CAIRO — One of the most storied high school football programs in South Georgia celebrates a milestone this season.

When the Cairo Syrupmakers take the field Friday night at West Thomas Stadium for their season opener against Brooks County, it will mark 100 years of football for the storied program. It’s an achievement that the whole town can celebrate in.

“It’s something we’re definitely proud of,” Cairo athletic director and former football coach Tom Fallaw said. “Cairo is known throughout the state. Since I moved here in 1999 or 2000, it’s been home to me, and one that I didn’t know that I’d be here for so long and have stayed for reasons that made this town so great. There’s a lot of people that have a lot of pride in the programs here from the band to the football to the school.”

The football team has established itself as a football powerhouse in South Georgia. In the previous 99 years of football, Cairo won three state championships, produced Super Bowl winners and countless other athletes who have starred at the collegiate level.

Fallaw led the Syrupmakers to their most recent state title in 2008, when players such as Angelo Pease and Reginald Bryand helped lead Cairo past Flowery Branch. Cairo also won state championships in 1990 and 1946. 

The program produced Bill Stanfill, who starred at the University of Georgia and played for the fabled 1972 Miami Dolphins team that finished undefeated.

But the historical success would not be possible without the support the team receives every Friday night, whether it is at home or on the road.

“The town itself just has such an immense pride in the programs from the band to the football that it just makes you proud to be a part of it,” Fallaw said. “That’s the thing, you always want to coach or teach or work in places where it feels like family and that you’re valued. Definitely in the athletic programs and those things that are here at the high school, you feel valued. It makes you proud to represent them.”

That support will be on display Friday night when the team’s new artificial surface will be played on for the first time. The new turf, that was approved by the board of education last winter, not only provides the Syrupmakers a new surface for games, it also gives the team a place for practice without fears of damaging the field. 

“It’s definitely something that’s been in the plans for a while,” Fallaw said. “We’ve struggled to keep the playing field in condition. We’ve always had problems with drainage. It always was an athletic director’s nightmare. You just felt like you were constantly telling people to be careful with the field.

“We definitely want to thank our board of education and our superintendent who had a plan, developed and came through with the field being done.”

Cairo fans are encouraged to wear all black for Friday night’s “Black Out” against Brooks County.