Saluda’s moment: Excitement builds for Tigers’ first football title game since 1963
It could have been a scene out of Friday Night Lights.
Late into the night Friday and early Saturday morning, the town of Saluda threw an impromptu party the community hasn’t seen in quite some time. At Saluda High School’s parking lot, cars formed a make-shift tunnel while a. DJ played music to welcome the Tiger football team back from its monumental win over four-time defending champion Abbeville, 32-28.
The win put Saluda into the Class 2A championship game for the first time since 1963. The Tigers will play Barnwell at Benedict College on Friday at 5 p.m.
“It was definitely a really big moment. Lots of cameras and cell phones out recording,” Saluda guidance counselor director Bryan Vacchio said. “We all knew they had to get back to work the next day, but what they did last Friday was historic and it was certainly a great sight to see them celebrate for a while.”
Vacchio, who also is a part-time DJ, was in charge of the tunes for the party. He played music for the team to send the team off to Abbeville. Then when the game was over, he texted coaches and the principal about setting up again when the team arrived home.
Vacchio played for about an hour for friends and family while they waited for the team to come back. The team got back later than expected as the bus detoured into neighborhoods where many of the players live, so parents and families were able to celebrate with them.
“We definitely enjoyed it Saturday and Sunday,” Saluda quarterback Noah Bell said. “Celebration means a whole lot to the whole town of Saluda. They haven’t won a state title since 1963... If we could win and bring state championship to Saluda, it would mean a whole lot.”
Saluda’s long football history
The excitement from Friday’s win hasn’t worn off as the town with a population of 3,632, according to the latest census data, readies for Saluda’s first title game in more than 50 years. School will be dismissed at 1 p.m. Friday and tickets for the game are selling fast. Not many people are expected to be in the town when the game kicks off at Charles W. Johnson Stadium about an hour away.
“The mood around town is unlike anything I’ve ever seen,” Vacchio said. “The energy has been tremendous. People are talking about it everywhere. I walked into a conversation at the post office just the other day.”
Saluda has a proud history of football dating back to the 1940s. The Tigers appeared in championship games in 1955-56 under Bettis Herlong, who the school’s football stadium was named after. Saluda lost to Summerville teams coached by John McKissick in those years.
Coach Mooney Player won two of his five state titles at Saluda, leading the Tigers to championships in 1962-63. Now, Saluda’s program is in the midst of a revival and back in the state’s spotlight after near misses over the past few years. Saluda advanced to the state semifinals in both 2015 and 2016 but lost to Abbeville both seasons.
Saluda players need to put Abbeville win behind them
The Tigers lost to Abbeville and Batesburg-Leesville to close out the regular season and many around didn’t think the Tigers would be the ones to end Abbeville’s bid for a record fifth title.
“We aren’t supposed to be here right?” Saluda coach Stewart Young said at Monday’s state championship press conference. “We’re a big family, we love each other as a team and we kind of had a two-game losing streak at the end of the season and we came together as a staff and myself and the kids.”
Young said after the two losses he wanted the team to go back to having fun. They simplified things on offense, getting the ball to their playmakers like receivers Dallan Wright, running back Montrevious Baker and others.
Bell, the quarterback and a Mr. Football, has accounted for more than 4,000 yards of offense and 59 touchdowns. The Tigers’ defense came up big in moments, especially in the second half.
Young said one of the biggest tasks this week was to put the win over Abbeville behind them.
“We will have a banquet at the end of the year. We will celebrate all those wins more then,” Young said. “We got a big game to play. Championship game is this week not last week.”
If Saluda wins Friday night, the party could last through the Christmas holidays and would be one to remember.
“They’ll be waiting on us getting in town and celebrating with us,” Young said. “It’s something that we as a town, as a community, have always dreamed about. You really don’t know how exciting it will be but we want to find that out.”
SC football championship schedule
A look at SC High School Football state championship schedule for Dec. 6-7
Friday
At Benedict College
Class 2A
Saluda vs. Barnwell, 5 p.m.
Class A
Ridge Spring-Monetta vs. Green Sea Floyds, 8 p.m.
Saturday
At Williams-Brice Stadium
Class 5A
Dorman vs. Dutch Fork, noon
Class 3A
Chapman vs. Dillon, 3 p.m.
Class 4A
Wren vs. Myrtle Beach, 6:30 p.m.
Tickets: $12 in advance and at the gate. Advance tickets sold at participating schools only.
GoFan for online tickets https://gofan.co/app/school/SCHSL
Watch: Friday’s games will be streamed on www.nfhsnetwork.com (Subscription required.)
Saturday’s Dutch Fork-Dorman game will be carried locally on WACH Fox 57 and the rest of Saturday’s games will be locally on WACH Fox 57.2 or Spectrum 1250. All three games Saturday will be carried throughout state on WMYA (MyTV/Greenville/Spartanburg), WCIV (MyTV/Charleston) and WWMB (CW Channel/Myrtle Beach, Florence).
This story was originally published December 5, 2019 at 12:46 PM.
