Daily Archives: 08/21/2013
Finally paying off
2013 Pickens Blue Flame
Experienced senior class set to lead Blue Flame in 2013
By Eugene Jolley, Courier Sports
PICKENS — The Pickens Blue Flame have been waiting on this season for a while.
Since seniors Cameron Holder and Mason Covey lined up as starters in the season opener against Easley three years ago, this year’s senior class has been one of great anticipation.
“We have a fairly big senior class that we’re counting on to lead for us and do some things for us,” Pickens head coach Chad Seaborn said. “Some of them have been in the program four years, and some even through middle school with us.
“For them, we want it to be a good year, because they have put a lot of time and effort in. They know how we practice, they know what we expect and it’s obvious in practice how they are doing. Our numbers are up, overall. We don’t
Practicing patience
2013 Liberty Red Devils
Stewart expects Devils to be ‘a work in progress’ early on
By Jimmy Kirby, Courier Sports
LIBERTY — Looking back on his first two seasons as head coach of the Liberty High Red Devils, Kyle Stewart realizes how blessed he was with athletically skilled players and the ability to run his option-based offense with a grind-it-out style of play.
The results were evident with a 9-3 record in 2011 and a second-round berth in the AA playoffs in his first season, and a 5-6 record last year and a first-round playoff loss at Ninety Six.
The difference between season one and season two boiled down to the defense’s ability to stop the opposition from scoring. In 2011, the Red Devil defense allowed 21.3 points per game, compared to giving up 31.5 points per contest last season.
A new day for Wave
2013 Easley Green Wave
New coach, new offense and just four returning starters
By Ben Robinson, Courier Sports
EASLEY — When coach Chad Smith left Easley High School last season, rumors flew about his possible replacement. Smith ran a very ball-control heavy brand of offense and coached many seniors on his final Green Wave squad. Smith also brought a winning tradition back to the Green Wave, with three back-to-back playoff seasons.
Smith was successful in bringing back some of the pride that had so long been associated with the program, which started in the 1920s. The Green Wave have won four State championships in their history.
Setting the sights
2013 D.W. Daniel Lions
As usual, State Championship the goal for Robinson’s Lions
By Rocky Nimmons, Courier Sports
CENTRAL — At D.W. Daniel High School, winning football championships is expected. It is expected by the coaches, players and especially fans.
Every player that straps on the golden helmet has known that since the first time he dreamed of wearing the Columbia blue and gold.
Last year, the Lions won the Western AAA, stormed through the playoffs and hosted the Upper State Championship on Singleton Field. But, for the third time in five years, the mighty Lions came up short in their quest for another AAA State Championship.
7 arrested in bear hunting investigation
UPSTATE — A four-year investigation into illegal black bear activities has yielded seven arrests by the S.C. Department of Natural Resources and the Attorney General’s office.
DNR officers executed arrest warrants across the Upstate for multiple charges related to the illegal taking of bears. These charges were baiting bear, killing a bear sow with cubs, trespassing, wildlife management land abuse, hunting license violations, distribution of marijuana and conspiracy to violate South Carolina Game laws.
The violations have penalties that range in fines from $500 to $2,500 and or jail time ranging from 30 days to two years.
Swinney previews Flame-Wave battle
It’s Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl week! If you are a Tiger fan and have not donated to your favorite school (Easley or Pickens High Schools), then you are off scholarship.
We only have “get things done right” kind of guys and gals around our Tiger den. It is “game on” for Pickens County Meals on Wheels! This game is special because it is the sixth annual Sam Wyche Food Fight Bowl.
The Flame and the Wave have battled each other for bragging rights since before Tiger/Gamecock games divided families.
Students from both schools are trying to out-raise the other for the right to hold the “Ultimate Food Fight Trophy” for the next 12 months.
The summer training is over, and it is time to see what the Pickens Blue Flame and the Easley Green Wave look like with this year’s edition.
Last year the Green Wave won on the field, but the Blue Flame won in the effort to financially support Pickens County Meals on Wheels. Remember, they serve approximately 250 shut-ins in every corner of Pickens County! Going into this sixth annual game, Pickens has the edge on the field by winning the first three years, but losing the last two outings. Pickens has outraised Easley by a margin of 4-0-1. The draw came a couple of years ago when both schools raised more than $30,000 each with the difference so close, no one was declared a loser.
Kickoff is at 8 p.m. this Friday at the Easley High Stadium. Get there early and don’t miss the special halftime race between the Wave Grasshopper Mower and Flame Grasshopper Mower. This race has already become a tradition to see who can out-yell the other side as the mowers and cheerleaders with flags race to the other goal line.
This continues to be high school’s equivalent of our rivalry with the Gamecocks each year. Can you feel the adrenalin kicking in?
I hope every Clemson Tiger fan will give. You need to suit up now and send your donation to: PCMOW, P.O. Box 184, Easley, S.C., 29641.
You can donate online, too. Just go to www.pcmow.com and pick your school to support. You can pay by PayPal or credit card, and make sure you do it by deadline time: noon on Friday.
Meals on Wheels needs your donations year round, so support the Food Fight Bowl and get All In!
Dabo Swinney is the head football coach at Clemson University.
Food Fight Bowl this Friday night
By Eugene Jolley, Courier Sports
EASLEY — The Easley Green Wave will look for a third consecutive win against archrival Pickens when they host the Blue Flame Friday night at 8 p.m. in the annual Sam Wyche Meals on Wheels Food Fight Bowl, the season opener for both teams.
Easley won 40-7 last year and 54-20 two seasons ago.
Pickens will enter the game coming off a 14-0 blanking of Walhalla in the Pickens Jamboree last Friday night. Easley lost 7-0 to Pendleton in that same jamboree in a strange play. Pendleton punted the ball at about the 40 yard line, but the punt was shanked and never crossed the line of scrimmage. The ball, since it was still live, was picked up by the punter and run in for the only score of the game.
More arrests made in Howard’s Rock vandalism case
CLEMSON — Two more North Carolina men were arrested last week in the case of vandalism to Howard’s Rock, an iconic symbol of the Clemson University football program.
Clemson University police charged Michael J. Rogers, 46, of Pisgah Forest, and Alden James Gainey, 17, of Brevard, each with felony counts of conspiracy and obstructing justice.
The two men appeared before a Pickens County magistrate last week, and each was released on a personal recognizance bond of $7,500.
Candidates set for November election races
COUNTY — Races are set for this November’s municipal elections in Pickens County.
Seats are up for grabs in Central, Easley, Liberty, Norris and Pickens in the Nov. 5 election.
In Central, three town council seats are scheduled to be on the ballot, with incumbents Paige Bowers, Benji Cumbie and Ken Dill vying for the seats alongside newcomer Steven H. Farmer.
Easley Water Blast moved to Aug. 31
EASLEY — Inclement weather forced city of Easley officials to postpone the city’s Back-to-School Water Blast on Saturday.
The event is now rescheduled for noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, in Old Market Square downtown.
As in years past, the wet-and-wild extravaganza includes inflatable water rides (bouncers), volleyball, sandboxes, games, food and drinks, music and tons of fun.
Water rides are ticketed. Each ride requires one ticket. Tickets will sell for $1 per ticket, while six tickets will be available for $5 or visitors can purchase a wristband for unlimited rides for a cost of $10.
