High School Friday nights starts on a Saturday night in Ware Shoals

It is late summer. Schools have started again, and so has high school football. There are few things in the South that can rival a local high school football game. People from all different backgrounds gather to cheer on their teams. Further, with the economy in the shape it is in, and ticket prices at the major colleges going through the roof, a high school football game is a great family night for folks. A ticket to a South Carolina High School League costs six dollars. The cost for a ticket at Clemson or South Carolina is nearly eight times that. A father and mother can take their three kids to a high school game for less than the cost of one major college ticket. Further, concession prices are far more reasonable at a high school game, and the revenue goes to help the local booster club or the marching band. The money one spends on tickets and concessions at a high school game goes to help the local team, not to pay the country club dues of a coach making a half a million a year.

There are some rather highly paid coaches and full blown big programs at the AAAA level, but again, it is still a reasonable night out for a family or individual. There is some seriously good football played at places like Byrnes and Summerville. During the season, VUI plans to write about a few AAAA programs.

That said, the really interesting traditions and community feel for the local boys and coaches is at the AA and A level. Little towns around South Carolina rally around their local high school teams. There is a sense of pride and tradition that is not really found at the big urban schools. People know kids on the team, cheering or playing in the band.

No place is that sense of pride and tradition more apparent than in Ware Shoals. Last year, VUI found that to be case in two games covered there. That is why the decision was made to kickoff this years Friday Nights line of posts in Ware Shoals, the four time defending region champions.

However, it turned out that the Friday Nights line would be kicked off on a Saturday night. Due to bad weather, and out of consideration for the fans, the game between Ware Shoals and AA opponent Saluda was postponed until Saturday night. The fans found the game was worth the wait.

As typical on a evening in late August, it was hot. The heat had its effect. But, the atmosphere was electric for small high school football. The town of Ware Shoals had placed purple flags up upon the light poles lining the street to the school. Ware Shoals, with its old field house that is from the turn of the century, was sporting renovations to the stadium. Fans for both Ware Shoals and Saluda turned out to watch their teams.

Both Ware Shoals and Saluda had the typical first game bugs to work out. For that matter, the officiating crew did as well. in the first quarter, there were missed assignments, dumb penalties, and even missed calls from the officials. The officials missed 12 men being on the field for Saluda once. There were several holding calls on both sides missed. But, such is to be expected in an opening game. The kids are nervous more than they or their coaches will admit and the officials have to get used to working with one another. Such are the kinks of opening night.

But, eventually, the game settled down to be good entertainment for a football fan. Ware Shoals came out to its entrance, as reported here before, one of the best in small schools anywhere.

Ware Shoals sputtered at first on offense, but then found their way with touchdowns by Chris Suber and Nick Davis, along with one kicked extra point and one two point conversion to take a 15-0 lead.

That lead did not last long, as on the ensuing kickoff, Saluda's Keke Clark ran 82 yards, and with the PAT, Ware Shoals led 15-7. Again, both Ware Shoals and Saluda had their offensive sputters, and the score remained 15-7 at the break.

Saluda, under new coach Doug Painter, came out less sluggish in the second half. Saluda cut the Ware Shoals lead to 15-13 when Drew Mitchell hit Tornelius Glover for a TD pass. Then with a little over six minutes left, Saluda took the lead on the leg of Brian Bushey's 41 yard field goal.

Trailing 16-15, and time ticking away, Ware Shoals faced a third down
and a long three. That is when Shamaryea Smith broke for a 57 yard touchdown run. Ware Shoals converted on the two point conversion and took a 23-16 lead.

However, Saluda was not finished. The Tigers drove inside the Hornets' ten yard line before having to give up the ball after four tries at the end zone. Ware Shoals got a first down on their next series and ran the clock out, sealing a 23-16 win over Saluda.

I thank the staff of Ware Shoals for their hospitality. If you want to see some good old fashioned football, go watch Ware Shoals and its old style offense and its small town program steeped in tradition. The atmosphere is great there. The concessions are reasonable. It is a place you can take your kids and feel safe and not have to raid their college fun to pay for the tickets and the hot dogs.