The 1985 Clarke Central High School varsity football team is shown in the 1985-86 CCHS yearbook. After falling short in the 1984 Georgia High School Association Class 4-AAAA State Championship against Valdosta High School, the Gladiators came back and won it in 1985, this time against Warner Robins High School. “We had everything, it was very methodical and explosive. We could score quick, grind you out (and) grind the clock,” former CCHS varsity football full back David Perno, a then-senior and current head varsity football coach, said. “The most impressive stat is anytime our defense gave up points, our offense always answered, whether it was a touchdown or a field goal, every time.” Photo courtesy of the Gladius yearbook archives
After falling short in the 1984 state championship, the 1985 varsity football Gladiators turned their heartbreak into history, bringing CCHS its third football state title.
During a cold, high-tension game on Dec. 15, 1984, the scoreboard at Valdosta High School told a story the Clarke Central High School varsity football team did not want to read again.
Facing VHS in the 1984-1985 Georgia High School Association Class 4-AAAA State Championship game, a 13-1 season that had promised so much, ended in heartbreak.
The Gladiators lost by a final score of 21-14.
Brady Sigler, the 1985 Clarke Central High School varsity football defensive backs coach, speaks with 1985 CCHS head varsity football coach Billy Henderson during a game in the 1985-86 season. For 1985 CCHS varsity football fullback David Perno, who has been the CCHS head varsity football coach since 2019, the values he learned on the team in 1985 still guide his coaching today. “Coach Henderson was, without question, one of the most impactful men in my life. The culture he built back in ’77 (when he came to CCHS) was very influential,” Perno said. “The (1985 team’s) makeup, our dynamic and the character of that team took on him and as I have grown, I have took on his personality.” Photo courtesy of the Gladius yearbook archives
“We were really good. We could have won it, (but) just something tragic happened and we fell short,” 1985 CCHS varsity football quarterback Robbie Kamerschen, a then-junior, said. “It felt like we were super well-prepared (and) it was heartbreaking.”
The CCHS Class of 1984 was a powerhouse under former CCHS head varsity football coach Billy Henderson. With players like Willie Green, who went on to the University of Mississippi and won two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos; Derrick Little, who became a sixth-round NFL Draft pick from the University of South Carolina and Chris Morocco, who started as quarterback for Clemson University, CCHS’ roster was stacked with talent.
To the outside world, 1985 was supposed to be a rebuilding season.
“(The Class of 1985) was looked down upon physically compared to the group before,” Brady Sigler, the CCHS varsity football defensive backs coach from fall of 1984 to spring of 1985, said. “With all these superstars walking out the door, the guys that were coming back were being told, ‘There’s no way you’re going to play for the state title. We lost too many stars.’”
But the pain of losing in 1984 did not go away with that graduating class. It became fuel for the next year.
“(We had) 37 seniors who were extremely close and had lived through the disappointment of getting beat for the state championship our junior year,” former CCHS varsity football full back David Perno, a then-senior and current head varsity football coach, said. “We committed. After that season, it was going to be different. We (were) going to finish the following year.”
That commitment was shown from the first snap of the new season in August of 1985. CCHS powered through its early opponents, putting up back-to-back 28-0 shutouts in its opening two games against Fulton County High School and Tift County High School. The first real test came when the Gladiators faced Lowndes High School, the only team the 1984 Gladiators had lost to during the regular season.
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A series of graphics highlights key figures from the 1985 Clarke Central High School varsity football team in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the school’s last state championship. Jefferey Mack, 1985 team’s free safety and backup quarterback, saw the formula that kept the Gladiators strong through the season’s end.“Coach Henderson was one of a kind. He saw things before they happened. When he came to Athens-Clarke County in 1970, right after integration, his goal was to unite people. Black and white players became one team,” Mack said. “Our values were simple: team first, no individuality, just sportsmanship, determination and heart. We practiced hard, gave 110 percent, and it showed. We went 15-0 that season.” Stories by David Wang, photos by Miriam Silk and Iliana Tejada, graphics by Lea D’Angelo
This time, however, CCHS flipped the script. In what would become their closest game of the year, the Gladiators won 29-20.
“(The 1985 team) had been playing together since they were really young. They had unity. They were the most cohesive unit that believed in each other and cared for each other that I’ve been around,” Sigler said. “They were winners. They were competitors, but the biggest thing was they believed in themselves.”
By the end of the regular season, that belief turned into dominance. The Gladiators finished 10-0 before winning two Region 8 4-AAAA playoff games and having a 12-0 record heading into the GHSA Class 4-AAAA state playoffs.
It was the program’s 16th state playoffs campaign and 13th under Henderson. The Gladiators won their first two state playoff games by a combined score of 25-9, continuing to build momentum.
