Bye, Bye Brumbach

Post 109's Justin Phillips receives congratulates from his teammates during the 2007 state tournament in Rock Hill. Post 109 finished second in the state tournament and advanced to the Southeast Regional for the first time in history. 1. Gaffney closes W.K. Brumbach Stadium with a win

Gaffney officially closed out 70 years of football at "The Reservation" Nov. 9, after claiming a 26-7 victory over Lexington in the first round of the Class 4A playoffs.

Throngs of fans filled the stands to say their final goodbyes to a stadium where the Indians have had unrivaled success, which includes 11 state titles since becoming Gaffney's home field in 1937.

The stadium has become a South Carolina landmark, being known by scores of people around the state. One of the stadium's recognizable features - its tunnel - was a place visiting teams dreaded going under while Indians present and future could not wait to get their chance to run from it into the glare of the Friday night lights.

Construction has already begun on a stadium to be built on the Gaffney High School campus. The structure, which is slated to have a tunnel similar to that at the old stadium, is expected to be ready for the Indians' first game of the 2008 football season against rival Dorman.

2. Gaffney native makes a splash in the NFL

When Gaffney native Sidney Rice made the decision to forgo his senior season at South Carolina, he left with the confidence he had the skills to be successful at the next level.

He proved that and more after being selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the April NFLdraft, hauling in 31 catches for 396 yards and four touchdowns during his rookie campaign.

Rice, who led the Indians to a state title in 2003 in addition to claiming several receiving records during his time in Columbia, was along with fellow rookie Adrian Peterson instrumental in the Vikings being in the hunt for the playoffs late this season.

Rice was injured Dec. 23 after hurting his ankle against the Washington Redskins and fellow Gaffney High standout Rocky McIntosh.

3. Post 109 makes history

Though perceived as young and inexperienced, Gaffney Post 109 sent fans on a ride this season that very few if any will soon forget.

The 2007 American Legion baseball season was a year of firsts for the team, who earned a spot in the state tournament at Winthrop University for a second consecutive year. During their time in Rock Hill, Post 109 was not satisfied with simply being there, overcoming an opening day loss to advance to the tournament's championship for the first time ever.

Though not able to bring home the trophy for claiming the state American Legion championship, the team did represent the state in the Southeast Regional tournament in Albany, Ga.- another first for the young squad.

Such experiences during their 2007 campaign have heightened expectations for the team in 2008, with manager Jeff Osment expecting nothsports ing less than a state championship.

"Getting to this point is just the beginning," Osment said. "We've seen what it takes and I expect us to come back to Gaffney with a championship next year."

4. Indians quest for third straight title falls short

A third consecutive Class 4A title fell just short for Gaffney as a late touchdown drive helped Summerville sink its longtime rival, 23-22.

The Indians held a 22-16 advantage before the Green Wave drove the ball deep into Gaffney territory. A few plays later, Summerville quarterback Reid McCollum found LaQuan Gilliard for an 11- yard touchdown that would give the Green Wave the lead.

Gaffney had a chance for a possible game-winning score, but sophomore quarterback Joe Craig's pass sailed into the arms of a Summerville defender to seal the victory.

The win was sweet redemption for the Green Wave, who lost in similar fashion to Gaffney in the 2005 Class 4A title game.

Gaffney head coach Phil Strickland, despite the loss, said the team had a lot to be proud of after winning two straight championships and coming so close to the opportunity to earn another.

"Our kids left everything on the field. We just came up short," Strickland said. "These guys with the 'G' on the side of their helmets think they're supposed to win...that's special. And we had a chance."

5. Gaffney native aids in historic upset, 3-peat

When Gaffney native Brett Irvin made the decision to go play for Appalachian State, he knew he would have the opportunity to be part of something special.

But after a historic victory against one of college football's heavyweights and the Mountaineers earning an unprecedented third consecutive NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Div. I-AA) title, it's hard to imagine things getting any better.

