By MONTE DUTTON

In 1991, Rodney King said, “Can’t we all just get along?”

In Matthew 5:19, Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

I don’t like Mondays. They make me catch up when I don’t want to. I spend most of the time on weekends watching ballgames, either some place where they play them or on TV. Peacemakers aren’t prevalent in sports, but the human drama of athletic competition makes it inspiring.

Then, on Monday, I get up, turn on the TV and find out what’s been going on outside the lines. A son knifed his famous parents to death. A gunman entered a college study hall and opened fire.  Several opened fire on people celebrating at an Australian beach.

It tears me up.

Some break the law every time they take a pill. Others do anything just for a thrill. Hope I don’t run into one of them who kills, but sometimes it ain’t your day.

Lots of times it’s Monday.

Every other day, every other day / Every other day of the week is fine, yeah / But whenever Monday comes, you can find me cryin’ all of the time. – John Phillips

I try to make the best of things. By the afternoon, I was over at Presbyterian College eating cake. Not even Mondays are all bad.

Steve Englehart is Coach of the Year. National Coach of the Year. In the Football Championship Subdivision. According to the American Football Coaches Association. Englehart’s Blue Hose didn’t quite make the playoffs. They pulled the rope. They’ve been pulling it for four years, 1-10 to 4-7 to 6-6 to 10-2.

It’s amazing. What I hoped to see was a new contract with a hefty raise for Englehart and his staff. They arrived to clear out Kevin Kelley’s rubble. They started barely above nothing. Presbyterian has been an interesting place. The Kelley disaster was interesting. Englehart’s four years have been inspiring.

Englehart was one of three finalists for the job at UAB. The interim, Alex Mortensen, was the choice. Ryan Beard, another finalist, got the job at Coastal Carolina. Englehart is still at PC. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Five individuals are chosen for National Coach of the Year across their respective divisions. Englehart is joined by Indiana’s Curt Cignetti (FBS), Kutztown’s Jim Clements (Division II), North Central’s Brad Spencer (Division III) and Benedictine’s Joel Osborn (NAIA).

“This is a very special award to receive and I am honored to help bring recognition to our team and PC at large,” said Englehart. “This award is voted on by peers in the profession, so it’s especially gratifying that our accomplishments were recognized on a national level.”

Englehart is the first coach in the history of the Pioneer Football League (1991 onward) to be named National FCS Coach of the Year by the AFCA.

The Association began naming an annual National Coach of the Year in 1935.

Englehart was also chosen as the PFL Coach of the Year and was a top-10 finalist for the FCS Stats Perform Eddie Robinson Award (presented to the nation’s top head coach).

Quarterback Collin Hurst was named the PFL Offensive Player of the Year and a top-30 finalist for the Walter Payton Award, presented annually to the top offensive player in FCS football.

PC ranked inside the nation’s top 10 in numerous statistical categories, including total defense (fourth), pass efficiency against (fourth), passing yards allowed (fifth), first downs allowed (sixth), and turnovers gained (seventh).

With a career record of 91-74 in 17 seasons (four at PC), Englehart holds the second most wins of any active Pioneer Football League head coach.

After naming their first FBS winner 48 years earlier, the AFCA began naming an FCS, Division II, and Division III National Coach of the Year in 1983. They expanded to include NAIA coaches in 2006.

Six other coaches from a South Carolina college have been voted the AFCA National Coach of the Year: Danny Ford (Clemson – 1981), Dick Sheridan (Furman – 1985), Jimmy Satterfield (Furman – 1988), Charlie Taaffe (The Citadel – 1992), Bobby Johnson (Furman – 2001) and Dabo Swinney (Clemson – 2015).

The all-county football team consists of 15 Clinton Red Devils, seven Laurens Raiders and f ive Laurens Academy Crusaders.

Clinton (9-4) advanced to the third round of the Class 2A playoffs. Laurens Academy (9-3) lost inthe SCISA eight-man finals. All three losses came to King Academy of Batesburg. Laurens (1-9) failed to make the postseason in Class 4A.

The Laurens County Touchdown Club team has all three of the county’s quarterbacks on it. Ethan Collins was officially the QB. Clinton’s Owen Glenn and Laurens’ Logan Bragg were denoted “athletes.”

Representing the Red Devils on offense were running backs Javen Cook, and K.J. Vance and Angelo Cromer; linemen Tre Aiken, Jared Honeycutt and Jace Patterson; and Glenn. Defensive honorees were linemen Kynius Williams, Adarrell Swindler and Noah Garrett; linebacker Jaydon Glenn and A.Z. Simmons; and defensive backs Chris Boyd, Amari Grant and Maison Tinsley.

The Raiders’ offensive selections were running back Nehemias Fernandez, wide receiver Damajia Crooks, lineman Cody Hames and Bragg. Defenders chosen were lineman Isai Fernandez and linebacker Logan Martin. The kicker was Brock Franklin.

On the team from Laurens Academy were Collins, running back Caleb Hardy, lineman Garrison Vaughan, and linebackers Eli Garrett and Nathan Bell.

Selected for FCA Character Awards were Noah Garrett of CHS, John Walter III of LA, Braden Yarbrough of LDHS and Presbyterian College’s Warner Bush and Ty Englehart.

The TD Club Awards Banquet is Jan. 7 at The Ridge in Laurens, at which time the county’s Player and Coach of the Year are to be announced.

The keynote speaker is retired South Carolina State coach Buddy Pough.

Oliver Wendell Pough III led the Bulldogs from 2002 through his retirement in 2023. He led the team to eight Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) titles, in 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013,
2014, 2019, and 2021.

Pough is a member of the MEAC Hall of Fame and the South Carolina
Football Hall of Fame class of 2024.
Lee’s BBQ will be catering the meal.
Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Laurens County Chamber of
Commerce office or at the door at the night of the event for $20 each.

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