Dreher 14
Columbia 21
Story and photos by Warner M. Montgomery
Warner@TheColumbiaStar.com

Dreher's Nick Bethea (22) prepares to cut behind Branton Reaves' (84) block on Columbia's Jarou Brown (22). Bethea ran for 152 yards.

Dreher and Columbia High have been arch rivals since 1947 when the Blue Devil team split off from their parent Capitals under Coach J.K. Henry. In 1951, Dreher defeated Columbia High 40-0 for the state championship. In 1956, the Blue Devils under Coach Red Myers defeated the Capitals 6-0 for the state championship. In 1957 Coach Jim Pinkerton's Capitals defeated the Blue Devils for the state championship. The two teams played in the first televised high school football game in SC in 1961.

The game last Friday night was typical of a Dreher-Columbia High game - a knockdown dragout struggle full of good running and hard hitting.

Columbia High has three excellent backs, two huge middle linemen, and some fleet-footed linebackers. The Payne Boys, Chris and Justin, and Cedric Jeffcoat gave Dreher fits all night. The 300-pounders, D'Andre Herring at middle guard and Phillip Young at center, firmly anchored the Capital line.

The Dreher cheering section spells it out. Dreher's heralded runner, Nick Bethea (152 yards), and his partner-in-yardage, Alex Ramos (87 yards), were held in check by penalties and turnovers. Coach Bill Bacon has no passing attack, preferring to allow his two slick-handling quarterbacks, Jacob Gindman and Matt Martin, to hand off to Bethea, Ramos, and Rashad Flowers.

Coach Kemper Amick caught Dreher napping on the first snap with a trick play that covered 30 yards. Two more plays and Chris Payne scored. The Capitals led 7-0.

After an interception, Dreher's Bethea scored from five yards out. Kurt Stoudemire kicked the extra point. It was 7-7 at the half.

A 19-yard pass from Justin Payne to Malcolm Jackson in the third quarter put CHS ahead 13-7. After a 54-yard run by Bethea, Rashad Flowers scored from the nine, and Dreher went ahead 14-13 on Stoudemire's kick.

Early in the fourth quarter, Cedrick Jeffcoat scored from the five, and Justin Payne ran in the two-point conversion putting Columbia ahead for good, 21-14.

Columbia's Malcolm Jackson takes in a pass from Justin Payne and runs 19 yards for a score. Jeffcoat ended up with 121 of Columbia's 292 yards. Justin Payne completed three of five passes for 62 yards.

Justin Payne rushed for 51 yards and passed for 62 yards.Savannah Sparks plays a rousing trumpet solo for the Dreher Band during halftime.