Step by step, Keenan reaches new heights

The excitement level continues to climb as the Keenan High football keeps adding to its list of accomplishments.

Two years ago, making the Class 2A playoffs was cause for celebration.

Last year, a winning season and a home playoff game were lauded.

Last week, the Raiders went a step further, beating Newberry 41-35 for the school's first postseason win since 1992.

It's made Keenan, a school known for basketball excellence, giddy for the gridiron.

"It was a great, great win," coach Mitch Moton said. "A really big win for our program. I'm really excited for our young team. It shows that we are headed in the right direction."

The Raiders are a team on the rise, especially considering they won a total of seven games in six seasons from 2002-07.

The drought ended last season, when Keenan (8-3) had its first winning record since 1994. The Raiders earned a home playoff game at Bolden Stadium but lost 21-2 to Mid-Carolina.

Following another 8-2 regular season this year, the Raiders once again opened the playoffs at Bolden Stadium. When Newberry bolted to a 14-0 lead, it appeared Keenan's progress was being stunted.

The Raiders refused to accept that.

"It's a totally different level of confidence," Moton said. "I didn't see one kid with a dejected look on his face. They were saying, 'We've been here before. We know how to scrap and fight.' This was the thing that made me proud. When we had adversity, we handled it head on."

Behind five touchdown passes from senior Antonio Perry, Keenan rallied to win.

"It meant a lot to us," said Keenan senior wide receiver Dennis Rowe, who caught three touchdown passes and had 224 receiving yards. "Everybody kept saying Keenan couldn't win a playoff game. All that hard work we put into it really paid off."

Armed with a 9-2 record - their best since the 1992 team led by current S.C. State coach Buddy Pough went 10-3 - the Raiders head to third-ranked Abbeville (10-1) for a second-round game Friday night.

Rowe offers a unique perspective on how far the Raiders have come.

A talented player on Keenan's basketball team, this is his first season playing football. He remembers going to Keenan football games as a spectator and, like most fans, having low expectations.

"Back in the days when I went to a football game," Rowe said, "deep down inside I'd think this is another game we are going to lose. ... But now, everybody on the team knows we are the best and we are not going to get beat."

Two buses of Keenan fans will travel to the Upstate on Friday to watch the Raiders battle a tough Abbeville team, whose lone loss came to top-ranked and unbeaten Woodruff, 36-35.

"Now we have people expecting us to win. The teachers and administration are encouraging our kids," Moton said.

"It's a really good time to be a Keenan Raider."