By MONTE DUTTON

I haven’t read The Agony and the Ecstasy, by Irving Stone. I saw the movie starring Charlton Heston. It doesn’t matter. The chronology was off in Laurens County football this weekend.

The ecstasy came first.

For the first time, all three high-school football teams won. Laurens Academy patrolling the wide, open spaces of the eight-man game, conquered Oakbrook, 50-20. Clinton forked Chesnee, 46-21. Laurens plundered Southside, 45-0.

Three games. Good guys 141. Bad guys 41.

On Sweet Friday, I dreamed in peaceful sleep of shady summertime, of old dogs, and children, and watermelon wine. I didn’t dream that long. I worked on photos as the wee hours turned to Saturday and slept, oh, from about 2 to 9 a.m. Then I got up and capped the Clinton story – I was there – and pointed my truck at Greenville.

The ecstasy had run its course.

Furman, beloved alma mater, played as if its name was Herman, as in Munster, University. Or Merman, as in Ethel.

I turned to the Presbyterian-Morehead State on my laptop. While Chattanooga was choo-chooing Furman on the bright artificial green below, the Blue Hose were pulling a feat they have mastered.

They lost a close game. South Carolina isn’t bad at it, either.

It was enough to make a grown man cuss to himself, right in front of God, Who can see and hear right through the roof of a truck zipping down 385.

But first, the ecstasy in Laurens.

Laurens (1-5, 1-0) ended a seven-game losing streak (over two seasons) with an emphatic bravado, 45-0, in part because it happened upon a Region 1-4A opponent, Southside (0-6, 0-1), that kept its own 17-game skid vividly alive.

The Raiders of first-year head coach Greg Porter, convened amid great hope, have experienced enough adversity to impress a Ukrainian. Not only has Laurens lost several key players, including both quarterbacks, but it even lost Porter for a while.

The Raiders deserved Southside.

Laurens scored 45 of the 76 points it has scored all season in Friday night’s tour de force.

Will Thompson scored three rushing touchdowns – five yards, one and three – within a game total of five carries for 16 yards. He completed 10/16 passes for 129 yards.

Josh Goodwin caught four passes. Brock Franklin split the uprights with a 41-yard field goal.

The Raiders scored twice on special teams: Ze’Mar Jones 20-yard fumble and Javaye Suber’s 51-yard punt return.

Laurens outgained the Tigers by a margin of 360 yards to 126.

A happy night was had by all in green and gold. All was hapless in orange and black.

The going gets tougher in the next two weeks, when the Raiders first visit Wren (4-1) and then host Class 4A’s top-ranked team, Westside (5-0).

They had to start somewhere. The future is bright, though not much room is left this year.

Laurens Academy (5-2) won by at least 20 points for the third time, two of them against Oakbrook Prep, which the Crusaders felled by a score of 50-20 in Spartanburg.

To write that Garrett Murphy led the Crusaders is akin to saying Douglas MacArthur led an army. The senior scored four touchdowns, rushed for 320 yards and averaged 20 yards a carry.

Mason Cooper rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown in only 15 carries. As a team, LA has rushed for at least 219 yards in all seven games. Newberry Academy, also a prior victim, visits Todd Kirk Field next.

In its two games versus Oakbrook Prep, the Crusaders have outscored the Knights, 90-40.

Then there was Presbyterian (2-5, 0-3 PFL), which is, by every measure other than record, better than last year and far better than the year before.

In Morehead, Ky., six of the PC drives ended in either a turnover on downs, a fumble or an interception on Saturday afternoon during an excruciating 14-7 loss. It was the first Blue Hose loss to a team they defeated last season.

Presbyterian trailed by 14-0 when Collin Hurst found Jayden Pressey on a 23-yard touchdown pass with 11:05 still left on the clock. Mack Mikko added the PAT, but the only time the Blue Hose could cash in on numerous opportunities.

The final two were interceptions of Hurst deep in Eagle territory, the last two of five by the beleaguered Blue Hose. Brandon Stearman ripped a ball loose and gained possession at the 21-yard line with 8:25 remaining, and PC’s last gasp ended when Jihad McCall picked off Hurst in the end zone with 56 seconds remaining.

Presbyterian compiled 23 first downs to the Eagles’ 10 and outgained them in total yardage, 273-252. Hurst was 16/29 for 154 yards, marred by the two interceptions. For Morehead State (4-3, 2-1), Carter Cravens connected on 14/24 for 212 yards, serving up an interception to PC’s Caleb Francis.

Presbyterian and Morehead State have played four consecutive games decided by one score.

Junior outside linebacker Malek Horlback wreaked havoc on Morehead’s line, making both of PC’s sacks, on other stop behind the line of scrimmage and a forced fumble in the opening period.

Over the past two games, the Blue Hose have held their opponents to a combined 72 rushing yards. Morehead only mustered 40. PC failed three times in the red zone.

A tough test awaits Presbyterian next Saturday, taking on Drake for Homecoming at 1 p.m. On Saturday, the Bulldogs won a marquee battle over previously undefeated Butler, 27-17. Drake rides a 14-game PFL win streak into Bailey Memorial Stadium.

Take a look at the stats here.

Wellpilgrim.com is trying its best – translation: I’m trying – describe the highs and lows and avoid the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune. Highs and lows are inevitable because all the games have a loser and a winner, and when it’s done, they are the same number.

Support the advertisers. They are all fine people who support my efforts, not to mention those of the kids, coaches, parents and fans.

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 your device, or order it in paperback via the audio version.

Photo galleries are posted on Instagram @furmanatt and @laurenscountysports., there haven’t been many to take.

Thanks for putting up with me.