By the time the Byrnes Rebels hit the field Friday night, they were already up by a score.
At least, that’s how it felt.
Friday night didn’t just open the 2025 season for Byrnes — it opened a brand new era for the program. Nearly 8,000 fans piled into the brand-new renovated Nixon Field for the first time. Those fans left more than satisfied, seeing their Rebels cruise to a 30-10 win over T.L. Hanna.
Byrnes players fed off the energy from the raucous crowd.
“It was already 7-0 when we walked in here,” said Byrnes quarterback Caine Rogers. “This crowd, they packed this stadium out. It was amazing.”
“It was great for this community to come out here and pack out this stadium the way they did,” said Byrnes RB Tre’ Segarra. “Even the away stands were full.”
The packed crowd didn’t get too much to enjoy in the first quarter, with teams trading three-and-out possessions and fumbles. But once the second quarter got going, so did the Rebel offense.
More specifically, the ‘Touch Paint Boys’ — Segarra, RB Jacobi Fuller, and WR Choo Harris — put on a show.
Segarra got the scoring started early in the second quarter with a one-yard touchdown rush on fourth and goal. It was the first touchdown ever scored at the brand-new Nixon Field.
Segarra wasn’t shy about it, either. For months, he dreamed of being the first to find the end zone in the new stadium.
“I’ve always talked about wanting to leave a legacy here, so that’s something I really wanted to do,” said Segarra. “I’m glad I got that done, but there’s still more I want to do.”
He wasn’t kidding.
After Segarra’s backfield partner, Jacobi Fuller, found the end zone from two yards out just minutes later, Segarra’s first handoff on the next possession was a 91-yard touchdown — the longest of his career.
“Once I hit the second level, I knew no one was going to catch me,” said Segarra. “I’ve got to give credit to [Byrnes running backs coach Tony] Ashmore for helping me with my speed training. It’s been a big help.”
After Byrnes went up 20-0 on Segarra’s big run, T.L. Hanna attempted to rally in the third quarter. The Yellow Jackets cut the lead to 20-10 heading into the fourth, but a 43-yard field goal from Logan Neely pushed Byrnes’ lead to 23-10.
Junior wide receiver Choo Harris finished off T.L. Hanna with an electric 78-yard touchdown reception late in the fourth.
“It was a slot fade, and I just knew in my head I was going to beat my man [in coverage] down the sideline,” said Harris. “And that’s what I did.”
Though the Byrnes offense will catch the headlines from Friday night, the Rebel defense — specifically the defensive line — may have been the true stars of the game.
The Byrnes ‘Strike Force’ defense held T.L. Hanna to 10 points. T.L. Hanna’s normally fluid Wing-T offense had its wings clipped.
“We hadn’t beaten T.L. Hanna in years,” said Byrnes defensive end Justice Hopkins. “We’d been [studying] their offense since back in spring ball.”
Byrnes head coach Reggie Shaw stressed the importance of not just winning the first game of the season, but putting on a show at the first-ever game at the new Nixon Field.
“It’s high expectations playing for the first time in a stadium like that,” said Shaw. “You want to show your gratitude to the fans and the community by putting on a performance to be proud of.
“I’d say we did that.”
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