Honoring the 2010 High School Football Champions - Class 4A Division II

 

(Photo Courtesy of Andy Burriss at the Rock Hill Herald)

Northwestern Trojans

Going into the 2010 season the storied Northwestern Trojans football program had won state titles, but they had never gone undefeated in doing so. Their last state title was won in 2003 with a 2-0 victory over Gaffney, no we aren't talking baseball that was a football score.

This Northwestern football team was headed into its third straight appearance in the AAAA Division II State Championship -- they lost the previous two. In 2008 the Trojans lost in the Championship to bitter rival South Pointe, 35-14. Likewise in 2009 they lost to lower state foe Berkeley 33-24. But led back by Gatorade National Player of the Year and Tennessee commit Justin Worley the Trojans were on pace to right the previous years' wrongs. In total Worley passed for a mind-boggling 5,315 yards with 64 touchdowns along the way.

Unlike the previous two years the Northwestern Trojans lit up the scoreboards while dominating their competition. Powered by the Worley-guided no huddle offense, Northwestern averaged 41.3 points per game. They proceeded to beat rival, South Pointe, 42-20 in a nationally televised Saturday showcase that pitted Worley against the nation's consensus number one prospect in Jadaveon Clowney. They also defeated region foes Clover, Gaffney and Rock Hill by a combined score of 126-49. It wasn't just the offense that powered the Trojans, however.

Their defense led by highly recruited linemen Roderick Byers and Gerald Dixon was able to get stops when they were needed. The defense only allowed 17 points per game and only 14.8 during the Trojans region stretch.

To get to Columbia the Trojans beat James Island 45-14 and won shootouts over Ashley Ridge and Goose Creek, 49-35 and 41-34 respectively. In Columbia they would encounter annual power Greenwood and work to dismantle them 42-10. Powered by a ball hawking defense and Worley's 263 yard and five touchdown passing effort the Trojans righted the last two seasons wrong. Northwestern Head Coach Jimmy Wallace praised his team and his extraordinary quarterback for the efforts of the 2010 season.

"He's (Worley) been a special player, but all of our kids are special. That's why winning on our third try and going undefeated is tremendous."