By Mike London
mlondon@salisburypost.com
South Rowan plans another of its 50th anniversary celebration events for Friday’s homecoming game against West Rowan.
South will honor its football teams from 1979-1988 (the graduating classes of 1980-89).
Go to the South Rowan Alumni Association web site for information.
Head coaches Reid Bradshaw and Larry Deal guided South to a sterling 80-29-1 record in the decade. The worst record for SR in this period was 7-4.1979
A 7-3 season included the first two official overtime games in South history — both losses — 13-7 to East Rowan and 35-34 to Northwest Cabarrus. DB David Sides made six interceptions and was named county defensive player of the year.
1980
Bradshaw was county coach of the year and QB/punter Tommy Barnhardt, South’s contribution to the NFL, was Rowan County’s offensive player of the year.
He threw for 171 yards and three TDs against Sun Valley.
South’s 8-2-1 record included the last tie in school history — a 7-7 deadlock with West Rowan on opening night.
South took the SPC title with big wins against Concord and Forest Hills, but the Raiders fell to Lexington in the first round of the 3A playoffs.
The coaching staff was filled with familiar faces from the South family. Bradshaw’s assistants were Deal, John Willett, Ernie Faw, Steve Beaver, Bob Parker, Darrell Spry and Tim Corriher.
1981
South dominated county honors with lineman Jeff Barringer named defensive player of the year and running back Michael Ramseur named offensive player of the year.
Headed for Wake Forest where he was ACC Rookie of the Year, Ramseur had a colossal night in a loss to North Rowan, rushing 25 times for 249 yards.
In a 43-0 romp against East Rowan, Ramseur carried 22 times for 223 yards.
One of the top defenses in school history (5.4 points per game) had four straight shutouts in one stretch.
Bradshaw was named coach of the year for the fifth time. South was 10-2 — winning 10 games for the first time. One of those wins was 20-8 against A.L. Brown. The Raiders beat Asheboro in the 3A playoffs but lost to Mount Airy.
1982
South went 8-3 and was runner-up in the SPC in Bradshaw’s 12th and final season at the helm.
All-county linebacker Joe Crapster led South’s defense.
Barry Mitchem, who would become a longtime head coach at West Davidson, was an all-county guard. Sam Misher joined the coaching staff.
1983
It was a tremendous season for South in Deal’s first year as head coach. South finished 11-2, still the school record for victories, and Deal was named county coach of the year.
Darrell Misenheimer joined the coaching staff.
South’s 33-32 overtime win against A.L. Brown, with QB Darren Corriher starring, was one of the more celebrated moments in school history.
South tied for the SPC championship with Concord, although an 18-15 loss to the Spiders placed South in the “Division II” playoffs for conference runners-up.
South won three straight playoff games, beating Davie, Hibriten and Shelby and was crowned as Western North Carolina Division II champion.
1984
In its final season of 3A competition for decades, South went 8-3.
One loss was to A.L. Brown in overtime, the third straight season the schools had battled beyond regulation time. Another setback was to Lexington in the Division II playoffs.
South swept county honors with Deal named coach of the year, QB Bryan Overcash offensive player of the year and linebacker Todd Barnhardt defensive player of the year.
1985
South entered the 4A ranks, taking on mostly Winston-Salem area schools that would become familiar Central Piedmont Conference opponents — R.J. Reynolds, West Forsyth, North Davidson, Parkland, Davie and Mount Tabor.
South went 7-4 with the only league loss to Mount Tabor. The Raiders fell to Harding in the first round of the playoffs.
1986
South went 7-4, again holding its own in 4A.
Deal was county coach of the year for the third time, while linebacker Tim Bell, the Raiders’ leading tackler, was defensive player of the year.
The season ended with another first-round playoff loss against Harding.
1987
A 7-3 season ended with a three-game winning streak — CPC victories against Parkland, Davie (in OT) and Mount Tabor.
Linebacker Chris Drye, son of legend Carl Drye, was named county defensive player of the year.
1988
South’s 15th consecutive winning season began with victories against Northwest Cabarrus, East, West Iredell and R.J. Reynolds.
Standouts included all-county center Philip Rivers, Drye, defensive lineman Carlos Miller and DB Marshall Brawley.