Cayce, SC - Nineteen sixty-six was an amazing football season for the Brookland-Cayce High School Bearcats.
The season opened with three shutout wins, then a loss, the season concluded with seven straight wins. To the astonishment of the players, coaches, and fans, only 34 points were scored by the opposing teams during that season. The Bearcats had eight shut-out wins that season.
After the second game, Columbia Record News sports writer, Bill Simpson, nick-named the team the “Amaza-Cats”, which fit perfectly especially since the team consisted of 19 mighty warriors. Later in the season, Bill Mitchell, another sports writer, called the team a “Rags to Riches” team. This was due to the fact that the Bearcats in 1965 had a record of 1-9-1 (1 win, 9 losses, 1 tie), so the public did not expect much from this 1966 team. However, the 1966 Team ended the season with a 10-1 (10 wins, 1 loss) record, and was voted the South Carolina AAA State Champions.
The main reasons for the 1966 team’s success were hard work, grit, and determination. The entire year was spent fighting the opponents, and a hard-nosed coach. Coach Bettis Herlong was from the “Old School” of hard work and hard knocks. Coach Herlong, who passed away in 2003, can never be replaced in the hearts of his players.
Tonight we honor the players of the 1966 Football Team, and the Cheerleaders who kept the fans going during each game.
Players:
David Bickley
Donny Burgess
Keith Chapman
Phil Curtis
Dean Feaster
Jim Harper
Ed Huskey
Phil Hoffman
George Kennedy
Wade Kleckley
Henry (Dickie) Lawhorne Richie Moye
Barry Oswald
Ralph Phillips
Byron Sistare
Jake Stone
Randy Tate
Jack Taylor
Sammy Temples
Steve Tuten
Bobby Wilson
Coaches:
Woody Collins and Barry Turpin
Varsity Cheerleaders:
Judy Nell Branham
Dunneah Gordon
Vicky Shealy
Kay Smith
Susan Wingate
Bib Branson
Arilla Proveaux
Barbara Kyzer
Tammy Hall
Becky Reynolds
Paulette Chapman
We remember fondly Coach Herlong and the players from the 1966 team who have passed away as well:
Don Bailey, Jim Cleckler, Stan Corley, Jerry Richardson, and Van Smith.
