“He’s like a brother to me.”

There is no higher compliment. A brother is the person who is there when you need him the most.

So, who do you think Gaffney star tailback Quinton Hemphill turns to for advice or in times of trouble?

Big Bro Travis.

“He’s always been there to look out for me,” Quinton said. “If I need to talk about something he’s always there.”

They were there for each other 18 months ago when their mother, Sadie, was shot and killed.

Quinton made the call to Travis, who was in Baltimore.

“I didn’t tell him what happened,” Quinton said. “I just told him to come home. It was the hardest call I’ve ever made.”

If it’s possible, Sadie’s death has strengthened their bond.

“Anything that bothers him, I just tell him to call me, so I can help him through it,” said Travis, who manages Peak Fitness in Charlotte. “We know that if we do what we’re supposed to here, we’ll see her again. We’ve just helped each other through it. And God and our faith have helped us through it.”

Their mother encouraged them to achieve academically and athletically.

Quinton has listened well.

Since becoming the primary ball carrier at midseason, his stats have been amazing — like something from a computer game. He’s rushed for nearly 1,000 yards and is averaging a whopping 6.9 yards a carry. He’s been spectacular in the playoffs, where he gained more than 200 yards against both Spartanburg and Dorman.

Now Quinton is doing the heavy lifting athletically in the family, but it wasn’t always so.

Travis was a star quarterback at Blacksburg before transferring to Gaffney in 1996. He started as a safety and served as the backup to quarterback Kentrell Jones.

In helping lead the Indians to the state championship in 1997, Travis showed his versatility by playing safety and fullback.

A year later, Travis began the season under center before returning to safety with the emergence of Bradshaw Littlejohn at quarterback. The Indians failed to defend their title, losing to Summerville in the 1998 title game.

“Going to both championship games was great but I wanted to get that second championship,” said Travis, a 2-time all-region selection and, as a senior, among the top 100 prospects in the state. “But starting out at a smaller school, it was a great experience going to Gaffney.”

Travis went on to play at the University of South Carolina, where he saw action on special teams before transferring to North Carolina Central, where he ended his college career.

Quinton is literally walking in his brother’s footsteps.

Quinton gained nearly 1,000 yards as a running back for Blacksburg last season. But after the death of his mother, he wanted to be closer to Travis. So, several weeks after the end of the football season, he transferred last January to Independence High School in Charlotte.

“We just both wanted to be closer to one another,” Travis said. “We felt that we were all we had.”

Quinton participated in the Patriots’ off-season conditioning program and was expected to share the tailback duties for the five-time North Carolina state champs.

“I was going to play running back,” Quinton said. “The coaches seemed to really like me.”

But Quinton really liked the idea of returning to more familiar surroundings.

“He loved Independence High, but he didn’t like Charlotte, so he moved back to Gaffney to stay with our aunt,” Travis said.

How this happened, how a former player from Blacksburg who was considered an afterthought before the season has become the goto guy and the focal point of the offense probably still mystifies many fans.

But not Travis.

“I was getting the same criticism coming to Gaffney from a smaller school,” Travis said. “A lot of people told me and told him that we couldn’t play at such a big school. But all we needed was an opportunity to show our talent.

“I always believed in him. It was just that he had to believe in himself. He heard from people who said he couldn’t do it. When he first went to Gaffney, he was afraid to tell the coaches he wanted to play running back because he thought that running back was already taken. But I told him to go out and play hard and if running back is the position you want, you have to go for it.”

Quinton began the season as a defensive back.

When the Indians needed more weapons on offense, he was moved to wide receiver, where he displayed exceptionally soft hands. The 5-11, 180 pounder is fourth on the team in receptions with 13.

Several weeks ago, coach Phil Strickland asked Quinton if he wanted to see spot duty at running back.

Quinton didn’t have to ponder that question very long.

“I prefer running back,” Quinton said. “I’ve been a running back all of my life.”

Quinton’s success is motivating his big brother to try to play football professionally.

“I had a tryout with the Baltimore Ravens that went well,” Travis said. “But after our mother passed away, I shied away from football. But Quinton wants me to give it another try.”

Quinton said it’s his dream to play professional football one day with his brother.

He has another dream — to help the Indians beat Summerville for the state championship on Saturday.

Travis said he’s already realized his dream of seeing Quinton achieve success at Gaffney.

“I’m so excited about the situation that Quinton is in,” he said. “What has happened to both of us and what we’ve gone through. All that Quinton wants is to win a championship. But (Quinton) is my champion regardless if we win or not.”