11/24/2012 1:05:00 AM
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN
Penalties, injuries keep Chiefs from title
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| McCormick tight end Kensaevious Brown attempts to catch a pass against Cross safety Branford Halls on Friday during the Class A, Division II championship game at Charles W. Johnson Football Stadium. Halls was flagged for pass interference on the play. (Scott J. Bryan | Index-Journal) |
| | McCormick had a worthwhile football season | By JORDAN ANDERS
When I accepted this job at the Index-Journal at the beginning of October, I was assured by associate editor Scott J. Bryan and sports editor Scott Chancey I was in for a treat in covering Lakelands football.
My first day on the job was Oct. 23, and my first experience covering Lakelands football was Oct. 26, when I traveled to Calhoun Falls to see the Blue Flashes host McCormick High in a game to determine Region 1-A champion.
When I left that night, I saw McCormick thrash the Blue Flashes 50-8, and I knew the Chiefs were on their way deep into the playoffs.
That playoff run came to an end Friday with a bitter 38-26 defeat at the hands of Cross in the Class A, Division II state championship game at Benedict College.
Coach Brian Neal was disappointed afterward, and rightfully so. His vaunted defense that had allowed more than 18 points just once since Oct. 5 gave up 38 yesterday (OK ... 32 not counting the kickoff return Cross scored). His rushing attack that mowed people down all year was more or less there, but his defense just simply could not bottle up the Trojans long enough to make the offensive plays to get back in it.
But, as disappointing as the loss is now, the experience of this season is sure to pay off for McCormick, and here's why.
When I spoke to McCormick athletic director Jimmy Hughes earlier this week, he talked about the importance of winning a state championship in terms of attracting kids to play for the program. Well, the Chiefs obviously didn't get the job done, but having the 11-3 season they had and making it to the big game should pay big dividends.
Hughes said of winning a state title, "If you do it once, there's always the chance you can do it again."
The same can be said - to a slightly lesser extent - for a state runner-up finish. Neal talked Monday at the press conference promoting the game that his goal was to get football on the same level of popularity as basketball at McCormick, and playing for state championships is the way to do that.
He especially needs that to pay off this summer. The Chiefs team that lost to Cross will graduate 17 seniors this year, meaning Neal and his staff will have to reload with young players next year to surround returning offensive weapons Jay Weaver and Jesse Freeman.
The fact kids interested in the team can be told, "You should come play for us because we were 48 minutes away from a state championship last year," could be a huge selling point in getting kids who can get the Chiefs back to the title game in the near future.
I know the sting of losing to Cross is bad now, but this season as a whole will be well worth it down the road for McCormick.
Anders is a sports writer at the Index-Journal. Contact him at 943-2530; email janders@indexjournal.com, or follow him on Twitter at IJJORDANANDERS. Views expressed in this column are those of the writer only and do not represent the newspaper's opinion.
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COLUMBIA - The McCormick High School football team reached Friday's Class A, Division II state championship game with a simple recipe: A stingy defense, a powerful running game and mistake-free football.
Coach Brian Neal is still probably trying to figure out where that team was Friday.
The Chiefs committed uncharacteristic penalties, struggled to stop the run and played from behind the entire game on their way to a 38-26 defeat to Cross at Benedict College's Charles W. Johnson Football Stadium.
"They were just better than us today," said Neal, whose team was riding seven consecutive wins coming into Friday. "Give Cross credit; they took it right at us, and they were successful. I thought we played hard. They just played better."
As tears flowed on the McCormick sideline, the Chiefs were left to wonder what might have been as they were forced to watch Cross accept its first state championship football trophy in school history.
The Chiefs actually outgained the Trojans, 392-338, and outrushed them 360-338. But McCormick spotted Cross 20 points in the first 25 minutes of the game that proved to be the difference.
"Defense has been our strong point all year," Neal said. "We just didn't execute on defense."
McCormick backed itself out of a manageable fourth down on its first possession with a false start penalty, then fumbled a snap on a punt attempt on its second, both of which resulted in touchdowns that gave Cross a 12-0 halftime lead. Then, to make matters worse for the Chiefs, Cross running back Dionte Evans ran the second half's opening kickoff 89 yards for a score, making it 20-0.
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Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Article comment by:
to football fanatic
that was funny football fanatic!!!! where did u get your facts from because they arent even close to really happened to neal in 96 and its not even woth explaining... neal has moved on but since you are probably the guy whose son didnt get to play in 96 you are on the same page as ted chiles except he put his real name on here!!!! it must really hurt to see 96 going downhill and neal and the chiefs steadily moving up..get over yourself and enjoy your losing seasons in 96
Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Article comment by:
to football fanactic
youhave no clue what you are talking about so please save your stupid comments!!! yo dnt know the first about mccormick and we played who was on our schedule, so if you feel like it was week so be it, we cant help who we play and let me included that we beat ware shoals whom may i add played in the upperstate championship and beat wilston-elko and lamar to get there!!! so please if you dnt no wht you are talking about take a backseat n SHUT UP!!!!!!
Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Article comment by:
Football Fanatic
Problems with the McCormick football coach? Color me surprised.
We're lucky we got rid of him in Ninety Six before he did some real damage. You hire a guy who coached at lily-white Long Cane Academy and who got fired at his last head coaching job for trashing his assistantsand players. You get what you get McCormick. Must be nice to play in a week Class A. Too bad Cross showed you up.
Posted: Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Article comment by:
Truly Embarrassed
I am truly embarrassed by the negative comments of Verteema and Ted Chiles. I am so proud of Coach Neal and his staff along with the MHS Chiefs! Way to go and your community supports you and if you doubt that remember all of the fans in the stands. It only takes one bad apple to ruin the entire bunch but in this case it's two....Ted and Verteema. Everyone can't start or be the star and your son will have his day. If there are deficits in the program then the community needs to back the athletic department and get the job done. I am so proud of my Chiefs!
Posted: Monday, November 26, 2012
Article comment by:
chief alumni
Go Chiefs!! Hats off to all the players and their coaches including Pope!! Pope just know you cant please everyone, but you have alot more happy chief fans that support you!! Everything rlse is irrelevant on here. Its good to see the chiefs made it this far!! They are still winners and history makers for McCormick schools amd opened eyes to those who doubted the Chiefs!! Again coaches you all did great with bringing the chiefs this far!
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