High School football: Weekend of Champions has one huge upset

Williams-Brice Stadium was once again the host to South Carolina high school footballs "weekend of champions." While a good many in the Palmetto State were concerned over Clemson's fall to Georgia Tech in Tampa for the ACC crown, thousands were on hand this weekend to see who would be state champions.

The return to Williams Brice of the Weekend of Champions did not disappoint. In the Class AA ranks, Dillon overcome some miscues and downed Central 21-20 in a classic close one. In the AAA ranks, the Clinton rushing machine rushed to the state title with a 35-26 win over Myrtle Beach. On Friday night, Berkeley picked up the Class AAAA Division 2 crown.

It was the Class AAAA Divison I crown where the big upset happened. Byrnes has been the representative to the country of South Carolina high school football for several years now. The Byrnes Rebels have traveled to Ohio, Georgia and Florida carrying the banner of SC high school football. Their home games are like college games, and they have often whipped their opponents like a college team versus a high school team would. Byrnes walked into the state championship game the big favorite.

They faced the Cavs of Dorman. Dorman, another Spartanburg County team, had lost to Byrnes earlier in the season. Most high school football followers, including VUI, saw the rematch as just a formality on the way to naming Byrnes state champions yet again.

Dorman thought there was actually a game to be played and showed up to play. In one of the great sports upsets of our time, the Cavs shut down the heralded Byrnes offense, and scored two fourth quarter touchdowns, one on offense, and one on a defensive interception return, to shock the Rebels, 28-17. Dorman's win not only gained a state championship, but will probably gain national respect for them. It is a great lesson to be learned by anyone in that your reputation might be mighty, but in the end, the winners are decided on the field.

Thus, the high school football season in South Carolina is now over. VUI congratulates all the state champions, and all who play, coach and support the game. It will all start again next August, with coaches, players, supporters, and fans all full of the desire to be the best. There are so many stories of achievement to be told, such as Dorman's and there is nothing like high school football to bring people of all races and walks of life together to cheer for the home team. August 2010 can't get here fast enough.