I didn’t get much done on Monday. It began with a trip to Clinton-Newberry Natural Gas Authority for an announcement of a new commemoration of the rivalry between the Red Devils and the Bulldogs over a week. Stay tuned. This is the week Clinton visits Laurens.
The Red Devils have won the past two games, but the Laurens County rivals have split the past 18.
Meanwhile, some explanation is in order. This is the 100th anniversary of Clinton High football because the first documented full season was in 1923. However, Clinton first played Newberry on Oct. 8, 1920.
CNNGA has crafted a large belt, the kind often identified with pro wrestling, to be awarded to the winner of the annual football game between Clinton and Newberry.
While Clinton was winning, 50-28, at Batesburg-Leesville, Laurens Academy was playing about 40 miles away in North Augusta against the home-schooled Augusta Eagles.
The Eagles spoiled Jolly Doolittle’s debut as Crusaders head coach, scoring in the final minute to defeat LA, 20-14.
Ethan Collins hooked up on a 78-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Murphy, and the same connection hiked the edge to 8-0 with a two-point conversion. The score was 8-6 after a quarter.
Jared Willard hit Buddy Baker on a 38-yard scoring toss in the second quarter to put the Crusaders up, 14-6, at halftime.
Augusta tied the game in the third quarter. An inadvertent whistle cost LA a fourth-quarter score after an Eagles rusher’s fumble was apparently returned for a TD.
The Eagles won by virtue of a touchdown in the final quarter.
Richard Winn Academy, a longtime LA rival, visits Todd Kirk Field on Friday night.
Travija Austin, who scored Laurens’ only touchdown against Hillcrest on a 55-yard interception return, is the first Laurens County Touchdown Club Player of the Week.
Austin, a senior defensive back, also had three solo tackles and an assist. Head coach Daryl Smith stated, “Travija Austin is an outstanding young man and a hard worker. He is a very physical tackler with outstanding speed. He has also grown into one of our leaders on defense this year.”
Austin’s distinction, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance, is to be celebrated at the TD Club’s first noon meeting on Thursday at The Ridge. The speakers are the county’s high-school coaches: Smith of Laurens, Corey Fountain of Clinton, Doolittle of Laurens Academy and Charlie Washington of Thornwell.
The state football media poll is out, with Clinton moving up from fourth to third in Class 3A.
Former Clinton assistant Mathew Bennett is now head coach at Ninety Six, and the Wildcats won on the road at Emerald in Bennett’s first night at the helm of the Wildcats. Ninety Six received votes in the Class 2A rankings.
Hillcrest, which defeated Laurens, 55-9, is ranked ninth in Class 5A, and upcoming Raider opponent T.L. Hanna is seventh. Chapman, which plays both Clinton and Laurens, is 10th in 3A. Belton-Honea Path, which visits Laurens on Sept. 1, is sixth. Clinton’s Region 4-3A rival Chester is ranked fifth.
CLASS 5A: 1. Summerville (8), 2. Byrnes (5), 3. Dutch Fork (6), 4. Gaffney, 5. Fort Dorchester, 6. Sumter (2), 7. T.L. Hanna 8. Lexington 9. Hillcrest, 10. Spartanburg. Others receiving votes: Dorman, River Bluff, Cane Bay, J.L. Mann, White Knoll, Carolina Forest, Nation Ford.
CLASS 4A: 1. Greenville (11), 2. South Florence (3), 3. Northwestern (4), 4. South Pointe (2), 5. Hartsville (1), 6. James Island, 7. Westside, 8. Catawba Ridge, 9. Greenwood,10. (tie) Irmo 10. (tie) Ridge. Others receiving votes: West Florence, Indian Land, North Augusta.
CLASS 3A: 1. Dillon (16), 2. Daniel (2), 3. Clinton (2), 4. Camden, 5. Chester, 6. Belton-Honea Path, 7. Beaufort, 8. Gilbert, 9. Broome, 10. Chapman (1). Others Philip Simmons, Hanahan
CLASS 2A: 1. Abbeville (17), 2. Gray Collegiate (4), 3. Oceanside Collegiate, 4. Fairfield Central, 5. Marion, 6. Andrew Jackson, 7. Silver Bluff, 8. Strom Thurmond, 9. Hampton County, 10. Saluda: Others receiving votes: Barnwell, Woodland, Ninety Six, Blacksburg, Newberry.
CLASS A: 1. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (13), 2. Christ Church (4), 3. Lewisville (1), 4. Lamar (3), 5. St. Joseph, 6. Southside Christian, 7. Whale Branch, 8. Calhoun County, 9. Lake View, 10. Johnsonville. Others receiving votes: Latta, Cross, Johnsonville, Wagener-Salley, Denmark-Olar, Blackville-Hilda, Hannah-Pamplico, Hunter-Kinard-Tyler, Baptist Hill, C.A. Johnson, Great Falls.
Clinton-Laurens tickets are available in advance at Wilson’s Curb Market in Clinton and Chris Callahan State Farm in Laurens.
The game will be broadcast on WLBG-FM 106.1 (AM 860), beginning at 6:05 p.m., and on WPCC-FM 96.5 (AM 1410), starting at 7. WPCC’s Saturday Morning Rewind is 9-10:30 a.m, followed by a replay of Friday night’s game.
Presbyterian College’s women’s soccer team has fallen twice by identical 1-0 scores versus Furman at home and Kennesaw State on the road.
PC’s football Fan Day is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday morning at Bailey Memorial Stadium. The Blue Hose open on Sept. 2 at Murray (Ky.) State. A week later, Virginia University of Lynchburg visits PC.
Ava Jay, a former Coker player, has joined David Williams’ PC softball staff. Jay spent a year coaching at Louisburg College, a juco program that won 63 games in the spring.
The season’s upon us. Help me cover the county — and my beloved Furman Paladins — by sending a check to DHK Sports, P.O. Box 768, Clinton, S.C. 29325 or becoming a patron here. Support our advertisers and tell them we sent you. It’s going to be fun. Help make it, uh, funner.
I also make ends meet with the books I write. There’s something here to strike your fancy. They don’t cost much. Buy one or two or five.
I’m hosting an Open Mic at Fiesta Grande in Clinton (see the ad) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Bring your instrument and friends to cheer you on.
Nightrider's Lament 