“Success breeds success, so it stands to reason that the ‘85 team stood on the edifice of the previous teams,” 1985 CCHS English department teacher George Harwood said. “People wanted to please Billy Henderson and when you have someone who is a disciplinarian, who cares and loves kids the way he did, you’re going to get results.”
A timeline shows the Clarke Central High School varsity football team’s scores leading up to the championship game of the 1985 season. Timeline by Liya Taylor
Their final challenge came against Warner Robins High School, another undefeated team hungry for redemption after being eliminated by VHS 28-0 in the first round of the state playoffs a year earlier.
On Dec. 14, 1985, in CCHS’ very own Billy Henderson Stadium, it was game time.
The Gladiators wasted no time setting the tone. CCHS’ defense recovered three WRHS fumbles, turning the first two into 31 and 41-yard field goals by CCHS varsity football kicker John Kasay, a then-senior who went on to have a 21 season NFL career. On the Gladiators’ first possession of the second quarter, Kamerschen connected with CCHS varsity football wide receiver Tommy Stewart, a then-senior, for a 53-yard touchdown.
“We felt like if we could run the ball, (WRHS’) defensive backs would start sneaking up to try and stop the run and if they did that, then we could throw a deep one behind them, and that’s what finally happened,” Kamerschen said. “We faked the run, (Stewart) got behind, scored the touchdown and we never looked back. That was huge momentum.”
Despite one fumble of their own, the Gladiators entered halftime leading 13-7. On CCHS’ first possession in the third quarter, CCHS varsity football tailback Richard Jewel, a then-senior, broke free for a 54-yard touchdown run, extending the Gladiators’ lead.
“We took on (Henderson’s) personality. We were disciplined, we were very tough mentally, and it was all about us. There were no individuals,” Perno said. “If you look back, Jewel scored (a) 54-yard touchdown (and) when he crosses the goal line, there’s no individual celebration. He turns around and waits for a mob of us to jump on him. He scores, but it wasn’t about him.”
Following Jewel’s touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, the Gladiators’ defense clamped down and never let go. CCHS shut out the Demons for the rest of the game, protecting their lead until the final whistle.
The 21-7 victory brought CCHS its third football state championship.
“When the clock finally struck zero, it was crazy and something you’ll never forget,” Perno said. “(The 37 seniors) had been playing together since we were in the seventh (or) eighth grade, and we were all really close. It was extremely unique and very gratifying to win.”
A gallery shows photos from the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Clarke Central High School varsity football championship winning the state championship, which took place at CCHS on Oct. 3. Photos by Miriam Silk and Maypop Wren
The 1985 Gladiators’ story is not just about victory but about resilience and unity. That championship remains the Gladiators’ last, a title that still stands 40 years later. As decades have passed, much has changed, but the values Perno learned as a fullback in 1985 still guide his coaching today.
“It’s never going to be like that again. Have we implemented a lot of things that Coach Henderson used to do? Absolutely, we have, but a lot of things we can’t,” Perno said. “We’re trying, but you’re just never going to be able to relive the great ‘80s at Clarke Central.”
With the current Gladiators holding a 6-6 overall record, it’s clear that the landscape of high school football across Northeast Georgia has shifted dramatically. Programs that were once small or rural have grown into athletic powerhouses, reshaping local competition and the flow of talent.
“Oconee County in the ’80s was a little tiny rural county, and now it’s a sleeper community for Athens, people are more and more settling in those areas,” Harwood said. “And don’t forget about Jefferson (High School). Jefferson was a tiny, tiny school and now they’re a AAA school.”
Even as new programs have risen, the echoes of 1985 still linger. For the players who helped bring home CCHS’ last state title, the season’s lessons and Henderson’s influence have stayed with them long after the final whistle.
Clarke Central High School head varsity football coach David Perno’s letter jacket and state championship ring from the 1985-86 season are shown in his office on Nov. 6. Photos by Kye Streetman
For CCHS varsity football tight end Derek Dooley, a 1985 senior, who went on to coach throughout the SEC and NFL with the Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, Henderson’s mentorship continues to guide him, even now as he runs for a seat in the United States Senate.
“One of the worst things you could do as a coach is (to make) a player think that you don’t believe in (them), and I was guilty of that a lot as a coach. But, always when I did it, I reflected back, and remembered that was Billy Henderson’s greatness. He made you think that he believed you were the greatest player ever to walk the planet,” Dooley said.
For Kamerschen, who helped the Stanford University baseball team win two national championships and now serves as a partner for Greenberg Traurig law firm, the 1985 season’s influence was equally impactful.
“Billy Henderson just had a massive, massive impact. I would go see him over Christmas every year, he would just be hanging out in his house, and me and my brother would go see him and sit with him for an hour and tell stories,” Kamerschen said. “I think people get jealous when we talk about our time at Clarke Central. We loved it, it was a crazy time.”
Forty years later, the 1985 Gladiators’ championship stands as more than a number on a scoreboard. It’s a reminder that while titles fade and times change, legacy doesn’t.
