If you ever look in the national HS polls, you are familiar with this team. Let me tell you, this is the best HS football program I have ever seen in person. They just won their 4th straight 4A state championship tonight 51-8 over Richland North East from Columbia. Led by '07 QB Willy Korn (Clemson), the Rebels rolled up 529 yards against a loaded RNE defense. Here are some of the guys on RNE's defense:
'06 DT Adam Patterson (Ranked #4 DT in the nation by Rivals)
'06 CB Calvin Harrison (Kentucky verbal)
'06 LB Rodney Paulk (SC verbal, #27 OLB in the nation by Rivals)
'07 CB Gary Gray (holds an offer from Auburn already)
'07 DB Mark Barnes(Holds long offer list already, Rivals 100 to watch for 07)
--Barnes scored RNE's only points on a 65 yd INT return in the 4th qtr.
That is 5 guaranteed D1 players on a defensive unit that gave up 529 yards total tonight...Byrnes pulled every starter on offense by the end of the 3rd and every starter on both sides by midway through the 4th. Will Korn threw for 135 and ran for another 120 in basically a half of football. The Byrnes D held RNE to 193 total yards.
This is not a team, it is a program. Byrnes QB's audible 70% of the plays in the game using a Colts-like no-huddle offense. Although play calls come in from Coach Bobby Bentley, the QB is allowed to change the call at the line as often as needed. The entire offense is amazing to watch when you realize these are HS kids. They are not loaded with athletes, but have been repped until the calls simply register certain muscle memory.
Supposedly, a game with Glenville is in the works for the Herbstreit Classic. I'd recommend anyone who is close to go see the game. I'm not saying Byrnes will win, but I guarantee they will be some of the most impressive kids you will ever see.
Stats Link (categories at the top)
