Clinton High’s football team relies heavily on the rush. Few Red Devil teams have passed as effectively.  By and large, Clinton passes when it wants to, not when it has to.

The Red Devils’ junior quarterback, Tushawan Richardson, is splendid. He is shifty. He is accurate. He is the Laurens County Touchdown Club’s Player of the Week, based on his performance in Clinton’s 51-13 victory over Emerald in the regular season’s final game.

Richardson completed 6/8 passes for 157 yards and 3 TDs passes, with a long scoring toss of 50 yards and no sacks.  Richardson also rushed for 23 yards with a long of 13 yards for a 7.7 per-yard carry.

“Many players have talent,” CHS head coach Corey Fountain. “Not many players have a growth mindset that drives them to work, learn and push themselves every day to get better. Tushawan is that player [who] has the talent and growth mindset.  He always keeps a cool head and is looking for ways to get the ball down the field to his receivers.  He has the ability to extend plays and make things happen when things don’t go as planned. I am really excited to see what the future holds for him.”

The TD Club will honor Richardson on Thursday at the bi-monthly meeting will be at The Ridge in Laurens.  Player of the Week awards this year are presented by Farm Bureau Insurance of Laurens County.

The Nov. 2 meeting will feature former Clemson University and Pittsburgh Steeler great Levon Kirkland.  Kirkland currently is the Vice President of Development for the South Carolina Football Hall of Fame.

The Laurens County Touchdown Club meets every other Thursday throughout football season at The Ridge,  301 Exchange Road, with the public invited.  Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15. All meetings are at noon with the food line opening at 11:45 a.m.

With one exception, postseason football must exist as a reward unto itself in Laurens County this fall.

It’s not true at Wilder Stadium, where Clinton (8-2) figures to be home through througha possible three rounds, beginning with an apparent mismatch against Palmetto (3-7), which fell to Powdersville, 33-7, while the Red Devils were defeating Emerald, 51-13.

Two years ago the Mustangs visited Clinton in the first round, and the Red Devils won, 77-14.

In Rock Hill and Holly Hill reside long shots for Laurens County teams.

Laurens (2-8) visits Rock Hill to play Northwestern (9-1). The Raiders and Vikings last met in the first round of the 2017 playoffs. Northwestern won 58-17.

Laurens Academy (4-6) visits reigning state Class A, 8-man champion Holly Hill Academy (9-1).

Holly Hill’s all-time record against the Crusaders is 11-2. A year ago the Raiders won their first-round game against LA, 74-28.

Last week Richard Winn Academy defeated LA in Winnsboro by a score of 36-8, blanking the Crusaders until the final quarter.

The loss of quarterback Ethan Collins in the second quarter severely hurt the Crusaders cause as he had hit 11/16 for 76 yards. LA completed only more pass for three yards.

Garrett Murphy picked up the slack as best he could with 114 yards rushing and the Crusaders only score. Jared Willard chipped in the two-point conversion.

Thornwell Charter (1-8) played its first season and does not enter SCHSL Class A until next fall. Ware Shoals visited Thornwell on Friday and defeated the Saints, 64-0.

Ware Shoals’ Jayce Medlin ran back the opening kickoff and led 48-0 at halftime. The Hornets finished season 1-9.

Clinton, once ranked as high as second in Class 3A, moved back up to sixth with its regular-season finale over Emerald.

Northwestern, which hosts Laurens in the 4A first round, is second in 4A.

CLASS 5A: 1. Summerville (16) (10-0), 2. T.L. Hanna (9-1), 3. Byrnes (9-1), 4. White Knoll (10-0), 5. Clover (8-2), 6. JL Mann (8-2), 7. Gaffney (7-3), 8. Ashley Ridge (8-2), 9 Hillcrest (8-2) and 10. Fort Dorchester (6-3). Others receiving votes: Dutch Fork, Lexington, Sumter.

CLASS 4A: 1. South Florence (15) (10-0), 2. Northwestern (1) (9-1), 3. Irmo (10-0), 4. James Island (10-0), 5. Midland Valley (10-0), 6. Westside (9-1), 7. Lucy Beckham (8-1), 8. South Pointe (7-3), 9. North Augusta (7-3) and 10. Hartsville (7-3). Others receiving votes: Ridge View, Myrtle Beach, Greenville.

CLASS 3A: 1. Daniel (16) (10-0), 2. Belton-Honea Path (10-0), 3. Dillon (9-1), 4. Chapman (9-1), 5. Crestwood (9-1), 6. Clinton (8-2), 7. Chester (8-2), 8. Brookland-Cayce (8-2), 9. Gilbert (9-1) and 10. Broome (8-2). Others receiving votes: Hanahan, Philip Simmons, Pendleton, Loris.

CLASS 2A: 1. Abbeville (10) (9-1), 2. Gray Collegiate (6) (10-3), 3. Hampton County (9-1), 4. Oceanside Collegiate (7-2), 5. (tie) Marion (9-1) 5. (tie) Strom Thurmond (8-2), 7. Fairfield Central (8-2), 8. Silver Bluff (7-3), 9. Ninety Six (8-2) and 10. Woodland (7-2). Others receiving votes: Andrew Jackson, Saluda, Barnwell.

CLASS A:  1. Lewisville (16) (9-1), 2. Christ Church (8-2), 3. Bamberg-Ehrhardt (9-1), 4. Calhoun County (9-1), 5. Southside Christian (6-3), 6. St. Joe’s (8-2), 7. Hunter-Kinard-Tyler (9-1), 8. Whale Branch (7-1), 9. Lamar (7-2) and 10. Latta (9-1). Others receiving votes: Blackville-Hilda, Cross, Lake View.

In Class 2A, two coaches with Clinton High links are taking their teams into home games in the first round. Ex-Clinton head coach Andrew Webb leads his Strom Thurmond team against Landrum, and Mathew Bennett, who coached the Red Devil offensive line before this season, sends his Ninety Six Wildcats against Keenan.

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