29 YEARS AGO, the pouring rain couldn’t stop Byrnes in an instant classic.
The Rebels were on the come up, having started the 1997 season 4-0 after winning just three games total the previous two seasons. But they were still without a true, marquee, “take notice” type of win.
That set the stage for Oct. 24, 1997 at Wofford College, where the Rebels took on the Spartanburg Vikings — a powerhouse rival and a team Byrnes hadn’t beat in seven years.
It was the Pete White and Nate Harris show early, as the Spartanburg QB-WR combo looked to pose a serious problem for Byrnes. The pair jumpstarted the Vikings to an early 14-0 lead.
But Byrnes QB Tony Lane caught fire as the game went on, connecting on 50+ yard TD passes to both Dondre Holcombe and Durell Robinson. Lane’s stellar play — along with a nice night in the backfield from Moses Wright — helped give Byrnes a 25-17 lead with just over a minute to go.
Spartanburg would tie the game at the last minute, sending it to overtime. But the Rebel defense held Spartanburg on their OT drive.
With the rain pouring down and Rebel fans banging their umbrellas on the concrete stands at Gibbs Stadium, Michael Wright plunged into the end zone from one yard out to seal a monumental 31-25 OT win for the Rebels.
Duncan faithful erupted. Then-Byrnes assistant coach Russ Howard tackled HC Bobby Bentley to the ground in celebration.
Bentley — in just his third year as HC at the time — still credits this game as the turning point for what was soon to come in Duncan.
“A lot of people said we hadn’t beaten anybody yet,” Bentley told the Greer Citizen after the game in 1997. “Well we beat a really, really good football team here tonight.”
29 days until high school football is back.
