By MONTE DUTTON

Presbyterian College’s 48-17 victory over Virginia University of Lynchburg wasn’t a program changer, but it was a start.

The Blue Hose defeated an opponent – any opponent – soundly for the first time since Kevin Kelley coached his second game in 2021. Like Fort Lauderdale, VUL was barely a football program. The Dragons have one home game this year, which is one more than they had last year. PC defeated them, 21-13, in Steve Englehart’s first year. This one was considerably better. The Blue Hose ended a 10-game losing streak. The Dragons’ skid – at least 12 games — is active.

When Kelley, who thought the way most teams played football was obsolete, left, PC football could barely crawl. Now the Blue Hose can walk. Once the Pioneer Football League schedule commences, they may be able to run.

“[Defeating VUL] is a confidence builder,” said Englehart. “This game last year, we won the game, and I go into the locker room, and it’s dead silent, and everybody’s sitting in their chairs. They didn’t know how to win, and they didn’t know how to celebrate a win.

“This time the way they celebrated was fun to see. … We proved we could dominate a game.”

Next up, however, is Wofford (0-2), in Spartanburg, which has the considerable benefit of scholarships. The Blue Hose and Terriers are to tussle at Gibbs Stadium, beginning at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Wofford has won the past seven meetings. Last week the Terriers fell to an FCS power, William & Mary, 23-6. Pitt, of the ACC, won the opener, 45-7.

Shawn Watson, once the offensive coordinator at Pitt, took over as Wofford head coach during the 2022 season, going 3-3 to finish the season, begun with Josh Conklin at the helm, 3-7. Murray State (1-1) defeated PC, 41-10, in its opener.

Conklin, by the way, now coaches safeties and special teams at Arkansas State in Jonesboro.

“I don’t think any of these first three games gives us a great indication of who and what we can be,” Englehart said Monday. “It remains to be seen.

“I thought Wofford played Pitt pretty tough. It was kind of a slow death. … I don’t think, until you get in conference play, that you have a great indication.”

Not only is Presbyterian 1-1. The Blue Hose have both scored and allowed 58 points.

By any measure, the trip from Clinton to Spartanburg is mostly uphill. After visiting Wofford, the Blue Hose take a week off before opening the Pioneer Football League schedule at Butler (Indianapolis, Ind.) on Sept. 30.

The Laurens County Touchdown Club named Laurens Academy’s Buddy Baker its Player of the Week, sponsored by Farm Bureau Insurance.

Baker, a senior, put up a passel of statistics in the Crusaders’ 36-34 home victory over Oakbrook Prep. He plays running back, linebacker and on special teams.

He rushed for 144 yards in 23 carries, caught four passes for 44 yards and two touchdowns. He ran in a two-point conversion. He made three tackles, one for loss and forced a fumble. He clinched the win by intercepting a pass and returning it 25 yards with nine seconds to play.

“Buddy is everything you expect from a senior. He leads, he learns, and he loves,” stated head coach Jolly Doolittle.

“Buddy leads with words and actions. He is disciplined in his approach to health and readiness to play the game, has a high football IQ and loves his teammates. When the game was on the line Friday night, Buddy did what we knew he would. He Delivered.”The TD Club next meets on Sept. 21 at The Ridge in Laurens. The featured speaker is Newberry College head coach Todd Knight.

The centerpiece of Clinton High football’s season-long 100^th anniversary is on Friday night when eighth-ranked Chapman (3-1) visits second-ranked Clinton (4-0) at Wilder Stadium.

A 6 p.m. pregame celebration is to be held in the Clinton Middle School main gym adjacent to the stadium. Among the stars from the past slated to attend are J.D. Fuller, Al Richard, Alan Roebuck, Robert Scott, Ricky Vance and Roy Walker. 

As noted above, the Red Devils moved up to second in the Class 3A rankings released by the S.C. Media Poll.

CLASS 5A: 1. Summerville (17) (3-0) 2. Gaffney (3) (3-1) 3. Lexington (4-0) 4. Hillcrest (4-0) 5. Byrnes (3-1) 6. Sumter (3-1) 7. T.L. Hanna (3-1) 8. Spartanburg (2-2) and 9. (tie) Fort Dorchester (1-1) 9. (tie) JL Mann (4-0). Others receiving votes: White Knoll, Boiling Springs, Ashley Ridge, Dutch Fork, Rock Hill and Cane Bay.

CLASS 4A: 1. South Florence (10) (4-0) 2. Hartsville (8) (4-0) 3. Northwestern (1) (2-1) 4. South Pointe (1) (3-1) 5. James Island (4-0) 6. Irmo (3-0) 7. West Florence (3-1) 8. Westside (2-1) 9. A.C. Flora (2-1) and 10. Midland Valley (4-0). Others receiving votes: Greenville, Greenwood, Lucy Beckham, North Augusta, Ridge View and  Airport.

CLASS 3A:  1. Daniel (10) (3-0) 2. Clinton (7) (4-0) 3. Dillon (1) (2-1) 4. Belton Honea Path (2) (3-0) 5. Gilbert (3-0) 6. Crestwood (3-1) 7. Chester (3-1) 8. Chapman (3-1) 9. Broome (3-1) and 10. Manning (4-0). Others receiving votes: Camden, Philip Simmons, Brookland-Cayce, Powdersville, Loris and Crescent.

CLASS 2A: 1. Gray Collegiate (16) (4-0) 2. Oceanside Collegiate (1) (3-1) 3. Abbeville (3) 4. Marion (4-0) 5. Hampton County (4-0) 6. Saluda (3-0) 7. Fairfield Central(3-1) 9. Silver Bluff (2-1) 9. (tie) Strom Thurmond (2-1) and 10. Woodland (2-0). Others receiving votes: Andrews, Ninety Six and Chesnee.

CLASS A: 1. Lewisville (17) (3-1) 2. St. Joseph’s (3) (4-0) 3. Calhoun County (4-0) 4. Christ Church (2-2) 5. Whale Branch (2-0) 6. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (3-1) 7. Denmark-Olar (3-1) 8. Latta (3-1) and 9. Hunter-Kinard Tyler (3-0) 9. (tie) Wagener-Salley (3-0). Others receiving votes: Lake View, Southside Christian, Johnsonville, Blackville-Hilda, Whitmire, Branchville.

By the way, Clinton quarterback Tushawan Richardson was named Lakelands Player of the Week after throwing three touchdown passes for the second game in a row in the Red Devils’ 63-6 win over Aiken.

He hit 8/10 passes for 182 yards.

Laurens picked up its first tennis victory of the season, 4-3, over Greer in a Region 2-4A match.

The match was tied, 3-3, after No. 1 Kelsie Little, No. 3 Sara Katherine Starling and No. 5 Keilyn Mendoza won their singles lines. The match came down to No. 1 doubles, where where Little and Sara Beth Field won the first set in a tie-breaker and the second, 7-5, after trailing, 4-1.

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