By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) https://www.facebook.com/UpstateInsuranceConsultants YORK – The Bill Pate White Rose Football Classic was worth the trip for both the Laurens Raiders, who played at 6 p.m. Friday night, and the Clinton Red Devils, who arrived on the artificial turf at 9. Both won – Laurens, 17-7, over Fort Mill, and Clinton, …
Waldron reaps rewards of a tennis life
By MONTE DUTTON Chuck Waldron's next stop is the S.C. Tennis Hall of Fame. (Monte Dutton photos) https://www.scfbins.com/agents/buddybridges I have known Chuck Waldron since we entered the first grade together. He has heard distant drums – okay, the thump-thump-thump of tennis balls bouncing nearby – for all the years since. Given his lifelong devotion to …
It’s early yet, but preseason rankings are out
(Monte Dutton photos) https://www.scfbins.com/agents/buddybridges No one has snapped a ball in anger yet, but inquiring minds want to know a media panel’s preseason rankings of S.C. High School League football. https://www.sadlerhughes.com/ Laurens plays three teams – Hillcrest, Hanna and Chapman – listed in the rankings. Clinton (Chapman, Chester) plays two, and Thornwell (Great Falls) plays …
Continue reading It’s early yet, but preseason rankings are out
Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
By MONTE DUTTON (Elena Davidson photos) https://dunesproperties.com/agent/mark-mitchell/ Furman football has been ranked as high as fifth in various preseason forecasts of the Football Championship Subdivision, which is why people just say FCS whether or not they know what it is. I’ve never seen the need to suppress I-AA. The Paladins finished 10th last season, and …
Continue reading Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying
Devils roll, Raiders scuffle
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) https://www.facebook.com/UpstateInsuranceConsultants Laurens County’s top high-school football teams engaged in exhibition scrimmages about 10 miles apart on Tuesday night, escaping harsh weather that prevented play the night before. Mauldin transported its herd of Mavericks to K.C. Hanna Stadium an hour earlier than Chapin’s Eagles nested at Wilder. Mostly overcast skies …
Pretty pictures on a hot day
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) https://www.scfbins.com/agents/buddybridges On Saturday in the heat of the day, on one end of the K.C. Hanna turf, the Laurens Raiders got their chance to smile for the camera. Few took advantage. Football players prefer to look tough, as if they were imitating Ray Nitschke. No one smiles like Joe …
Blue Hose to build back better
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) https://www.facebook.com/UpstateInsuranceConsultants On the very week that Rob Acunto’s departure was announced (by Fresno State), I find myself suddenly upbeat about Presbyterian College’s football program. I wandered around at Friday morning’s opening practice, and the Blue Hose look better, bigger, faster, quicker, deeper and more motivated. I like the crack …
Acunto heads west to the Golden State
By MONTE DUTTON Blue Hose, reacting to the departure of Rob Acunto. Nah. Just running on the field. (Mitchell Mercer photo) https://www.sadlerhughes.com/ Gee whiz. At breakfast, I was lost in thought over the impending departure of Reclusive Rob. I mean, I don’t want to be too harsh. Who am I kidding? Yes, I do. Tonight …
Are you ready to rumble?
By MONTE DUTTON (Monte Dutton photos) There's an old baseball movie called It Happens Every Spring. https://www.scfbins.com/agents/buddybridges It happens every fall, too. When I was growing up / The biggest thing around our town / Was watching my old high school play / They didn't mess around. Before the week is over, all the football …
Ain’t no beatin’ the heat
By MONTE DUTTON Red Devils are looking for a few good linemen. (Monte Dutton photos) https://www.facebook.com/UpstateInsuranceConsultants At Clinton High School, Corey Fountain put his football team on the official-practice field at 7:30 a.m. Friday. Laurens and Laurens Academy practiced into the cool instead of out of it. The morning dew had been swept from the …
Nightrider's Lament 