By MONTE DUTTON

Clinton High School continues to upgrade its historic football stadium, the most apparent improvement being a combination score- and video board to replace the old one behind Wilder Stadium’s south end zone.

New stands and a restroom building are being constructed on the visitors side.

Until 1960, the Red Devils played home games at the old Presbyterian College stadium, Johnson Field.

Clinton defeated Woodruff, 25-7, in the first game. What was then the home side is now the visitors side. In 1975, Wilder Stadium roughly tripled in size, thanks to the large concrete grandstands being erected that remain today. The rebuilt stadium opened this time with a 3-0 victory over Woodruff.

The playing field was named in honor of the Red Devils’ most successful coach, Keith Richardson, in 1994.

Naturally, the first game in the latest upgrade is once again Woodruff on Aug. 23.

Sometimes, even in sports, things make sense.

Two former Clinton High School head football coaches are reportedly to ply their trade at Strom Thurmond High School this season.

Andrew Webb enters his third season with a record of 20-6. Webb’s predecessor at CHS, Scott King, is joining him on staff at the Johnston school.

With the Red Devils, Webb (2016-19) was 14-29. King (2011-15) was 21-34.

In the past two seasons at Clinton, Corey Fountain is 23-4. In five seasons, he is 41-16.

For football, the Red Devils are in Region 1-2A. The Rebels have won Region 2 the past two seasons, the Devils the same in Region 4-3A.

Both Webb and King are Clinton natives.

What a playoff matchup it would be.

A two-out double by Rock Hill’s Connor Sweatt in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Post 34 a 5-4 victory over Clinton Post 56 on Monday night in the opening game of the Junior American Legion state playoffs.

Clinton (6-6) retired quietly in the top of the seventh, scrounging only a one-out walk by Zach Lawson, who was on second base when Rhett Gilliam struck out to end the game.

The Devils must win at home on Tuesday night at 7 in order to stave off elimination. If so, Clinton returns to Rock Hill for a third game on Wednesday night.

Clinton stayed in the game in spite of collecting just three hits – singles by Gilliam, Talan Campbell and Lawson – by taking advantage of seven walks and four Rock Hill errors.

Gilliam, the right fielder, drove in two.

Angel Vargas, who hurled the final two innings, took the loss. The winning pitcher was Eduardo Lopez, who stopped Clinton on two walks in three innings.

Sweatt’s double was the only extra-base hit of the game. He was 2/4 with a run scored and two batted in.

Laurens Raiders were in action on both sides in Greenwood, where visiting Golden Strip Post 271 (7-3) won its Legion game, 10-4, over Greenwood Post 20 (5-10).

Shortstop Hunter Nabors led Golden Strip, going 2/3 at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in one. He also swiped three bases.

Another ex-Raider, Greenwood right fielder Jackson Martin, went 2/3 for the Braves, with an RBI.

Trailing 2-1, the Warriors exploded with six runs in the top of the third inning.

A pair of Laurens pitchers, Joshua Hughes and Connor Rice, split the first six innings, with Rice earning the win. Brayden Shealy took the loss.

The teams play on Wednesday in Simpsonville and Thursday back at Legion Stadium.

It makes me happy that Clemson refused to play South Carolina on the Friday night after Thanksgiving.

Imagine how many gate receipts would be lost at high-school playoff games.

The TV networks care only for the almighty dollar. The dollars in prep football games aren’t even mighty by comparison, but they mean a lot.

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