By MONTE DUTTON

After an afternoon of cutting a cake, raising a banner and looking nervously at one another, Presbyterian College conceded that, yes, as everyone expected ever since the football team became nationally ranked, the head coach and gosh knows who else are leaving.

Director of Athletics Dee Nichols released a statement:

“Steve Englehart has informed me that he has accepted the head coaching position at another university.”

Was there any reason not to mention that Englehart is headed to West Georgia University? Well, college policy informally forbids giving much mention or credit to any school whose mascot doesn’t wear a kilt.

“Coach Englehart led one of the most memorable seasons in our history, and we’re grateful for the foundation he built at PC. This season – and the players and staff who created so many special moments – will always be part of our story. His leadership reached far beyond football as a trusted colleague and outstanding ambassador for PC. While we’ll miss him, we’re excited about the future because of the standard he set for this program.”

Englehart posted a 21-25 overall record in four seasons with the Blue Hose. In 2025, PC acquired 10 wins for the third time in school history. (Acquired?)

A national search is underway to determine the next head football coach at Presbyterian College. An update will be provided once the search concludes. (Eventually, PC will hire another head coach, disclose his name and possibly even allow him to discuss it.)

Senior tight end Nathan Levicki is a Second Team All-America selection by FCS Football Central and Stats Perform publications.

Levicki amassed 471 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. He becomes the 52^nd Presbyterian player to be voted All-America and the first since linebacker Colby Campbell and wide receiver Keith Pearson in 2020.

PC has had a Freshman All-American (either from Phil Steele magazine or FCS Football Central) in four consecutive seasons. Punt returner Darriel Harper was the latest. Levicki and 10 others were voted to the All-PFL first or second team.

Levicki made at least one catch in all 12 games this season (34 total). He scored six receiving TDs and three others in a goal-line rush package. The highlight was on Sept. 6 in Greenville, where Levicki caught six passes and the game-winning two-point conversion in a 39-38 upset of Furman.

He also snagged a 75-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter of a tight win at Butler.

The Blue Hose started the season with a 7-0 record, becoming one of the last eight unbeaten FCS programs and eventually winning 11 consecutive games over a 12-month period.

PC won all six home games, averaging 45 points per game.

PC’s offense ranked inside the nationwide top 30 in yards per game (417).

Levicki also made the All-PFL Academic First Team with a 3.75 cumulative GPA in political science.

Led by 24 points from Jordan Riley and 21 from Giovanni Emejuru, East Carolina (5-7) powered past Presbyterian (6-7), 74-53, on Wednesday night at Menges Coliseum in Greenville, N.C.

The Pirates outscored the Blue Hose 38-23 in the opening half and 36-30 in the closing one.

All except from the free-throw line, PC shot terribly. The Blue Hose shot .396 (21/53) from the floor and .091 (1/11) from three-point range. J.D. Bowen hit the only triple.

Jaylen Peterson stood alone, leading PC with 17 points and eight rebounds. The usually reliable Jonah Pierce, beset throughout by foul trouble, had four points and four rebounds.

East Carolina shot .545 (24/44) from the floor, .333 (4/12) from deep and .846 (22/26) at the charity stripe. Riley hit eight free throws but missed four. No one else who went to the line missed any.

Take a look at the stats here.

Thomas Addison released the spring schedule in men’s golf. The Blue Hose will compete in six tournaments culminating with the Big South Championship in late April.

The team is on the upswing (pun intended).

“With a lot of positive results from the fall to build off of, we are looking forward to a very successful spring with a familiar schedule,” said Addison.  

Take a look at the schedule here.

Tre Aiken, who’s playing in the Shrine Bowl for South Carolina on Saturday, officially signed with North Carolina State on Thursday morning at Clinton High School. He announced his preference for the Wolfpack months ago.

Aiken played at left offensive tackle – and on defense when his presence was needed – for the 9-4 Red Devils, who followed up a Class 2A championship by reaching the third round of the playoffs. He graduated early on Thursday morning, enabling him to enroll at N.C. State immediately and participate in spring practice.

Aiken said that what prepared him for college was “the camaraderie with the other veterans on my team, playing on a championship team and the hard work with my teammates over the summer.

“Graduating early gives me the opportunity to get a head start on my first season and get ahead of others in the classroom and getting ready for my career as a college athlete.”

Clinton’s Javen Cook shone brightly in the Touchstone Energy (North-South) Bowl in Myrtle Beach, scoring on a 94-yard kickoff return in the North’s 35-27 victory. Two other Laurens County stars, safety Chris Boyd of Clinton and kicker Brock Franklin of Laurens, distinguished themselves competing for the Upstate squad.

Cook lived up to his nickname, “Zoom.” After briefly bobbling the kick, he shifted into warp speed, bursting up the middle. It looked as if he was gone before the South coverage realized he was there, racing eventually down the right sideline into the end zone.

The video was memorable and his speed astonishing, at least to those in attendance who had not seen him before. Surely some of the heads that turned are in position to sign him to a college scholarship. He has visited Newberry College, a Division II playoff team.

Cook is little, but his skill is loud.

Friday night finds Clinton visiting Laurens for the first of two dates of basketball between the county rivals.

The Clinton girls (10-0) are ranked No. 1 in Class 2A, while 4A Laurens (6-2) entered a Thursday game against Hillcrest with consecutive victories over Woodruff and White Knoll.

The Red Devils battered Newberry, 52-23, on Monday night on the road.

The Clinton boys (4-3) take on Laurens, which took a 3-6 mark into its home game versus Hillcrest.

The Friday games are at 7 (girls) and 8:30 p.m. Laurens visits Clinton on Monday afternoon, with the doubleheader getting underway at 1 p.m.

Laurens Academy hosts Wardlaw on Friday and visits Newberry Academy on Saturday. The Crusaders are 7-1 in girls, 3-5 in boys.

The Thornwell Charter girls are 5-4 after falling, 33-32, to Abbeville on Wednesday. The boys are 0-8 after falling 122-24 to the Panthers. Ware Shoals visits Thornwell on Jan. 2.

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