Dreher’s Nicholas Bethea makes a spectacular catch.

The Blue Devils of Dreher High School and the Capitals of Columbia High School have been playing each other in football since 1947. From 1938, when Dreher opened its doors, to 1947, Dreher students played on the Columbia High team.

J.K. Henry, who had coached at CHS, was Dreher’s first football coach and athletic director. Dreher lost that first game and didn’t defeat the Capitals until 1951 when Coach Lynn Kalmback led the Blue Devils to a 40–0 victory and the state championship.

Last Friday night, Dreher defeated Columbia High 20–14 at Memorial Stadium. It was a hard fought battle. Both teams displayed excellent running backs and tough defenses.

Columbia High captains take the field: (l-r) Reggie Metze, Chris Spencer, Raycharm Burkett, and Hendrix McCants. Nicholas Bethea, one of the state’s finest runners, ran for 168 yards and two touchdowns. Rashad Flowers had 17 tackles and a 28–yard rushing TD.

Equally as impressive was Columbia’s Stanley Taylor, a small but shifty runner, who rushed 29 times for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Offensive lineman Jobie Dowling, a 235–pound junior, had eight pancake blocks. Cedrick Jeffcoat had eight tackles for the Capitals.

Columbia High captains take the field: (l-r) Reggie Metze, Chris Spencer, Raycharm Burkett, and Hendrix McCants.

Columbia High cheerleaders: (l-r kneeling) Alessandra Younger, Tiffany Wilson, Ebony Wade, and Marissa Williams, (standing) Amanda Pierson, Jessica Washington, Kenyatta Wise, Thomasina Washington, and Melanie Williams Nancy Thomas (l) and Sherrel Mars are the Columbia High cheerleader sponsors. Dreher’s Blue Devil was designed by Blue Sky, a 1956 DHS graduate. Dreher’s Kirk Wilson turns up field. Columbia High’s Ryan Turner eludes Dreher’s Kirk Wilson.