ORANGEBURG, S.C. — There is no doubt about what AJ Brand has meant to Irmo football.
Playing for his father, head coach Aaron Brand, Sr., AJ has flourished into someone who signed with Virginia Tech but not before a late push from South Carolina.
The younger Brand showed why he was so heavily recruited as the state's reigning Gatorade Player of the Year brought his A-game to the 5A Division II state finals.
Brand rushed for 168 yards and two touchdowns, while throwing for 151 yards and two scores as Irmo waged a valiant effort against unbeaten Northwestern who kicked a last-second field goal for a 34-31 win.
After the game, the coach was presented with the state runner-up trophy which is accepted and then handed it to his son on the sidelines. Neither person wanted that particular trophy but it did represent the final high school game where both Brands were on the sidelines together.
The son will enroll early at Virginia Tech, while the father will continue his push to lead Irmo to its first state championship in football since 1980.