It was quite the way to earn the first win in program history.
New Hampstead, a fledgling AAAA school located outside of Savannah in Bloomingdale, began its first varsity season with five straight losses. On Friday, the Phoenix, which has only six seniors on its 63-man roster, trailed Glascock County 20-0 early in the third quarter. That’s when New Hampstead coach Bernard Gaither got angry.
“I got a penalty, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for yelling at the refs,” Gaither said.
What happened next, though, inspired a dramatic comeback win.
“After I got the penalty, the players turned to me and said, ‘Coach, you don’t have to yell anymore; we got it,’” Gaither said.
Energized by their coach, the Phoenix ran off 27 unanswered points. Senior defensive end Kareem Dixon scooped up a fumble caused by sophomore Richard Lucas and scampered 60 yards for a touchdown. Dearius Young caught two touchdown passes, and Dominique Walker scored the winning touchdown on a toss play with three minutes to play.
“It was a spectacular win and a terrific lesson for our kids,” Gaither said. “I want my kids to know that life is tough, and sometimes you’re going to be down in life, but if you keep fighting and keep persevering then good things can and will happen to you. “
The team celebrated on the bus ride home. The game ball will be enshrined, and the players will now be allowed to wear their jerseys to school on Fridays, a promise Gaither made to his players once they won a game.
“I told them that they heard to earn the right to wear their jerseys to school,” Gaither said. “Nothing is given to you in life. We wanted them to earn that privilege. It’s not just a piece of clothing; it’s a symbol that you are successful, and we wanted them to earn that privilege.”
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