“Playing football was never a dream of mine but then I moved to Gaffney and saw what football was all about here ” – James Costello G rowing up in South Amboy, N. J., James Costello figured he would play some sport in high school.

But football? Never.

He played a little Pop Warner football but he never took the sport seriously.

Until he moved to Gaffney at the end of eighth grade and became entrenched in the football experience.

“Playing football was never a dream of mine but then I moved to Gaffney and saw what football was about here. I really liked it and I’ve stuck with it,” Costello said.

Costello has bounced from New Jersey to Gaffney, then back to New Jersey before ultimately returning to Gaffney.

Facing eviction from their New Jersey home, he and his father moved in with his brother here in Gaffney.

“My brother was the only one who had a spot for me,” Costello said.

After completing his ninth-grade season here, his father became seriously ill and was hospitalized, forcing his return to Jersey to live with his sisters. He spent the remainder of his freshmen year of high school in New Jersey before returning to Gaffney eight months later in time for the start of his sophomore year.

Finally, he has settled down a bit - only returning to New Jersey for a visit during the summer to see family members.

The much-traveled Costello has grown into a 6-5, 295 lbs. man, with his feet firmly planted in Gaffney.

“I love it here,” he said. “The coaches have put up with what I do. I’m not the best kid. I’ve missed a lot of days of school, but the coaches have stuck with me and I deeply appreciate them a lot.”

Last season, he started all 13 games. As a senior this year, he has regularly graded out among the top offensive linemen on the team.

“I love playing offensive line because I get to hit whoever I want to on every play,” he said. “As long as I don’t hold or block in the back, I get to hit on every play.”

As a left tackle, Costello is charged with making sure no rusher gets a clean hit on quarterback DeEdward Burris.

“I protect DeEdward’s blind side and it’s something that I take very seriously,” Costello said.

He and Josh Reome are the lone returning starters on the line. The other three linemen are sophomores and a junior.

Costello said it’s his job to mentor the lesser experienced linemen, especially fellow tackle Clay McKowen.

“I try to give Clay some pointers,” he said.

Costello said the line is developing into a cohesive, family unit.

In addition to football, Costello also excels on the wrestling mat, where he finished fourth in the state last year in the heavyweight division.

That accomplishment boosted his confidence on the football field.

“I’m not scared of anyone,” he said. “I don’t feel the pressure. I just go out and do it, no matter how good they are, I’m not intimidated.”

While he’s alone on the mat during wrestling season, he likes the family atmosphere and the emotional release that football provides.

“Football is a team sport. It’s 22 people going at it,” he said. “It’s like testosterone central. Some people fight, some people do drugs. I play football and that’s my testosterone release.”