Gaffney High’s Costello named to prestigious Shrine Bowl roster

JAMES COSTELLO Growing 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.

At least, not 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.

That perseverance paid off Thursday when Costello was named to the 2009 Shrine Bowl, joining the likes of other notable Gaffney Indians such as Sidney Rice, Rocky McIntosh, Kentrell Jones and Jeff Littlejohn.

“He has improved tremendously,” said Gaffney co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Donnie Littlejohn. “He’s a very good athlete.”

Costello displayed that athleticism by making the difficult transition from right guard to left tackle this year.

He’s graded out at an average of 80 percent. He also has 30 pancake blocks, Littlejohn said.

“We are very proud of him,” Littlejohn said.

The Shrine Bowl head coach is Lewis Lineberger from Johnsonville.

He is joined by assistant coaches Mike Hawkins (Laurens), Art Craig (Timberland), Denver Cromer (North Myrtle Beach), Rick Knight (Midland Valley), Nate Thompson (Carvers Bay) and Jet Turner (Clover).