Staff report
LANDIS ó South Rowan continues its 50th anniversary celebrations tonight, by saluting its football teams from 1989-1998 ó the graduating classes of 1990-99.
It will be busy, festive night. South is honoring all its head coaches, and South and neighbor Carson are teaming for a ěPink Outî ó a Relay For Life effort to raise money for cancer research.
A few highlights from the 1990s, an era in which Larry Deal and Rick Vanhoy were the head coaches. Deal coached through the 1994 season.
1989
South lineman Marlon Connor, who had seven sacks, was Rowan County Defensive Player of the Year.
South was 5-5, the 16th straight non-losing season for the program, but it was a season that included many tough losses ó 34-28 in overtime to West Forsyth; 14-13 to Dudley; 39-36 to Parkland, and 25-22 to Davie.
1990
South was 3-7, beating Northwest Cabarrus, West Rowan and R.J. Reynolds during an early three-game winning streak.
1991
South was 2-8, with the wins coming against West Rowan and Northwest. Brio Griffin, Todd Bell and Jeff Richards were among the standouts.
1992
The struggle continued with a 1-9 record. Southís resounding 39-6 win against Northwest was the highlight.
Top players included center Jason Shell and Griffin, who made all-county for the third straight season.
1993
South started a comeback, posting four wins. It beat Davie and South Stokes to close the season.
Standouts included linemen Shell and Travis Billings, linebacker Sam Cook, back Antonio Hester and defensive lineman Josh Goodman.
1994
Deal shared county coach of the year honors in his final season as head man. South was 8-4, including a 14-6 win against A.L. Brown, the first victory over the Wonders since 1983.
Linebacker Jeff Kerr, who would go on to star at East Carolina, was county defensive player of the year.
Standouts included Billings, Goodman, DB Jason Cross, receiver Adrian Parker, who set many school records, and QB Kevin Sides, who would play at South Carolina.
1995
Vanhoyís first year produced a 6-5 record. South won its first three games before losing to A.L. Brown.
Standouts included Cross, Sides, center Lee Daugherty and DB Matt Overcash.
1996
South again went 6-5, getting huge offensive efforts from QB Tony Propst and RB Chris Torrence. Ten Raiders made all-county, including kicker Bradley Reynolds and punter Joe Beane.
1997
South slumped to 2-9 despite some monster games by QB Charles Sherrill, including his record-breaking, five-TD night vs. Northwest Cabarrus. Southís only other win was against South Stokes.
DB Ramsey Connor was another standout.
1998
South was 2-9 again, beating West Rowan and South Stokes.
Standouts included Brent Bare, Brian Billings and Darryl Childers.