Yellow Jackets get swatted
Story and photos
by Mike Maddock
mike@thecolumbiastar.com

Jeremy Burger (back), Yari King (middle), Quamaine Edwards (55), and Rahmell Lewis (28) gang tackle Gaffney's Tyson Petty.

If the Division I Class 4A State Championship game at Williams Brice Stadium Saturday December 2 between the Irmo Yellow Jackets and Gaffney Indians had come down to field goal kicking, then Coach Bob Hanna's Jackets may have had a chance.

The Indians missed four out of five point after attempts, and didn't try to kick on two point after conversions. They finally made one after their seventh touchdown of the game, but when a team scores seven touchdowns, it doesn't really matter how good the kicker is, especially when the defense pitches a shut-out.

The Indians scored touchdowns on seven of their ten possessions, punting only once, then running out of time at the end of the first half, and taking a knee to end the game.

The Yellow Jackets could not get their potent ground game going at all. Irmo superstar Mario Carter, who averaged 151 yards rushing per game this season, was held to 73 yards on 16 carries.

Irmo RB Mario Carter looks at his second place medal.

On nine possessions, the Yellow Jackets punted three times, fumbled twice, were intercepted twice, and turned the ball over on downs twice. Their most promising drive came late in the fourth quarter when the Jackets drove to the Gaffney 16-yard line, but J.B. Shippey intercepted Leander Barney's pass in the end zone to secure the shut-out.