SPARTANBURG, S.C. — Hal Capps could hang up all of it, and be cool with it.

At least, it sounded that way Saturday on the field at Gibbs Stadium.

Let me say that does not mean the Mooresville head coach will. He certainly gave no indication he plans to. So, don’t read anything into it.

It’s just, after coaching the North Carolina squad at the 78th annual Shrine Bowl, he’s out of things to accomplish in the North Carolina high school ranks.

The week in South Carolina added perspective to an already illustrious career.

“It’s been a blessing, and it’s been a hard labor of love,” he said. “I feel, sort of, like my can career can stop.”

He is in the top 20 in number of career wins among the state’s active coaches. He coached Western Alamance in state championship games and loss. He coached Western Alamance in the 2007 3AA state championship game and won. He was an assistant coach for the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team in 2001. He was the head coach in the N.C. Coaches Association’s East-West All-Star Game in 2006.

On Saturday, he was the head coach for some of the best high school football players North Carolina has to offer.

“There’s nothing else, except finding a new group of kids,” Capps said. “I found 44 this week that’ll I’ll never forget. Next year, I’ll find 100 kids.”

The week was good, but nowhere near easy.

“It ain’t no relaxing to it, I’ll tell you that,” Capps said. “They keep us hopping all day. My fat butt was so tired. As soon as we get off the bus, I’m going to bed.

“As soon as my head hit the pillow, I’m going, ‘I’ve got to plan practice for tomorrow.'”

There were appearances, on-the-fly schedule changes, and even a last-minute phone call to Lake Norman, Mooresville’s crosstown rival, to get the Wildcats’ quarterback to Spartanburg. Josh Ladowski wound up winning the offensive most valuable player for North Carolina.

The Tar Heels had their issues in the first half. A 28-yard field goal was blocked and returned 74 yards for the game’s first touchdown. South Carolina was ahead 14-0 at the break.

“I told them at halftime, you got to choose to be a winner or loser,” Capps said. “You make choices your whole life. I’m going to choose the whole second half to be positive. I’m going to brag on you. I’m going to help you. I’m going to get you all going.

“I am not going to utter a negative word. And I said, ‘We’re going to find out in the second half what you choose.'”

That’s when the fun began.

With North Carolina down 14-6 in the third quarter, a shift out of a field goal resulted in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Travis Sabdo (Havelock) to Joshua Ramseur (Newton-Conover). The two-point conversion failed.

North Carolina had a chance in the fourth quarter to pull off the improbable win. But on first-and-10 from the South Carolina 27, Ladowski fumbled the ball. South Carolina turned that into the victory-sealing touchdown.

Despite the outcome, it was the end of another memorable week for Capps.

“I’m a blessed man, and this was an awesome blessing in my life that I’ve got 44 new kids that I love,” he said.