The Clinton-at-Laurens game will start a little late in the 96^th meeting of the Red Devils and Raiders on Friday night at K.C. Hanna Stadium.

Friday is forecast to be the hottest day of the year to date, and the game has been moved back from 7:30 p.m. to 8 in order to let the heat subside.

This also allows fans to arrive early a little later. Gates open at 6:30.

Once again, on Thursday, the cross country teams of the two schools will run the game ball from Clinton, site of last year’s game, to Laurens. The Red Devils will set out from Wilder Stadium and pass it off to the Raiders at Clemson Eye on Hwy. 76.

The Raiders will then tote the pigskin to Laurens’ square, where it is scheduled to arrive at 7 p.m.

Also on Thursday is the junior varsity game between the two schools, scheduled for 6 p.m. at Wilder Stadium in Clinton. Don’t be surprised if the game begins a little late owing to the heat.

The county’s four high school coaches – Corey Fountain of Clinton, Daryl Smith of Laurens, Jolly Doolittle of Laurens Academy and Charlie Washington of Thornwell – are the focus of Thursday’s Laurens County Touchdown Club luncheon opener at The Ridge in Laurens, beginning at noon.

The meeting is open to non-members at a cost of $15 at the door.

Al’Lonzo Coleman — who played basketball professionally in Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Iceland, Finland, Israel, France, Dominican Republic, Hungary and Turkey – is back in Clinton.

Coleman was Presbyterian College’s first All-Big South player (first team) in 2012. After 11 years of pro basketball, he is joining Quenton Ferrell as assistant coach.

“Al’Lonzo is an all-time great student-athlete at PC and arguably the best player in school history,” stated Ferrell. “In Al’Lonzo they have an example of someone who had the PC experience and was able to make all of his dreams come true by getting a top-notch degree, becoming a professional basketball player and building real relationships that will last forever all from making the decision to attend Presbyterian College.”

A Charlotte, N.C., native, Coleman graduated from Presbyterian with a degree in business management with a double minor in physical education and coaching in 2012.

“I am extremely excited to come back to PC and to help develop these young men to be the best they possibly can be on and off the court,” Coleman said. “I am looking forward to doing something special with this program.”

A rivalry is also taking place at Todd Kirk Field at Laurens Academy, where the Crusaders (0-1) take on Richard Winn. The game has also been moved from 7:30 to 8.

The Eagles have won 10-12 games against Laurens Academy, which fell in its opener, 20-16, against the Augusta Eagles.

This is Winn’s opening game. In Winnsboro on Aug. 11, the Eagles edged the Crusaders, 2-0, in a quarter-long scrimmage.

Winn is one of two schools LA plays twice this season. Laurens Academy has never lost to Newberry Academy in seven games.

Thornwell, now a public charter school, plays its first varsity football game in 16 years at Calhoun Falls Charter (0-1) on Friday night.

Blackville-Hilda defeated the Blue Flashes, 51-6, last week.

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I’m hosting an Open Mic at Fiesta Grande on Wednesday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. Come joins us whether to participate or enjoy. At least one original song about high school football is likely to be performed.