By MONTE DUTTON

The first round of the playoffs should be a parade. Or a fireworks display.
That’s what it’s going to be, anyway.
The Friday night Pelion (2-8) beats Clinton (7-2) at Wilder Stadium, Matt Gaetz will be Attorney General. Oh, wait.
In 1962, the manager of the San Francisco Giants manager, Alvin Dark, was talking with reporters about the batting ineptitude of pitcher Gaylord Perry.
“The day he hits a homer, there’ll be a man on the moon,” said Dark.
On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon, and Perry hit a home run.

The odds are long for the Panthers, but, as noted above, stranger things have happened.
Some games will be tight. Pelion-Clinton is a No. 1 against a No. 4. Eight of those games are to be played in Class 2A and most other brackets. Twos are playing threes.
A decent crowd will be on hand at the Wilder because Clinton is playing. That’s what the S.C. High School League is banking on. I’ll be there. It’s one of my favorite places to be.

D.J. Clark is ready to block for Javen Cook.

In the past three seasons, the Red Devils have opened with a 77-14 victory over Palmetto in 2021, 49-14 over Travelers Rest in ’22 and 42-14 over Palmetto last year. The odds appear decent that Pelion will score 14.
Clinton hasn’t dropped a first-round game since Camden won, 43-14, in 2019, Corey Fountain’s first year as head coach. The roles were reversed. The Red Devils were 4-7 that season.

Now in his sixth season at Clinton, after five at Lamar, Fountain is 106-28, 48-18 with the Red Devils. His playoff record at Clinton is 7-4.

In a recurring theme of this season, Clinton and Pelion have never played.
I remember when a school had to win its region, then known as a conference, even to make the playoffs. I also remember when a baseball team had to win its entire league to go to the World Series. What were they thinking? There’s money in first-round laughers.

Apparently, there’s money in podcasts. Entire families have podcasts. Most everybody but me. I don’t listen to them for the simple reason that I can read faster than I can listen.
I’m thoroughly obsolete.

Dominic Kibby drives for records.

Presbyterian is favored on Saturday, even though the Blue Hose are playing in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

The Blue Hose (4-6, 2-4 PFL) take on Marist (1-9, 1-6) at noon.

A win over the Red Foxes gives PC its first three-game win streak since the abbreviated Spring ’21 campaign, Tommy Spangler’s last. Steve Englehart has gradually improved the team since following the Kevin Kelley ruination.
The Blue Hose have won their last two games by a combined seven touchdowns. Defense has keyed the turnaround.

PC has gone five consecutive games without letting their opponent reach 100 rushing yards, averaging 107 ground yards allowed per game.

Sitting 137 receiving yards shy of becoming PC’s all-time D-I record holder (with one more season of eligibility), Dominic Kibby has passed the century mark in seven games, twice this year.
While it’s been a season of anguish for first-year head coach Mike Willis and Marist, the Red Foxes defeated Stetson, 40-31, last week.

It was only the second time Marist has surpassed 20 points. It had 20 in the third quarter at Stetson.
Sonny Mannino, the Foxes’ lead quarterback, accounted for 343 total yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Presbyterian College softball coach David Williams has signed six to play for the Blue Hose beginning in 2025-26.

The additions are three infielders, a catcher, a pitcher and an outfielder. Four are from Georgia and two from the Carolinas.
They are Ava Coggins, an outfielder from Bremen, Ga.; Hali Duke, an infielder from Bremen; Cierra Grice, a catcher from Dillon; Abbigayle Hillman, an infielder from Harlem, Ga.; Kaylee Huckaby, a pitcher from Rockmart, Ga.; and Jessica Wilson, an infielder from Greensboro, N.C.

Laurens High didn’t make the playoffs, but Raiders are involved.
The Jefferson Davis Raiders (12-1) host Laurens Academy (8-3) in Blackville.
Two Laurens Raiders are playing at the next level next year.
Bennett Edwards signed to catch at Georgia Southern, and wrestler Emily Liopel is to grapple at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Va.

PC lacrosse coach Eric Clakeley added 11 recruits, constituting his largest class in five seasons at the helm.
The new Blue Hose are from eight different states.
They are: Mia Anderson of Ocala, Fla.; Breanna Bruno of Frederick, Md.; Rose Dennstaedt of Mechanicsburg, Pa.; Bailey Donnelly of Lawrenceville, Ga; Emmie Gardner of Austin, Texas; and Harper Johnson of Gainesville, Fla.

Also, Hope Lunardi of Casselberry, Fla.; Perri Mixon of Alpharetta, Ga.; Addie Oakes of Fredericksburg, Va.; Ella Suire of Greensboro, N.C.; and Sophia Vitelli of Cape May, N.J.
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