"This was the ‘20”

year revenge’ right here because we lost in the state championship 20 years ago. So, hopefully, those teammates can a little big happy through me."

As a running back for Lexington High School, Dustin Curtis played for the 2000 Class 4A state runner-up led by coaching legend the late Jimmy Satterfield.

Fast forward 20 years Saturday night at Charlie W. Johnson Stadium and Curtis was the head football coach of the 2020 Class 4A state champion.

His AC Flora football team defeated North Myrtle Beach 42-7 to close out the “Weekend of Champions”.

After allowing a touchdown following a fumble on the 1st play from scrimmage, the Falcons scored 42 unanswered points to earn the program’s 1st ever title and 1st for Richland School District 1 since Lower Richland in 1970. 

Quarterback Ethan Beamish threw 3 touchdowns, 2 to Eriq Rice, and Matt Pack, Markell Townsend and Terrell Coleman each rushed for a score for the Falcons (10-0)

For Curtis, the victory had added significance from a personal standpoint. He reflected on his former head coach and teammates, who lost 31-24 to Dorman in that title game. 

“Man, I really miss that dude,” he said. “I really, really miss that guy. He taught me a lot about character. He was the same guy every day. He was always so positive with us. He built a real program that was based on family and based on being fundamentally sound and he is someone I’ll never really forget.

“I was actually messaging some of my old teammates, saying this was the ‘20-year revenge’ right here because we lost in the state championship 20 years ago. So, hopefully, those teammates can a little big happy through me. But man, what an awesome, awesome experience.”