LAURINBURG — The dictionary defines the word “team” as: noun 1. a group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport; verb 1. come together as a team to achieve a common goal.

But to simplify that definition, it could be: Scotland High football 2018.

The Fighting Scots will be making their second straight appearance in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s Class 4A championship on Saturday, when they take on East Forsyth at Wallace Wade Stadium on the campus of Duke University. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

For days, even weeks, fans have been getting regular updates on the team from head coach Richard Bailey during his radio show at Jerry’s Deli, through stories by The Laurinburg Exchange Sports Editor Brandon Tester and WLNC radio sports director Justin McNickle.

But there is another side to those — from beyond those directly attached to the team.

“It’s been pretty exciting,” said Brian Edkins, the second-year principal at Scotland High. “I’m happy for the boys. Hopefully we can bring it (the title) home.”

Pride is a common denominator for most fans throughout the county, and Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Chris English said this team has put Scotland County in front of the minds of many outside the region.

“Being a former Fighting Scot, I know this is a magical thing for these guys,” he said. “This team is showing the heart of Scotland County to the rest of the state.”

He added: “To have this kind of winning environment for the past several years — we just have great coaching and talent. I’ve known a lot of these kids since their flag football days (and) they’ve always been hard-working with a lot of heart. This season has been a true team effort.”

There’s that team thing again — and that was another key ingredient for this season’s success, according to many.

Scotland High entered the 2018 season after losing 32 seniors to graduation, including the nation’s No. 1-ranked running back in Zamir White, who was off to Georgia.

Then it got worse.

Injury after injury, along with the loss of key coaches, began to add up and challenge Bailey and his staff.

Add to that Mother Nature’s wrath that brought Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael through the region, creating a wonky schedule to make up games, and it became a perfect storm of disarray.

Bailey, who has said numerous times that this has been his most difficult season on the sidelines, didn’t give up. He knew special things could be on the horizon.

“Richard Bailey and I spoke before the season, and he knew it would be an uphill climb — but he also knew these kids had it in them to be successful,” said Scotland County Schools Superintendent Ron Hargrave. “If you could really watch the transition of this team, you’d see something incredible. They’ve managed to bring pride and togetherness throughout the county.”

Scotland battled through the regular season to post a 5-5 overall mark, good enough for a No. 10 seed in the Class 4A East playoffs. And that’s when things really began to gel and the magic happened. Every game in the playoffs became an upset with wins over Jordan High, Cardinal Gibbons, Pine Forest and Seventy-First by a combined margin of 88-52 — the first two were one-point wins.

Nobody outside of the coaching staff and players has lived with the challenges of the 2018 Fighting Scots football team more intimately than Laura Bailey, the wife of the head coach. She’s witnessed first-hand her husband’s ups and downs throughout the season — including a huge personal question.

“There was a lot of uncertainty, and Richard was questioning his own coaching abilities at one point,” she said. “It’s been so much harder this season, but also so much more rewarding.

“No matter what happens Saturday, I’m just so proud of these kids,” she added.

Sandy Callan, the news director for WLNC radio, may not have had a front-row seat for the season, but he certainly knows the history of Scotland football successes and closely followed this team’s climb.

“This has been a surprise to almost everyone,” he said. “The general consensus was that the team wouldn’t do a lot.

“But you’ve got to give it to these players — they’ve really stepped up,” he added. “This has been a true team effort; they just gelled and kept working hard.”

Regardless of whether this team brings home the championship hardware Saturday, those who have followed the Fighti9ng Scots this season have already crowned it as the epitome and definition of a team effort.

W. Curt Vincent can be reached at 910-506-3023 or [email protected].

Community pride in team evident throughout county

W. Curt Vincent

Editor