Delano Little, WBTV Channel 3 sports anchor, had a lot of good things to say about Freedom High School on Friday Night Football last week.
He commented about the great game between Freedom and Burns and showed many of the game’s highlights.
Delano went on to brag about our level of football in the county and our stadium.
Since Freedom’s first season in 1973 and East Burke’s in 1974, both have put out fine teams over the years and developed one of the best rivalries in our state.
We’re developing new ones now that we have four high schools.
Both Freedom and East Burke have made the state playoffs most of the time and a number of those berths were the result of conference championships.
Delano complimented our stadiums as many have done before.
I think East Burke's may be the very best high school stadium in our state, certainly the best I’ve ever seen.
These stadiums have been the site of many great moments and games over the years, from Leon Johnson’s unbelievable games against Hickory in the early 1990s to Michael Helms' passing feats this season and last.
I’ll never forget seeing Tyler Shatley, now a Clemson lineman, carrying defenders on his back for large gains as an East Burke running back.
The game was against Charlotte’s Independence High, who was on its way to winning a seventh straight 4-A state championship several years ago.
Independence Coach Tom Knotts said he had never seen anything like it.
That year, Shatley was named the North Carolina high school male athlete of the year and was joined by Freedom’s Ali Ford as the female winner of the award.
Back to Delano Little, WBTV’s sports guy.
He was Paul Cameron’s assistant many years ago when PC was the station’s sports anchor.
Bob Inman left the news anchor job that led to the change in sports when Cameron moved to news.
Delano has always been a viewer favorite with that infectious smile and light-hearted personality.
He played football at Georgia Southern when that school was one of the small college powers in the country.
Great day of pro golf
The PGA made a good move a few years back when it combined the Tour Championship and the Fed-Ex Cup.
Sunday’s final was a great finish to the events as Bill Hass took both crowns with two of the finest up and downs you’ll ever see.
On his first playoff hole, he pushed his tee shot far right but made a fine pitch shot over a trap and sunk his putt.
Opponent Hunger Mahan also made a very good chip and tying putt.
Back the twosome went to the 17 th hole, their second playoff test.
There, Hass made one of the most unique up and downs you’ll ever see.
He had knocked his second shot barely in the water beside the hole, a good 10 feet below the level of the green.
With his first in the water, Hass proceeded to hit the ball to 3 feet from the hole and made his par putt to tie Mahan and extend the playoff another hole.
There was no more magic left as Mahan could not get his long par putt to fall on 18 and Hass was the winner.
He joined his dad, Jay, as the only father and son to ever make it to the Tour Championship.
The dad, a Wake Forest grad and Arnold Palmer scholarship winner, was on hand along with the younger Hass’ wife and mother to witness the dramatic event.
The family had another representative to see the action up close: Bill’s brother was his caddie.
Roy Waters was baseball and basketball coach from 1955 to 1966 at Salem High School where his teams won 18 championships. In 2007, he was inducted into the Burke County Sports Hall of Fame.
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