Long before the buses arrived with the Bryan County football team, a sea of green began rising on the Aquinas High School campus as tailgating Irish faithful gathered under tents to enjoy food and the company of friends and family, and children played on the open grass.
Above them, a glimmer of a rainbow danced on sunbeam bringing a poetic foreshadowing in Irish territory.
It was no ordinary night at Aquinas Aug. 23. It was a night built on tradition as the Fightin’ Irish played and won their first game 42-20 in a new stadium, which is the centerpiece of a multimillion-dollar athletic complex.
“We’re excited to be back playing on Highland Avenue,” said Maureen Lewis, Aquinas principal, who called the night “magical.”
Last year, the team played one game on its former field before the demolition and construction began. Aquinas played the remainder of their home games at Greenbrier High School.
Aquinas embarked on a $12 million fundraising campaign with more than $8 million for a brand new stadium, new baseball field, practice football field, concession space and athletic training room. The remaining funds are for the school’s endowment.
Tony Garren, who graduated from Aquinas in 1982, wouldn’t have missed the first game in the new space. He is proud to have played for the Fightin’ Irish and has great memories of his days on the first field that was constructed in 1977.
“It was new then,” he said. “So, my kids played on it, and it was just awful. Now, it’s a beautiful facility.”
And one day, Garren said, his grandchildren will play on that new field.
Earle Lovering Jr., Class of 1986, played a few years after Garren did and was in awe of the new facility.
“It’s beautiful. I made a joke coming in that if we’d had this field, we would have scored 100 touchdowns,” said Lovering, who played on a varsity team with dismal records of 0-10 in 1984 and 0-9-1 in 1985
While Sean Mooney, Class of 2005, never played on the old field, he does have fond memories of Friday football. He took on the role of a lucky leprechaun mascot and donned a rented costume from Fat Man’s. He wielded the school’s spirit stick in the student section to energize the crowds during home games.
On Aug. 23, there was no leprechaun in the stands, but there was a palpable energy in the crowd who packed the stands and stood on the Irish side of the field.
“The boys at halftime were already talking about the energy the crowd brought,” said Coach James Leonard.
The crowds began their roar as the team headed down the hill and touched the lucky shamrock on their way into the new stadium.
And the team didn’t disappoint their fans.
The Fightin’ Irish drew first blood with wide receiver Jack Rhodes scoring on a 45-yard reception from Jim Franklin in the first quarter. Rhodes only made three receptions on the night, but he made them count. He had 91 yards and one touchdown.
In the second quarter, running back Christian Kates made the second touchdown with 9:55 left in the quarter. The Irish continued their assault less than two minutes later as Billy Barrett made a 45-yard fumble return putting the team ahead 21-0 after a PAT with 8:12 left in the first half.
Harrison Fitzgerald recovered a second fumble put the team at a first down at the 41-yard line. By the end of the drive, Aquinas was up 28-0 after a second touchdown by Kates. Kates ran the ball for a total of 81 yards on the night.
The team put up another TD after an interception by Barrett to lead 35-0.
The Fightin’ Irish went on to secure one last touchdown in the fourth quarter with 7:13 left putting them up 42-6.
The Redskins tried to rally scoring two late touchdowns, but it was too little too late.
“I’m proud of the boys. They played really hard,” Leonard said. “That’s the effort and intensity we’re looking for. It’s good to see them turn it on tonight.”
Aquinas evens its record at 1-1. Aug. 30 is a bye week for the team.
Nayla Reese, a junior at Augusta University, contributed to this story.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for more than 35 years and is a Georgia Press Association award winner. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
Mike Adams has won multiple Georgia Press Association Awards for his photography including eight in 2024.
