By Lonnie Turner

Is there any doubt which is the best 2A high school football team in South Carolina? That’s the question that Dillon Head Coach Jackie Hayes posed after his Wildcats simply annihilated the top ranked Fairfield Central Griffins, 41-3, at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium in Columbia on Friday night to claim their fourth championship in the last six years.

It’s the second back-to-back performance since the ’Cats topped Central of Pageland in 2008 in Clemson and 2009 in Columbia. It also marked the eighth time Coach Hayes has had a team in the big game playing for the state title: once in 4A, twice in 3A, and five of the last six years as a 2A school.
The back to back wins over Fairfield Central last year and again this year proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Wildcats program is second to none. Coach Hayes has a right to be concerned that his team doesn’t get the top billing.

“It’s just unbelievable,” he said after the game. “We did it on both sides of the ball, offense and defense. We proved tonight why we should be the No. 1 ranked team.”

The ’Cats got another super game from Sophomore quarterback Avery McCall and junior receiver Eri’Reon Hayes, who combined to put three touchdowns on the board. McCall, who threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns, hit Hayes with a 24-yard touchdown pass after a stellar defensive play by Damu Ford set up the score. Ford snatched a low pass from DeAndre Belton and returned it 19 yards to set up the play, a diving catch that could easily make the ESPN top plays if they had one for high school football. Stretched out parallel to the ground, Hayes got a slightly overthrown pass from McCall on his fingertips and flipped the ball back into his hands.

“He’s a great player,” McCall said of his favorite receiver. “He always comes up with big plays. We had a good week of practice and were feeling pretty good and it showed on the field.”

Hayes caught four passes on the night for 157 yards and all three of McCall’s touchdown throws. In addition to the 24-yard scoring catch, Hayes was on the receiving end of a 57-yard pass from McCall with two minutes remaining in the first half, and, after throwing an incomplete pass to CJ Sowells to start the third quarter, the two combined for a 69-yard scoring play to put the ’Cats up 28-3.

It was poetic justice for the outstanding Nasty Cat defense to get on the scoreboard after holding the Griffins to three points following two Dillon turnovers inside the Dillon 9-yard line. Justin Cyprien picked up a loose ball and ran 49 yards for a touchdown on a hook and ladder muffed play. Belton passed to Tavaris Cook in the flat and in an attempt to lateral the ball, it fell to the ground at Cyprien’s feet, who scooped it up and went the distance to give the ’Cats a 34-3 lead. Tara Grimsley, whose consecutive PAT string was at 44, was halted on her fifth try of the night.

What can be said about the defense that hasn’t been said in the Charlie W. Johnson press box? To start the second quarter, McCall rolled to his right and hit Sowells with a short toss, and, in an effort to switch the ball in his hands, it popped out and was covered at the Wildcat 9-yard line by defensive back Shadarius Hopkins. Omar McCollum caught Belton in the backfield for a 5-yard loss on first down and Ja’Monte McGill pressured the talented Griffin signal caller and forced an incomplete pass to Kewaun Squirewell, setting up a 27-yard field goal by all purpose kicker Compton Walker.

“I’ve said it all year, and in my 22 years of coaching, this is the best defensive group we’ve had,” said Coach Hayes. “We shut down a high powered offense tonight and held them to three yards and they got them on a turnover.”

Anthony Blue led all runners in the game with 156 yards on 26 carries and scored on a four-yard run early in the fourth quarter after the Wildcat defense held the Griffins at the Dillon 12-yard line. The ensuing 88-yard drive took just a minute and 41 seconds on five plays with Blue rushing four consecutive times to account for all the yards.

That was the end of the scoring, but the Griffins mounted another threat earlier in the third. Omar McCollum intercepted Belton at the goal line and returned it to the Dillon 6, but an illegal participation penalty backed the ’Cats up to the three. Blue then took a handoff and was stripped of the ball at the four, giving the Griffins a first and goal. Belton was stopped at the two by Shy’keem Blue and on second down, Fairfield Central’s leading rusher, Larry G. Bell, was stopped for a 2-yard loss by Damu Ford back at the four. Joseph Young tried again up the middle and Shy’keem Blue stopped him again at the three and on fourth down, Justin Cyprien put just enough pressure on Belton that his pass to Squirewell fell incomplete.

It was a great game to watch, especially from the home side, but not so good from the side the Dillon team occupied a year ago. So there you have it, another season and another back-to-back championship for the ’Cats and of course the 11th man, the Dillon fans. Coach Hayes has said it many times that the fan support for the Wildcats makes a big difference for the success of the Wildcats. Revel in this one and look forward to another season coming in August of 2014!

Congratulations to all the players and coaching staff for a very enjoyable football season.