A season lost is now a season reborn at Denmar-Olar. Less than a week after its last two games were suspended for using ineligible players, the team was sporting helmets and shoulder pads once again.

“It was not any fault of the children, our students, out boys and I think they understood that, says Bamberg District Two superintendent Dr. Secaida Howell. “We have cleaned up the mess the best we know how. We don’t except corruption, we don’t except anything that’s unethical, illegal or insured.”

I seemed Denmark-Olar would not play a game here or anywhere else for that matter. But thanks to a unanimous decision by the South Carolina High School League appeals board, the Vikings will once again be able to play under the Friday Night Lights.

“It’s not only a victory for our boys and our students, it’s a victory for our community,”says Dr. Howell.

Vikings head coach Tony Felder resigned last week after the high school league handed down the initial punishment. Bamberg District Two superintendent Dr. Secaida Howell says simple procedures weren’t followed.

“A potpourri of mismanagement, poor administration, birth certificates not matching birthdates on forms, things anybody could have corrected, but they were not corrected and so the high school league made us aware of that,” says Dr. Howell.

Dr. Howell is now hoping students, learn something from this experience.

“I’m gonna use this as a learning tool and teaching tool for our boys and our students…honesty is the best policy,” says Dr. Howell.