By MONTE DUTTON

One Monday-night football game does not a career make, but I can’t remember a more impressive performance by an NFL rookie quarterback than Jayden Daniels’ brilliant night in Cincinnati.

In a matchup of ex-LSU stars, Daniels was almost faultless in leading the Washington Commanders (2-1) past the Cincinnati Bengals (0-3). It was an LSU alumni gathering behind the centers. Joe Burrow was the favorite coming in, and he wasn’t bad.

But Daniels … sheesh. He completed 31/33 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns. Daniels rushed for another score.

Burrow was a mere 29/38 for 324 yards and three TD passes. The Commanders won, 38-33. No rookie ever before completed 93.9 percent of his passes in a game.

On the other end of the spectrum, 36-year-old Andy Dalton shamed the hapless Bryce Young by leading the Carolina Panthers past the Las Vegas Raiders, 36-22.

Washington Commanders. Las Vegas Raiders. Los Angeles Chargers. Several teams have entered a witness-protection program. The names and places change to protect the innocent.

Laurens Academy junior lineman Garrison Vaughn is this week’s Player of the Week as chosen by the Laurens County Touchdown Club.

He is the Crusaders’ third honoree of the current season, joining Garrett Murphy and Ethan Collins.

The Laurens County Touchdown Club is proud to announce that for games played on September 20th, the Player of the week is junior offensive and defensive lineman Garrison Vaughn of Laurens Academy.

Vaughn helped clear a path for an offense that put up 484 yards of offense in a 52-35 victory over King Academy. Five of Laurens Academy’s seven touchdowns spanned at least 42 yards out.

Defensively, Vaughn had 10 total tackles, including six for loss, and blocked a punt.

“Garrison is everything you want in an offensive and defensive lineman,” LA head coach Jolly Doolittle said. ‘He is tough and relentless, smart and precise, and an unselfish leader on the team.”

The Touchdown Club is to honor Vaughn on Oct. 3 at the bi-monthly meeting at The Ridge in Laurens.

Ex-Wofford head coach Mike Ayers makes his yearly visit as guest speaker. The Farm Bureau Insurance Player of the Week awards will be presented for the Sept. 20 and Sept. 27 games.

It’s Homecoming at both Wilder and K.C. Hanna stadiums as Clinton (3-2) faces Union County (1-4) and Laurens (0-4) meets Lexington (3-1).

Last week Daniel whipped Clinton, 37-12, and Laurens enjoyed a week off. Chester pounded Union County, 54-12, and Lexington took a week off after falling to Greenwood, 14-0.

Laurens Academy (4-2) plays the first of five straight reprises at home against Newberry Academy (2-3), which it defeated, 42-25, on Aug. 23.

Presbyterian College (2-2) has perhaps its biggest game when rival Davidson (2-1) visits Bailey Memorial Stadium on Saturday night at 7 in both teams’ Pioneer Football League icebreaker.

Weather threatens the orderly playing of the high-school games, thanks to the ominous approach of Hurricane Helene. The likelihood of games seems slim for both Thursday and Friday nights.

Imagine all the games on Saturday night. It seems probable.

Clinton volleyball is off to an 8-2 start following victories over Laurens, Fairfield Central and Columbia. The Red Devils, who are in Region 3-2A (only football is in Region 1), are 2-0 there entering Tuesday’s match at Chester.

The scores in the victory over the Raiders were 28-26, 25-23, 19-25, 25-16. A trip to Winnsboro yielded a 25-12, 25-13, 25-6 conquest of the Griffins. Clinton blanked Columbia 25-5, 25-7, 25-7.

Laurens, after falling to Clinton, defeated Region 1-4A foe Southside 25-15, 25-3, 25-6, then fell to Wren 25-10, 25-9, 25-13.

Presbyterian women’s soccer has eight matches left and 10 days off to prepare.

USC Upstate (3-3-2) visits Martin Stadium on Wednesday night at 7.

Guided by head coach Matt Smith in his return to the school where he began his coaching career as an assistant, Presbyterian (5-3-1) plays in the Big South the rest of the way against an Upstate team picked second by coaches in the preseason.

The game is to be streamed on ESPN+.

Wellpilgrim.com surpassed the 100,000 mark in page views over a week ago and has already exceeded the numbers of the entire 2023 year. At least one story has been posted for 56 consecutive days.

Still, the future of the site is threatened.

Advertising alone will not keep me going, but there’s room for a few more. Every ad is inset in every story.

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Thanks for putting up with me.

Thanks and Best of Luck to all county teams this week,