Irmo’s quest for its first football state title in over 40 years came up just short.

It was a thrilling match in last Saturday’s 5A Division II state championship game. Irmo and Rock Hill’s Northwestern went back and forth, and the game wasn’t decided until the last second. 

Northwestern kicker Matthew Fish nailed a 27-yard field goal as time expired to put his team up 34-31 and clinch the title. 

As the kick went through, the emotions started to pour out for Irmo. A season-long journey to the championship came to an end, and despite playing a great game, the team failed to achieve its goal of delivering the school its first title since 1980. 

“ I don't know if we know how to lose, but we learned how tonight, and I can respect our guys and how they handled it,” head coach Aaron Brand said. “They're hurt, and I'm hurting also, and our coaching staffs hurt, our communities hurt. But, I don't want to take away from the great job these guys did all year.”

Irmo and Northwestern kept the score close throughout. Three different times the game was tied and the lead flipped a few times as well. 

Irmo tied the game at 31 with less than two minutes to go after a touchdown catch from senior receiver Donovan Murph. But Irmo’s defense struggled to make stops as Northwestern drove 65 yards and drained all the time off the clock before kicking the game-winning field goal.

Northwestern’s offense accounted for 493 yards, including 427 through the air. The Yellow Jackets had no answers for quarterback Finley Polk and his collection of receivers. 

Two Trojans finished the game with over 150 yards receiving. Kameron Vance had 11 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Jayden Nichols had 13 catches for 150 yards. TaDarrian Knox also had a big game, catching six passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns. 

 ”Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you,” Brand said. “Tonight was not our night at the end of the day, and the bear got us at the end.” 

Irmo’s offense also had a solid outing led by their top play-making duo in A.J. Brand and Murph. 

The two connected eight times for 123 yards and two touchdowns. 

A.J. finished 12-17 for 151 yards and the two touchdowns to Murph, while adding 168 yards and two touchdowns on the run. Amire White ran 10 times for 47 yards and Maleek Miller had seven total touches for 63 yards. 

 ”It's just kind of hard after a heartbreaking loss like that to not shed a couple tears,” A.J. said. “I'm just glad I got to do it with these guys. We battled all year. We've had so much adversity, but I mean, ultimately, in the end, we came out and battled our tails off.” 

A few empty drives and a costly turnover kept crucial points off the board for Irmo, especially in the first half. 

The Yellow Jackets started with the ball but quickly gave it up in its own territory. A.J. looked to gain yards on a quarterback keeper but fumbled. Northwestern recovered at the 23 and quickly took advantage. 

Nichols picked up a first down for the Trojans after catching the ball at the nine-yard line. The next play, Polk hit a wide-open Knox in the endzone to put Northwestern up 7-0 less than two minutes into the game. 

Irmo responded with a long possession that lasted over six minutes of game time. The drive was extended by a pair of Northwestern penalties, including a defensive holding on fourth down. Irmo took advantage of the free yards and went from fourth and 11 to fourth and one before converting with an A.J. keeper. 

The Yellow Jackets eventually got into the red zone and capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass between Brand and Murph, tying the game at seven. 

Northwestern committed a turnover on its next drive. After connecting on a would-be first-down pass, Irmo’s Ethan Gamble knocked the ball free, and the Yellow Jackets recovered. 

Irmo was unable to capitalize off the Trojan mistake and lined up for a punt. The Yellow Jackets were gifted another opportunity to take the lead when Northwestern fumbled on the return. 

However, Northwestern's defense continued to make things difficult for Irmo and got off the field with no new Yellow Jacket points on the board.

The teams traded punts until late in the second quarter when Northwestern retook the lead. Nicholas caught a deep ball to move into Irmo territory, and a few plays later, Knox was in the end zone for a second time after catching an eight-yard pass. 

Irmo was able to cut the deficit before halftime after moving into Northwestern territory and ending the quarter with a made 24-yard kick. A.J. had to be helped off the field during this drive but was able to quickly come back and lead the team to points. 

