Trojans Looking for Redemption in State Title Game
By David Shelton
Senior Editor HSSR
Having had a taste of playing for a state championship in 2022, the Northwestern Trojans are looking forward to a shot of redemption in the 2024 Class AAAAA Division II state championship game.
Northwestern will take on Irmo on Dec. 13 at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium in Orangeburg. The Trojans enter the game with a 13-0 record while Irmo has just one loss, to Dutch Fork, during the season.
Trojans head coach Page Wofford has a solid core of returning starters from the team that lost to South Florence two years ago and is hoping that level of big-game experience will be a positive in this year’s game.
“We do have some good players who were starters as sophomores so we feel three-year starters have to be a plus,” Wofford said. “We also have a good system in place where we are developing players on the younger levels and getting them ready to play.”
It is no surprise that Northwestern is in the state finals. Since August, the Trojans were among the top-ranked teams in Class AAAAA and have upheld the high expectations of the high school football pubic.
“The key has been buy-in,” Wofford said. “We have great kids here. We have kids who love football and love this program. Our kids are confident that their coaches are going to take care of them and will give them every opportunity to compete and have success. It’s a football town. Rock Hill loves their football and our kids are a part of that culture.”
Championship teams have championship leaders and Northwestern’s leader is senor quarterback Finley Polk. Now in his third-year as a starter, Polk is among the top quarterbacks in the state, having thrown for more than 3,000 yards and 42 touchdowns this season.
“His knowledge and production in this offense is off the chart,” Wofford said. “He is our leader and our players respect him. He can do whatever we ask of him. He’s not really a runner but had 95 yards rushing against Gaffney (in the state semi-final win).”
Sophomore Zymier Gordon-Miles has been a huge plus in the run game, totaling 1,198 yards this season.
The top receivers for Polk include senior Jake Nichols, junior Kameron Vance and senior “TD” Vance. The trio have combined for 166 receptions and 2,400 yards.
Only one senior starts on the offensive line but the unit has been very consistent all season. The starting senior is tackle Matthew McClellan. He is joined as the other tackle by Bean Chumley. Chris Coleman is the starting center, with Noah McCoy and Nasir Hannah working as the starting guards.
“We don’t change a lot. We do what we do and we try to perfect it from week to week,” Wofford said. “The guys are very confident in this offense. We will be the same against Irmo and hope it’s good enough.”
As good as the offense has been this season, the Trojans are equally successful on defense. Northwestern has allowed more than three touchdowns in a game just four times and most of that was in a blowout.
“Our defense plays so hard,” Wofford said. “We pride ourselves in tackling and preparation. We want those guys to be confident so they can just go out and play.”
Wofford says the strength of the defense is the front with four senior starters. Demetri Putman, Mason, Andre Pickett and Danijay McMullen.
Senior Will Massey, a third-year starter, is the anchor at linebacker with Kam McFadden being a key performer as well. Starters in the secondary include Josh Singleton and Khalil Williamson at corner, with Jayden Baxter at safety.
In Irmo, Wofford is impressed with quarterback AJ Brand, the SC Gatorade Player of the Year. But Wofford says the Yellow Jackets are not a one-man team.
“They deserve to be in this game,” he said. “They are a very good, well-coached football team. The quarterback is a special player. He does so much for them. He has great receivers around him and their defense is a legit unit. We know what we’re up against but then you get to this point you expect a game between two good teams. We’re excited to have this opportunity.”