Once a Gladiator: Q&A with CCHS Class of 1986 alumnus Derek Dooley
Clarke Central High School Class of 1986 alumnus Derek Dooley stands with CCHS Gladiator Touchdown Club member Alan Posey and current CCHS Athletic Director Dr. Jon Ward (from left to right) in Billy Henderson Stadium on Oct. 3. Dooley, a former CCHS varsity football tight end and 1985-86 senior, recalled the team’s mental toughness that ultimately cemented their legacy into CCHS football lore. “We were ready. We never got frustrated. There were always times when it was tough. We played cold games, rainy games, mud games, and hot games. And we always brought our best.” Photo by Miriam Silk.
CCHS Class of 1986 alumnus Derek Dooley discusses the 1985 varsity football team’s performance and his career since then.
Sports Staffer David Wang: Can you describe how the bond within the 1985-86 CCHS varsity football team influenced the team’s mindset after the 1984 loss?
Clarke Central High School Class of 1986 alumnus Derek Dooley and former CCHS varsity football tight end: Our story really began long before that 1985 season. A lot of us had been playing together since seventh and eighth grade, and we built a special bond over the years, one that had nothing to do with race, income or where you came from. Nobody worried about that. We just loved each other, played for each other and had fun together. When we lost that state championship game in ’84, it really hurt because the only goal we ever had was to win a state title. But, that loss became the fire that fueled us. I think we were back in the weight room the next week. We weren’t going to let it happen again. By the time 1985 came around, we weren’t hoping to win. We expected to win.
DW: What mindset do you think led to your team’s success in 1985?
DD: One of the hardest things in athletics is consistency. (It’s about) showing up at your best, no matter what the circumstances are. And (consistency is) what we had. We played in the cold, in the rain, in the mud, and we never complained. Nobody got frustrated. Nobody turned on each other. That’s what mental toughness really means: being your best no matter what’s going on around you. We had great coaching and talent, sure, but what made us champions was our mindset. We believed in each other completely, and we refused to let negativity or doubt creep in.
A documentary about former Clarke Central High School head varsity football coach Billy Henderson is shown. Video courtesy of Chris Aiken
DW: How would you describe 1985 head varsity football coach Billy Henderson?
DD: Coach Henderson was unlike anyone I’ve ever met in my life. He could inspire and connect with anybody. It didn’t matter their background, their race, their income, their politics, none of that mattered to him. He had this incredible ability to make you believe that you were the best player in the world and that we had the greatest program on earth. And when a young person believes that deeply, they end up doing things they never thought were possible. There were so many times in my own coaching career when I’d be in a tough spot and I’d stop and ask myself, “What would Coach Henderson do?” because his influence never left me.
DW: What inspired your decision to leave a law career and pursue coaching?
DD: I was practicing law in Atlanta after finishing (law school) at the University of Georgia, and I liked it. It was challenging and competitive, and that part appealed to me. But, after a while, I realized something was missing. I missed that feeling of being part of a team, of working toward something bigger than yourself. Around that time, I was reading Colin Powell’s book (“My American Journey: An Autobiography,”) and he wrote that what he missed most after leaving the (United States) Army wasn’t the power or the title. It was being with the troops. That hit me hard. I thought, “That’s what I’m missing.” So, I walked away from a good job and started coaching. And I’ve never regretted it, because coaching gave me that purpose back. It’s a way to lead and serve in a way that makes a real difference.
DW: How did you balance the demands of coaching with your family life?
DD: When I was younger, I wasn’t great at balancing coaching and family life. My wife’s an OB-GYN and one of the most incredible people I know. She’s made me a better husband and father. But, coaching means moving a lot, and that’s tough on your family. My kids had to pack up, start over in new towns, and sometimes deal with people knowing who their dad was and hearing criticism they didn’t deserve. But those experiences made us closer. We learned that no matter where we moved, our family was our foundation. Coaching gave us challenges, but it also gave us perspective and I think it made us stronger together.
DW: After so many years in coaching, what lessons have stuck with you the most?
DD: There’s a saying I love: “Experience is like the comb you get after you go bald.” It means you usually gain wisdom after the fact. I look back and realize how much I grew. I was a much better coach, husband, and father in the second half of my career than I was in the first. Every setback taught me something. And I think the ability to self-assess, to ask yourself what you could have done better, even when you succeed, is one of the most important qualities a person can have.
DW: What does Clarke Central still mean to you today, after everything you’ve done?
DD: Clarke Central will always be home. Everything I’ve done since then, whether it was coaching in college or the NFL, goes back to those lessons of love, teamwork and belief. Coach Henderson taught us what it means to inspire people and bring out the best in them, and that’s something I’ve tried to carry with me my whole life. The connections and sacrifices we shared at Clarke Central formed a bond that lasts forever.
