They never gave up.

Eastside picked up a 36-34 decision in Taylors, which did not knock Laurens out of the playoffs but did put an end to the Raiders’ hopes of a home game in first round.

The Raiders trailed 24-0 early and 36-8 relatively late, but when a last-minute onside kick failed, the result was likely another trip to Laurens’ chamber of horrors in recent years, Rock Hill in York County. The Raiders ended their regular season 2-8 overall but 2-2 in Region 2-4A. Which Rock Hill school it faces won’t be determined until next Friday. Laurens scheduled its open date for the last of the season.

Laurens scored 24 fourth-quarter points. It was too little, too late, but also impressive in its way.

Laurens quarterback Nick Danciu completed 17/27 passes for 252 yards. Josh Goodwin caught nine of them, and Nick Fowler hauled in six..

But the Eagles had Kalvin Banks, who rushed for 179 yards and four touchdowns. Eastside (5-4, 1-2) outrushed the Raiders, 287-73.

Peyton Schrader, who threw all but one of the Eagles’ passes, hit 11/15 for 87 yards. Jaden Page’s only attempt was intercepted. Fin Hayden and James Odom each caught three.

Laurens had the edge in first downs (17-15), but Eastside had more total yards (374-325).

Not, however, in the second half.

Homecoming: What a great time for a win streak.

Presbyterian College hasn’t won two straight in football since Kevin Kelley’s twin blowouts to open the notorious 2021 season before nine straight losses followed.

The Blue Hose are much better now, and a Pioneer Football League victory at Bailey Memorial Stadium against Marist would give PC a 4-3 record and a 2-2 conference mark.

Not so fast, of course. The Red Foxes of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., last week defeated San Diego, 30-16, after 16 straight losses to the Toreros. Marist (3-3, 3-1) has scored 30 or more points in three of the past four games. The head coach, Jim Parady, is in his 32^nd season, the longest tenure in all of NCAA Division I.

Linebacker Angelos Vokolos made 2-1/2 sacks and forced a fumble against San Diego, earning him PFL defensive player of the week.

Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

Meanwhile, PC was defeating Dayton in Ohio for its first official PFL victory after 18 straight losses. All three conference games have been decided by 10 points or less.

The Blue Hose have posted conference-best numbers in both yards per completion (14.6) and fewest passing yards allowed per game (172.6).

The kicker of the winning field goal at Dayton, freshman Mack Mikko, was the PFL specialist of the week. Linebacker Alex Herriott made 14 tackles and has 60 this season.

Bill Rhodes got a pleasant surprise on Friday at Wilder Stadium.

It was certainly not that the Red Devils won. Rhodes, the longtime Clinton assistant football and baseball coach, might have been a bit suspicious that Rep. Doug Gilliam and Sen. Danny Verdin were in the house.

Gilliam personally delivered the Order of the Palmetto, the state’s highest honor, to Rhodes, revered throughout District 56, in halftime ceremonies.

Rhodes began coaching in the district in 1962 and still takes tickets at the basketball games.

Garrett Murphy rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns as Laurens Academy (4-6) thumped its Newberry counterparts, 32-20.

Ethan Collins completed 12/23 passes for 101 yards. He both passed and ran for a score.

Nathan Bell made 12 tackles. He and Caleb Hardy had fumble recoveries.

Murphy snagged six receptions. Hardy had five.

Similar to its varsity counterpart – in fact, even more so – Laurens (4-5) closed its junior-varsity football season with a rush, defeating Eastside on Thursday evening at K.C. Hanna Stadium by a score of 42-28.

Nasir Sanders opened the scoring in spectacular fashion, taking an interception 44 yards to the house. Victor Diaz added the first of six successful PATs.

Before the first quarter ended, Buddy Griffin scored for the Eagles on a 1-yard plunge, and Eastside took the lead on Kenton Knowles’ two-point conversion rush.

The first quarter was still on when Jace Campbell hit Camron Evans on a 50-yard scoring pass with 36.4 seconds left. It was the first of four Campbell TD passes, two to Jaden Williams of 49, 26 and 17 yards.

The Raiders took the lead for good with 8.1 seconds left in the half.

The other Raider score was on B.J. Hill’s 38-yard, third-quarter dash.

Clinton’s JVs went rolling right along, returning from Chester with a 58-14 victory and a 9-0 record.

“[Thursday] we played extremely well on the offensive side of the ball,” head coach Dontavius Glenn stated. “Our linemen and our backs blocked extremely well. Our defense created turnovers throughout the game, helping us get a short field of play. We have one more week to improve and get better.”

Owen Glenn threw a touchdown pass to K.J. Vance, and five – Jarius Scurry, Rhett Gilliam, Angelo Cromer, Javen James and Lincoln Alexander – scored rushing TDs.

Elijah Davis and Luke Young were credited with fumble recoveries.

The Red Devils have one more game, at home next Thursday against Emerald.

Clinton advanced smartly to the second round of the Class 3A girls’ tennis playoffs with a 6-0 conquest of Fountain Inn.

Next up is a No. 2 seed, Chapman, on Tuesday on the Red Devils’ home courts at 5 p.m.

# 1 Singles    Chandler Dailey defeated Anna Kozawa  6 – 0, 6 – 0

# 2 Singles     Libby Dailey defeated  Anna Piltin  6 – 0, 6 – 0

# 3 Singles    Kimora Wesley defeated Lexi Foley  6 – 0, 6 – 1

# 4 Singles    Carley MacMillan defeated Emma Beem  6 – 4, 6 – 4

# 5 Singles    Addy Derrick defeated Avery Tap  6 – 0, 6 – 0

# 1 Doubles  C. Dailey & K. Wesley      Did Not Play

 # 2 Doubles  Peyton Nabors & Merin Orr defeated Caroline Foley & Emeliane Maya  6 – 4, 6 – 0

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The next Fiesta Grande open mic is Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 8 p.m.