By MONTE DUTTON
Steve Englehart is a familiar face at the Laurens County Touchdown and throughout the community.
The head coach at Presbyterian has a big job. Elsewhere, Englehart will do what he can. He is a stand-up guy right down to the way he stands up. Englehart has a notably upright posture. His English is backed up by his body English.
This week the Blue Hose bus across the lake to play Erskine College at Greenwood High School, where the Flying Fleet buses to all its home games. The bus trips are about the same. The kickoff is Saturday at 7 p.m.
Englehart’s third PC team figures to be his best, Mercer’s 63-10 victory last week notwithstanding. The Blue Hose and Bears are both in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision. Mercer awards scholarships.
So write that one off, too. Erskine’s hard to figure, as well. The Flying Fleet opened its season by blanking Saint Andrews (N.C.), 52-0. Presbyterian defeated the Knights, 84-43, to open 2021.
On Thursday at The Ridge, Englehart’s task was not to talk about his team but rather to inspire the players, coaches, parents and fans scattered across the room.
Many coaches love slogans. Englehart’s is “Pull the Rope,” likening the game to a tug of war. Former PC men’s basketball coach Dustin Kerns loved “Take the Stairs.”
“It takes teamwork,” he said. “They pull and get pulled back, and it’s always a matter of doing it better the next time.
“No other sport requires depending on teammates as much. There’s nothing like a locker room. It’s a place to share with teammates. There is no better joy than a locker room after a win.”
When Englehart arrived at PC, the cupboard was bare. The Blue Hose went 1-10 and followed it up with a 4-7 season in which PC was considerably more competitive within the Pioneer Football League, which, owing to its nationwide reach, is hard to get without.
Erskine is in Division II, though it does award scholarships.
All that’s left is to let them play and see what happens.
Clinton’s Cal Pitts and Laurens Academy’s Ethan Collins received plaudits as the Players of the Week the last two. The county’s three high-school coaches – Jolly Doolittle of Laurens Academy, Greg Porter of Laurens High and Corey Fountain of Clinton – briefly reviewed and previewed and introduced the players they brought along.
As for the high schools, lots of rankings are to be tested. Both Clinton and Laurens play non-region schedules that are stiff.
For instance, Clinton (1-1), ranked in a tie for third in Class 2A, visits Newberry (2-0), ranked 10th in 3A, in the latest S.C. Media Poll.
The Bulldogs have not yet been tested. They clobbered Union County, 41-14, in the opener and Mid-Carolina, 43-0, a week later.
The Red Devils fell to Woodruff, 40-36, in the opener. The Wolverines (2-0) are now ranked sixth in Class 3A.
This game, played for the CNNGA Battle of the Belt, marks Clinton’s first road trip.
After falling to Hillcrest, 10th in Class 5A, and Clinton, Laurens travels to Belton-Honea Path (2-0), first in 3A. In the span of three weeks, the Raiders face the top-ranked teams in the classes on either side of them.
The Bears have one of the state’s premier rushers, Clemson commit Marquise Henderson, and a reliable quarterback in Noah Thomas.
J.T. Campbell, who starred for the Laurens JVs a season ago, is expected to step in for Will Thompson, who suffered a shoulder injury against Clinton.
Alone at home, and with a winning record so far, Laurens Academy (2-1) faces Oakbrook Prep (0-2) of Spartanburg.
King Academy defeated the Knights, 22-12, while Wardlaw, which has also defeated King, was a 32-20 winner over the Crusaders.
Doolittle and Fountain went to college at North Greenville University, and both won their 100th game as high-school head coaches within two weeks of each other.
Fountain was 58-10 at Lamar and is 42-17 at Clinton.
WLBG (AM 860, FM 104.1, wlbg.com), with Doug Holliday, Mike Hughes and others, goes on the air from BHP at 6:25 on Friday night.
WPCC (AM 1410, FM 96.5, largetime.net), with Buddy Bridges, Gene Simmons, et al, signs on from Newberry at 7.
The last five weeks have found Saturday as the most popular day for this site. It’s that high-school football, sports fans.
As Merle Haggard sang, “If we can make it through December, everything’s gonna be all right, I know.”
Advertising alone will not keep me going, but there’s room for a few more. Every ad is inset in every story.
You can support my site in several ways.
Support the advertisers. They are all fine people who support my efforts, not to mention those of the kids, coaches, parents and fans.
Please donate whatever you consider appropriate via Venmo at DHK Sports. You may also reach me by mail at 11185 Highway 56 North, Clinton 29325.
If you choose, make a monthly donation via Patreon. The Laurens County site is here. The Furman site is here.
In the off chance you’d like to read my novels and other books, they’re available on Amazon and many prominent bookseller sites. You can read them on your phones and other devices for a modest cost. I make a bit more if you purchase the actual books, but what I mainly want is for folks to read them.
Read my modern western, Cowboys Come Home. Download it for $2.99. An audio version is also available.
Photo galleries are posted on Instagram @furmanatt and @laurenscountysports.
Thanks for putting up with me.
Nightrider's Lament 