Gaffney Wins 10 Football Games As Veteran Coach Dan Jones Retires

Billy Baker • January 8, 2025

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Gaffney's Jamarcus Smith, a Shrine Bowler, their leading receiver with 984 yards on 65 catches and 8 touchdowns.

By Billy G. Baker

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Gaffney—The High School Sports Report offers a special salute to Gaffney High head football coach Dan Jones who is retiring after the Indians had an outstanding 10-2 season in 2024.

Coach Jones is a former defensive end at his alma mater and he has coached more than 30 seasons total.

The 2024 Gaffney team closed out their season with a hard-fought 56-42 loss against eventual Div. II state champion Northwestern in late November.

Against the Trojans junior quarterback Jayvon Gilmore (6-4, 200) completed 30-of-49 passes for 424 yards and one touchdown. Gilmore is committed to Arkansas. Gilmore finished the season completing 177-of-292 passes for 2,531 yards and 25 touchdowns.

The top receivers for the Indians were Jamarcus Smith, a Shrine Bowler, who led the team in receptions with 984 yards on 65 catches and 8 touchdowns. Shane Davidson added 25 catches for 479 yards and 10 touchdowns. Chas Smith (16-221), Eli Falls (18-204) and Brady Smith (13-195) were the other top receivers this season.

Junior running back Jaiden McDowell was hampered by injuries all season and only played in six games. The prospect netted out 302 yards on 70 carries with five touchdowns.

Place kicker Evan Olson made 31-of-36 PAT’s including three field goals during the season.

Among the top defensive players was senior LB Andrew Ruppe who was chosen to the North-South all-star game in December. Other top tacklers were junior linebacker Zyon Ratchford, senior LB Irmani Foster-Boyd, and LB Kendarius Bailey and LB Daquan Croker.

Two offensive linemen had very good seasons for the Indians. Sheldrick Sarratt (6-5, 310) made the Shrine Bowl and he has signed with South Carolina. Junior OL Scotland Dover (6-4,290) has committed to Appalachian State as well.

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By David Shelton • July 30, 2025

By David Shelton Senior Writer Charleston – First Baptist School has new leadership within its football program and athletic department for the coming 2025-26 school year. Kevin Mapp was hired as the new head football coach in the early spring and Jay Godbolt was hired as the new athletic director at the start of the summer. Mapp has extensive coaching experience on both the college and high school levels while also working in law enforcement. First Baptist is his first head coaching position. Mapp last coached defensive linemen at James Island Charter High and has had coaching stints at James Madison, Hampden-Sydney, Georgetown, Marshall, Missouri State and Coastal Carolina. Mapp graduated from James Madison and was a defensive lineman on the 2004 Division I-AAA (now FCS) national championship team. “Coaching has always been my passion,” Mapp said. “Ever since I was playing, I wanted to be a coach. I have always found a way to coach while working in law enforcement. I’ve been fortunate to have had the opportunities to do both.” Mapp has been with the Charleston County police department for the last 10 years. He took some time away from coaching to start a family. “I felt like First Baptist was the perfect fit for me and my family,” Mapp says. “It’s a great opportunity at a great place. The kids here work hard and there is a lot of support from the administration. I’m excited to be the head football coach at First Baptist.” Mapp has hired coordinators on both sides of the ball. Will McCombs , once the head coach of the program, will call the offensive plays. Chris Hart comes over from James Island as the defensive coordinator. “Our numbers are improving and the kids are working hard,” Mapp said. “I feel like we can be a competitive team. It’s year one of the building process.” Godbolt has been a coach and athletic director in the Charleston area for nearly two decades. As the boys basketball coach at Charleston Collegiate, Godbolt coached three state championship teams. He also has been a coach and athletic director at Lowcountry Leadership Academy. Godbolt has more than 450 career victories as a head basketball coach. Current First Baptist basketball coach Antoine Saunders was Godbolt’s assistant at Charleston Collegiate.