‘Money’ talks: Weaver, defense lead Byrnes to first region title in nine years

Byrnes head coach Reggie Shaw celebrates with his team after Byrnes took down Gaffney 33-21 to win the Class 5-A Region 2 championship.

For the first time since 2014, the Byrnes Rebels are region champions.

With a 33-21 win at Gaffney on Friday, Byrnes (9-1, 4-0 region) clinched the 2023 5-A Region 2 title.

“I’m on cloud nine right now, man. These guys fought for their opportunities,” said Byrnes head coach Reggie Shaw. “We made plays when we had to on both sides of the ball. This game could’ve gone either way.”

Frankly, he was right. It wasn’t easy. It probably could’ve been — as Byrnes had a 24-0 third-quarter lead cut to 27-21 — but it wasn’t.

That’s just the way it goes in “Region 2, black and blue” as Shaw called it.

“It’s hard to win in this region, and it’s really hard to come into a place like Gaffney and win,” Shaw said. “But these kids just believe in each other. They believe in us as coaches. They fight for each other and they love each other. It’s a true team in every facet, and they’ve come together so much since [week two’s 17-14 loss to] Chapman.”

THE RUNDOWN

From the opening snap of the game, the Rebel defense came ready to fight.

On the first play, Byrnes’ defensive line got to Gaffney running back Jaiden McDowell in the backfield, forcing a fumble that defensive end Jaidyn Ferguson scooped up in the red zone.

The Rebels would force four turnovers in the first half alone, jumping out to a 17-0 lead at halftime behind touchdown runs from Tre’ Segarra and Zy Landrum.

“Our whole defensive staff, they do a great job of preparing us every week,” said Byrnes linebacker RJ Livingston. “We’ve grown up a lot throughout the season together, and we just keep making plays.”

Livingston — who returned from a two-game absence following a broken bone in his arm — made one of those plays at the end of the first quarter. He picked off a Riley Staton pass deep in Rebel territory and returned it to the Gaffney 45.

He did this effectively with one arm, wearing a rather sizable cast on his recovering right one.

“That was a good play to keep the momentum going our way. Shout out to the safeties for communicating that with me aboutwhat they were seeing. It got my mojo back going again getting back on the field.”

Fellow linebacker James Oates made one of the most important plays of the night just before halftime.

With less than a minute remaining in the half, Oates picked off a Staton deep ball in the middle of the field and brought it back to the Gaffney 5-yard line. That led to Landrum’s 5-yard touchdown run to push Byrnes’ lead to 17-0 at the half.

“Man, shout out to James Oates,” said Livingston, smiling. “He’s an outstanding player. I’m so thankful to have him beside me. He’s the mic of our defense. He’s our leader out there.”

A Tre Segarra touchdown reception from six yards out extended Byrnes’ lead to 24-0 at the start of the third quarter. The Rebels looked poised to cruise to a rare win at the Reservation.

Gaffney wasn’t going down that easy.

An impressive drive and an even more impressive one-handed touchdown reception by Indians wide receiver Shane Davidson sparked a second-half Gaffney rally. A Drew Medley touchdown reception and Jaiden McDowell touchdown run brought Gaffney within 27-21 in the fourth quarter.

The Rebels got the ball back with four minutes remaining in the game. The offense had stalled. They needed to cash in on the next drive.

So why not turn to the one they call “Money?”

Quarterback Andrew Stevens threw a quick swing pass out to wide receiver Armoni Weaver — aka “Money.” Weaver broke a tackle, received a massive block from fellow wide receiver Ethan Morris, and scampered all the way down the sideline for a 73-yard touchdown, giving the Rebels a 33-21 lead with 3:39 left to go.

“Coach Hellams [offensive coordinator] called a great play for us, but I had a really great block from Ethan Morris on that play that helped me break a tackle,” said Weaver. “Then I took it the rest of the way.”

Byrnes WR Armoni Weaver’s 73-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter sealed the Rebel win.

That was all she wrote from the Reservation. Gaffney’s next drive stalled on fourth down, and the Rebels kneeled out the clock to secure the region title.

“This one feels great,” said Weaver. “Gaffney isn’t usually beaten at home. This is our first time beating them here since 2019. We’re going to celebrate this one for sure.”

UP NEXT

Byrnes set three main goals coming into the 2023 season. They’ve now accomplished two of them.

Win the first game of the season against Hough? Check.

Win the region for the first time in nearly a decade? Check.

The final goal is the biggest: bring a state title back to Duncan for the first time since 2011.

They’ll begin that journey by welcoming region rival Dorman to Nixon Field for the first round of the Class 5-A playoffs.

“I guess that’s the reward for being the No. 1 seed in the Upstate, having to play Dorman in the first round,” said Shaw sarcastically. “But it doesn’t matter. We’ve just got to take care of us. That’s all that matters.”

THE SCORE BY QUARTERS

Byrnes 10 7 10 6 - 33
Gaffney 0 0 7 14 - 21

BYRNES STAT LEADERS

Passing: Stevens 13-22/243/2 TDs/INT
Rushing: Segarra 15/61/TD | Landrum 4/16/TD
Receiving: Weaver 6/135/TD | Segarra 2/20/TD | Morris 2/30