South Pointe’s Stallions are wire-to-wire Sweet 16 football champions
It took Rock Hill South Pointe’s Strait Herron a long time to get a head coaching job. He applied or interviewed for 15 jobs before South Pointe promoted him from defensive coordinator.
Herron got a phone call from South Pointe school officials in the spring of 2011 with the job offer just as he and his family were sitting down for dinner.
“He was really in tears,” Herron’s wife, Brigitte Herron, said at the time. “It’s been a lifelong dream of his.”
Herron has quickly developed into one of the top high school football coaches in the Carolinas. This season, South Pointe won its fourth straight state championship game and its second straight Charlotte Observer Sweet 16 championship.
South Pointe has won 20 straight playoff games and Herron has won five state championships in his seven seasons.
South Pointe won its third Sweet 16 banner this season, going No. 1 from the preseason poll to the end. The top four teams in the final poll are all state champions. No. 2 Charlotte Catholic won N.C. 4A; No. 3 Charlotte Christian won N.C. Independent Division I and No. 4 Harding won the N.C. 4A state title. It was Harding’s first state championship since 1953.
Final Charlotte Observer 2017 Sweet 16 football poll
Rk. | Team (Class) | Rec. | Prvs. |
1 | Rock Hill South Pointe (4A) | 15-0 | 1 |
2 | Charlotte Catholic | 16-0 | 3 |
3 | Charlotte Christian | 10-1 | 4 |
4 | Harding (4A) | 14-1 | 5 |
5 | Mallard Creek (4A) | 14-1 | 2 |
6 | Hough (4A) | 11-4 | 6 |
7 | Vance (4A) | 11-4 | 7 |
8. | Lenoir Hibriten (2A) | 15-0 | 11 |
9. | Myers Park (4A) | 12-2 | 8 |
10. | Butler (4A) | 8-3 | 9 |
11. | Providence (4A) | 9-4 | 10 |
12 | Shelby (2A) | 11-3 | 11 |
13 | Concord Robinson (3A) | 11-2 | 13 |
14 | Sun Valley (3A) | 11-4 | 14 |
15 | Belmont South Point (2A) | 12-1 | 15 |
T16 | Hickory Ridge (4A) | 11-3 | T16 |
T16 | Kings Mountain (3A) | 12-2 | T16 |
Previous Sweet 16 Winners
2016: Rock Hill South Pointe | 1998: Richmond Senior |
2015: Charlotte Catholic | 1997: Richmond Senior |
2014: Mallard Creek | 1996: Hickory |
2013: Mallard Creek | 1995: Spartanburg |
2012: Butler | 1994: Boiling Springs Crest |
2011: Rock Hill South Pointe | 1993: Rock Hill Northwestern |
2010: Butler | 1992: Timmonsville |
2009: Butler | 1991: Great Falls |
2008: Rock Hill South Pointe | 1990: Camden |
2007: Charlotte Latin | 1989: Richmond Senior |
2006: Independence | 1988: Richmond Senior |
2005: Independence | 1987: Lewisville |
2004: Independence | 1986: Lewisville |
2003: Independence | 1985: Marshville Forest Hills |
2002: Independence | 1984: Marshville Forest Hills |
2001: Independence | |
2000: Independence | |
1999: Richmond Senior |
This story was originally published December 21, 2017 at 6:28 PM with the headline "South Pointe’s Stallions are wire-to-wire Sweet 16 football champions."