In his first collegiate start, Irvin, an offensive lineman, was instrumental in ASU's 34- 32 upset of then no. 5 Michigan at the "Big House" on the opening day of the season. The Mountaineers led for the entire game until Michigan went ahead with a 54-yard run by senior running back Mike Hart.

But Appalachian State responded, driving to the Michigan 5, where Julian Rauch provided the winning points with a 24-yard field goal with 24 seconds left to play. A blocked field goal on the last play of regulation sealed the win for the Mountaineers.

However, a season that began with such success ended in similar fashion, with ASU sending a message to the rest of the FCS subdivision in claiming its a third straight title in a 49-21 rout of Delaware a few weeks ago.

The win gave Irvin his second consecutive national title ring to go along with ones earned in 2003 and 2005 as part of Gaffney's Big 16 championship teams.

6. Blacksburg head football Robbie Blanton got the chance Dec. 8 to experience what many coaches never achieve in their entire careers.

Blanton coached his own team's linebacker Maurice Brown and Gaffney defensive back Johnny Woods in the North-South All-Star game in Myrtle Beach. Blanton was an assistant coach for a North defense that only allowed the South to score 10 points off six turnovers.

Woods tipped a ball that turned into a 59-yard touchdown in the North's 26-10 victory. Both Woods and Brown recorded tackles for the North defense.

Gaffney tight end David Dewberry was a key blocker and had one carry for three yards.

Gaffney linebacker J.B. Shippy and offensive lineman Kevin Brockman were selected to the Shrine Bowl.

A badly sprained ankle in practice prevented Brockman from playing in the Shrine Bowl.

Shippy, a standout in Shrine Bowl practices, had a couple of tackles and helped South Carolina defeat North Carolina, 31-24, for its first victory in three years.

7. Former Gaffney High quarterback Malcolm Long hoped his return to Williams- Brice Stadium with the South Carolina State team would produce sweet memories like his previous two appearances.

Long, the state's 2006 Mr. Football, was able to lead the Indians to two consecutive state championships at Williams-Brice to highlight a standout career at Gaffney High School. He was unable to work the same magic when he walked onto the field as a freshman signal-caller for S.C. State.

South Carolina beat S.C. State 35-3 in starting their season 6-1.

Long saw playing time in several games as an understudy to S.C. State senior quarterback Cleveland McCoy. He is expected to compete for the starting quarterback position this spring.

8. Former Gaffney High standout A.Z. Reid continues to add to his list of accolades as a star player on the High Point University basketball team.

Reid finished his junior season by being named the Big South Conference Player of the Year in late March. Reid was second in the conference in scoring at 21.6 point per game and the led Big South with 9.6 rebounds in helping the Panthers to their first 20- win season since the school moved to Division I eight years ago.

Reid, who helped the Indians to two straight Class 4A state titles, was just one of four players nationally to average 20 points and nine rebounds a game.

He recently topped the 1,000 point mark, scoring 29 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to Cincinnati during his senior year.

9. Mikki Moore was 6 years old when he told his mother his life goal was to play in the NBA.

Moore, a 7 foot center, was living his dream with the Sacremento Kings Dec. 18 when his mother Blacksburg Middle media center specialist Clynta Spears witnessed his induction into the Blacksburg High Hall of Fame.

Moore graduated from Blacksburg High in 1993 where he was an All-State and All-Conference player. After a stellar college career at Nebreska, Moore has played basketball professionally for nine NBA teams and overseas in Greece.

Moore led the NBA in field goal percentage and played a key role in the New Jersey Nets playoff run to end the 2007 season. He is currently in his first year as a center with the Sacremento Kings.

10. Limestone College men's lacrosse coach Mike Cerino was named athletic director on Oct. 17.

Cerino becomes the fifth athletic director in the history of the college. He will oversee an athletic department that currently has 18 sports and will add a track and field program next year.

He replaces Larry Epperly,