remember, as the radio waves echoed after every one of those BHP wins in 2004: HOW 'BOUT THEM BEARS!
Sponsored By: Exceeding Sports
Exceeding Sports is a solutions company dedicated to elevating high school athletic programs through strategic consulting services and innovative application development. With a focus on culture cultivation, program strategy, and data-driven decision making, ExSp provides the tools and expertise needed to foster successful, impactful sports programs, creating a positive and enriching environment for student athletes.
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