Cross captures first football state championship in school history

  • Posted: Friday, November 23, 2012 6:00 p.m.
    UPDATED: Friday, November 23, 2012 9:09 p.m.
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(Scott J. Bryan | Index-Journal) Cross running back Devante Shepherd rushes for a third-quarter score against McCormick on Friday afternoon during the Class A, Division II championship game at Charles W. Johnson Football Stadium. Cross won 38-26.

BY DAVID SHELTON

Special to The Post and Courier

COLUMBIA — The Cross High football team claimed the Division II-A state championship with a 38-26 win over McCormick on Friday afternoon at Benedict College.

Junior running back Devontae Shepherd rushed for 166 yards and three touchdowns and junior Dionte Evans added 94 yards rushing and an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown as the Trojans improved to 11-3 with the school’s first state championship.

“It’s a great day for Cross High School and for all of these young men who worked so hard all season long,” said Cross coach Shaun Wright, a 1995 graduate of the school. “It’s an amazing feeling. Our guys have been through a lot of adversity all year long and they came out here today and battled for four quarters. That’s what it’s all about.”

Cross took a 20-0 lead on Evans’ kickoff return to open the third quarter, but the contest became a free-for-all the rest of the way. The teams combined for five touchdowns during the final nine minutes of the third period.

Evans’ 29-yard scamper with 1:29 to play in the game pushed the lead to 38-20 for the Trojans.

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