South Carolina ties unite Hough and South Pointe football coaches

CAMERON WILLIAMS | THE CHARLOTTE POST

Carolina Panthers coach Dave Canales flips a coin to determine jersey choice between Rock Hill South Pointe High coach Bobby Collins (left) and Hough's Deshawn Baker May 7, 2025 at a press conference at Bank of America Stadium. Hough and South Point will play Aug. 22 at the Keep Pounding Classic.

Rock Hill South Pointe football coach Bobby Collins and Hough coach Deshawn Baker have a unique bond.

The two played college football together at South Carolina State and will square off Aug. 22 in the Keep Pounding Classic at Bank of America Stadium. Collins was in Baker’s shoes not long ago. He was Hough’s coach when the school opened and coached at other area programs prior to that. Even so, Collins’ Palmetto State roots are a bit deeper.

“I’m a South Carolina guy born and raised,” he said. “I started my career off at West Meck. From West Meck I went to Providence Day and then from there I became the first head coach at Hough. Charlotte has some really great football, there is no doubt about that. I am excited to be in Football City USA and excited to be a part of South Pointe football and the tradition there.”
Collins said it is an honor to rally the school for such a large event.

“This is what people want to see,” he said. “Hough is full of great talent, and this is a game where you are going to have two of the best defensive backs in the states of North and South Carolina on the same field (Hough’s Samari Matthews and South Pointe’s J’Zavien Currence). It is going to be really exciting for the players, coaches and fans as well.”

Collins acknowledges he and Baker have a unique bond from their time at South Carolina State, one of the top Black college programs.

“I was a fifth-year senior at South Carolina State when he was a freshman,” Collins said. “I used to call him my secret weapon because I know he could run the football really well and he ran it hard. I played offensive line, and he played right behind me. We are fraternity brothers, so that bond is very unique.”

Baker is looking forward to the game for similar reasons.

“For me, it's really good because coach Collins was the first head coach at Hough High School, and we played together in college,” he said, “so it's going to be a big game. And we plan on making it a big scene.”
When Hough and South Pointe square off, it is game on, friendships on hold.

“I think once we get started, and the game gets kicked off and everything like that, I don't think either one of us will be looking at you know him opening up Hough or playing together,” Baker said. “But I do think it's electric to me to be playing against my former teammate and also my [fraternity] brother.”

Said Collins: “The goal is to win that football game and while Baker and I are tight, we both want this one really badly.”

Baker said the Huskies must be disciplined to win and he is confident they will come out on top.

“I don’t know if they will present us with any challenges,” he said. “We played one of the best teams in Rock Hill last year in Northwestern (and lost 45-44). But our guys are going to play with grit and no matter who is in front of us, no matter where you are from, we have to do our job and play Hough football.”

To play a Mecklenburg County power like Hough is something Collins wants and beating such a program is a stamp as one of the best teams in the Carolinas.

“This game is huge for us,” he said. “We have one goal at South Pointe and that is to win a state championship, but you can’t win that unless you beat really good teams. To have a test like this in week one is going to be good for the guys on the team. 

“Hough had just two losses last year – to (Greensboro) Grimsley and to (Rock Hill) Northwestern – and both of those teams won state championships last year, so this will be a really good opening test to see where we are at.”

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