County Signs: All roads lead to Wilder Stadium

By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photo) Click here. Here’s a prediction that doesn’t require a soothsayer. Wilder Stadium will be packed when Laurens comes to town Friday night. Clinton’s band will be pumping out its knockoff of the Notre Dame fight song. Laurens will mimic Ohio State. It will be hot, with thunder in the …

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County Signs: It couldn’t get bigger … but did

By MONTE DUTTON Wilder Stadium was already packed at the opening kickoff when Laurens last visited in 2022 (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. Until time changes from Daylight Saving to Standard time, I begin Clinton High School games shooting photos on the visitors side because the lighting is better until the sun goes down. A …

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Furmanology: Special teams are a specialty

By MONTE DUTTON Ian Williams scores against ETSU (Furman photo) Click here. The most inane stoppage in sport has spread to college football, which at least has the decency to call it “a two-minute timeout.” The NFL’s “two-minute warning” dates back to a time when many stadiums didn’t have visible clocks. An official trotted to …

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County Signs: Raiders make Rams earn it

By MONTE DUTTON Will Thompson had little room to rove against Hillcrest (photo courtesy John Clayton) Click here. Laurens waged a war of attrition on opening Friday night at K.C. Hanna Stadium, where Hillcrest defeated the Raiders, 16-0. Against the Rams, ranked fifth in Class 5A, Laurens had little chance after the 7:52 mark of …

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Furmanology: Three in the medal round at QB

Injured Tyler Huff cheers on Carson Jones (5) at Chattanooga (Furman photo). Click here. The season is a week away, and Furman head football coach Clay Hendrix still weighs his options at the quarterback position. Tyler Huff’s successor remains under consideration as Hendrix and staff consider the merits of Carson Jones (6-2, 204, So.), Trey …

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Flip the switch on the Friday-night lights

By MONTE DUTTON Greg Porter (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. I admit it. It’s no secret. I’m getting old. Old people like things like they were before. It doesn’t mean old things are better. It just means they’re familiar. The Laurens County Touchdown Club’s first meeting was familiar on Thursday at The Ridge. Three of …

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County Signs: Where everyone scores touchdowns

By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) Click here. One gathering I miss when football ends is going every other Thursday to the Laurens County Touchdown Club. I almost always get there early. I get to almost everything early except bed. I like to mingle and interact. I’m the same way at ballgames. I chat with …

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Paladins have (defensive) backs to fill

Caleb Williams blocks a V MI punt (Furman photo). Click here. Furman has been reconstructing diligently its last lines of defense, the secondary. The cornerback and safety positions sustained significant losses in experience and production following a 10-3, Southern Conference championship season. Seven lettermen in the group, including all four regulars and two others with …

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