Dillon's kicker a hero to many

The definition of a hero can be many things to many people. For some Dillon residents, the definition included the group of students who helped bring home a state football championship title, especially their kicker, T.J. Grimsley.

By: Patricia Burkett | SCNow
Published: December 29, 2008

The definition of a hero can be many things to many people.

For some Dillon residents, the definition included the group of students who helped bring home a state football championship title.

The Dillon Wildcats won the class 2A state title for the first time in more than 60 years, and for Coach Jackie Hayes, it was the realization of years of hard work.

“It was like a dream come true, especially to go down basically to the last play of the game where we intercepted a pass with about 10 or 12 seconds to go in the game,” Hayes said.

“So you know, a tremendous experience. If you want to be in the state championship game and you want to be on the winning side, that’s the way you want it to turn out.”

Hayes said one of the most important plays of the game came from one of his most valued players, kicker T.J. Grimsley.

“He did a real good job with his kickoffs and the main thing was you know, he made the extra point to win the game,” Hayes said.

Grimsley said he never anticipated making such a big difference in the game and having an impact on the championship title.

“The line blocked, we got the snap off and it was just up to me to make it,” Grimsley said.

Grimsley said he felt it was a team effort during the entire season to get the championships, and he was just happy to be able to help.

“We’ve been to state a couple of times in the past years and we’ve never been able to actually finish it up and then this year, we did it and that one extra point helped,” Grimsley said.

Hayes said every player had a big part in bringing home the championship, but it was unusual for a player like Grimsley to make such a big difference in the game.

“We’re talking about a kid that’s about 5’3”, 5’4” and weighs about 105 pounds and you know everybody was kind of picking at us a little bit about our kicker, but the thing about him was, he came up big in a lot of big plays,” said Hayes.

Grimsley said he doesn’t look at himself as a hero of any sorts, but instead as someone who helped bring something special back, to the community he loves.

Hayes said Grimsley’s impact on the season and especially in the championship game went far beyond the football field and into the lives of those around him.

Hayes said, “It’s brought a lot of excitement to the community and a lot of people feeling real proud because you know…we finally got it done.”