“It was just a cramp. I didn't want to come out, honestly, but I tried to get up and I couldn't,” Brand said. “Teammates stepped in great. Got us back and ultimately ended up scoring on that drive. So, I mean, that's all you can really ask for. We're staying in the game with a great team like Northwestern. 

Trailing 14-10 at the start of the second half, Irmo’s offense began to find its footing. 

After holding Northwestern to a field goal on the opening drive, the Yellow Jackets moved downfield. A.J. saw more success with his running ability and tied the game with an 18-yard touchdown on fourth down. 

Irmo’s defense came up big on the following Trojan drive and forced them off the field after a big stop on fourth and one. This allowed the Yellow Jackets to take their first lead of the game at the start of the fourth after a 29-yard run from A.J.

That lead was short-lived as Northwestern quickly tied the game after slicing the Yellow Jackets’ defense with its passing attack. Polk hit Vance with a five-yard pass for their first touchdown connection of the game. 

Northwestern got its first stop of the second half after forcing an Irmo punt near midfield. This allowed Northwestern to retake the lead after another successful drive passing the ball. Vance grabbed his second touchdown in the endzone to put the Trojans up 31-24 with just over four minutes left. 

With the game on the line, Irmo needed to get into the endzone. All season, the team relied on A.J. to make big plays. The game plan stayed the same on their final drive, and it worked just as it had done before. 

A.J. kept Irmo’s driving going and moved into Northwestern territory after a 49-yard run. Then Brand threw a deep ball to Murph who leaped up and came down with it in the endzone for the tying touchdown. 

 ”You think about going for two in a situation like that,” coach Brand said. “But I thought, three timeouts left, we potentially could get a stop.” 

Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, there was still 1:43 left on the clock for Northwestern’s offense. The Trojans’ passing game had been beating Irmo’s defense all game and it continued to do so on this possession. 

Northwestern went through the air and picked up three different first downs before getting the ball inside the Irmo 20-yard line. From there, the Trojans drained the clock to one second and marched Fish on for the championship-winning kick. 

The ball sailed right through the uprights, sending the Northwestern sideline into a craze, and the Irmo sideline into a quiet and stunning shock. 

“Those guys playing a heck of a game,” coach Brand said of Northwestern. “I don't want to take anything away from them, but I wish we could get back one or two drives.”

Northwestern’s win gave the program its first championship since 2015. The Trojans finished the season 14-0. 

Irmo ends its year 13-2. Its only losses came against Northwestern and Dutch Fork, the two 5A champions this season. 

 ”This one loss doesn't define what we're doing, what type of team we are, what caliber of coaches we have or anything. It's just a lesson,” A.J. said. “You're going to take more losses in life than wins. So ultimately, we just got to learn from this. Guys going to college, guys coming back next year to get back to this spot, they just have to take this all in.”

This was the last game for Irmo stars like A.J. and Murph. Both will continue their football careers at a Division One school. Brad signed with Virginia Tech, and Murph has yet to make his college decision but is considering South Carolina and Clemson as potential landing spots. 

After the game coach Brand pulled A.J. aside and spoke to him not just as a coach but as a dad. 

“ Just wanted him to know this won't be the last time he loses a football game,” coach Brand said. “I don't know if he'll ever get this moment back, you know, high school is so special for guys, for athletes, because when you get to the next level, money starts getting involved. And anytime you involve money in a situation that changes relationships. So, he's got to be on point and … just got to enjoy these moments and learn.” 

It was a spectacular year for A.J. who finished with over 2,500 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing and was named South Carolina’s Gatorade Football Player of the Year. For Murph, he finished this season with over 1,000 yards receiving and 14 touchdowns. 

“ Don and AJ and Ryan Love and those seniors, especially Matt Blocker and those guys just had tremendous careers. We broke records that may not even ever come back around again,” coach Brand said. “The sun will come up in the morning, we'll see brighter days.”