Daily Archives: 09/14/2016
Explosive plays help Pickens in first win
Tommy McGaha/seeyourphotohere.com
Pickens’ Bryson Capps fights for yardage against West-Oak on Friday night.
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
ejolley@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Needing a win desperately Friday night, the Pickens Blue Flame exploded for 27 second-quarter points thanks to some big plays in beating winless West-Oak, 54-21.
Pickens (1-3) will have an open date this Friday night and will return to action Sept. 23 at Seneca.
Wanting to go into the open week on a high note, the Blue Flame turned to the big play. The win also earned Pickens head coach John Boggs a Gatorade bath.
“I will take it every week,” Boggs said. “We’ll gladly take a bath of Gatorade every week if it comes after a win.”
The Blue Flame’s initial drive resulted in a 39-yard field goal attempt that just missed to the left with 9:19 left in the first quarter.
The first score came on the third series. Quarterback Tanner Stegall had a 21-yard keeper and a 21-yard pass play to Jared Barton. Three plays later, Stegall kept it around the right end with 2:28 left in the first quarter. Dylan Banyard’s kick made it 7-0.
West-Oak, also looking for its first win, answered with an eight-play drive in which Pickens was penalized five times. Lee Jordan took a quick pitch right from four yards out for the score, and his kick tied the game at 7-7 with 10:43 left in the opening half.
That seemed to awaken the Blue Flame. First, they went 65 yards in six plays, keyed by Jamal Blythe’s 51-yard run. Bryson Capps scored from a yard out with 8:53 left in the half.
Then, after forcing a three-and-out series, Pickens got it back and went quick, as the two-play, 74-yard drive was capped by Stegall rolling right and hitting Robert Jones behind two defenders for a 70-yard scoring strike with 6:49 left in the half.
“Jamal (Blythe) stepped in and gave a big spark for us,” Boggs said. “I thought Kyle Day ran the ball well for us all night. Tanner (Stegall) continues to do a good job with his legs. Then that long ball to Robert Jones, backed up down there, was a perfect ball.
“I was proud of our guys all the way around tonight. I thought our defense played well. We made some mistakes early with some penalties that kept some drives alive. I was very proud of our effort overall in everything. Stone (Prince) punted the ball well. We had a couple of break downs on our PATs that we have to fix and get better. We also had a couple of breakdowns on our kickoff coverage.”
Barton’s 21-yard punt return set up the next score. Blythe took a pitch around the left side, destroyed a defender at the 30 with a back stiff-arm and scored from 55 yards out with 2:43 left in the half.
West-Oak answered, as Peyton Tollison hit Jacob Prater for a 41-yard scoring strike with 1:14 left in the half.
That left plenty of time for the big-play Blue Flame, as they covered 55 yards in seven plays, keyed by Stegall’s 40-yard keeper to the 1-yard line. Day scored from a yard out with 12 seconds left, making it 34-14 at the half as the kick was blocked.
The Pickens defense came up big in the second half. Daniel Hooper picked off a pass at the 20 to stop a drive. Prater was injured on the drive for West-Oak and was taken away by ambulance. It left for an odd scene later, as Prince hurt his arm for Pickens. He was taken to the Warriors’ sideline as Prater was receiving care there. Prince returned to the Pickens sideline following a later injury.
The Blue Flame offense kept rolling, and again Barton keyed it with a 21-yard punt return. The drive covered 36 yards in 12 plays. The big play was a Stegall keep for 15 on third and 17. Six plays later, Capps scored from a yard out with 5:46 left in the quarter, making it 41-14.
“Jared Barton did a good job of returning punts and catching the ball,” Boggs said. “That’s the big thing on punt returns is catching the ball. Catching and not going anywhere is better than letting it roll.”
Capps came up with a big play on defense on the next series as the snap to Tollison was high, and in his effort to recover, he was hit by Capps, causing another fumble that was scooped up by Lenny Russell at the Warriors’ 43.
On first down, Stegall fired deep for Cole Stewart, netting 41 yards. Two plays later, Stegall took a draw play from three yards out for the score with 3:08 left in the third quarter, making it 48-14.
The defense came up big again as Tollison tried to make a pitch downfield and it was recovered by Jared Pace.
West-Oak did get another score as Seth McLaughlin scored from four yards out with 9:48 left, making it 48-21.
A lot of reserves got to play, and Cameron Galloway finished the scoring with a 34-yard burst with 8:08 left, making it 54-21.
Kent Townsend recovered another West-Oak fumble in sealing the first win of the season.
There was another change in the starting lineup along the offensive line, and senior right tackle Richie James came up big.
“I’m proud of that kid,” Boggs said of James. “Richie stepped up all week long in practice. He had some opportunities and took advantage of them. He earned every snap he played tonight. I’m very proud of him, and that’s not anything against the guys that he stepped in for. He just knows what to do. He’s aggressive and he gets after it.”
Tommy McGaha/seeyourphotohere.com
Pickens’ Robert Jones runs underneath a long pass from quarterback Tanner Stegall in front of a West-Oak defender on Friday night. Jones scored on a 70-yard pass from Stegall.
The win capped an unusual week with the students being out of school three days.
“We had a really strange week,” Boggs said. “We had Labor Day Monday, which all coaches hate Labor Day — all football coaches do. We had Tuesday as an in-service day and Wednesday as an in-service day. We had coaches scattered all over the district in meetings.
“We made the decision back in the summer to go at 6 in the morning on Tuesday and Wednesday, and that puts a whole new set of challenges on you. No. 1, you’ve got to get them up and get them here. If they are here, how will they be? We went at 7 on Monday morning and other than three guys — I knew where they were with family — they were here. On Tuesday, we were missing one, and that’s varsity and JV. On Wednesday, we were missing one. Other than that, all of these kids were here. That says a lot about these kids and their dedication, their commitment to each other and their commitment to the program.
“I told the coaches that there were probably a lot of coaches in our situation where players didn’t show up for practice Monday morning. And they just had Monday. We had to deal with Tuesday and Wednesday. We had a great practice Tuesday and had a pretty good practice Wednesday. It was a whole heck of a lot cooler. We had a really good week of preparation. I was really proud of the kids for the way they responded this week. Last week’s loss was tough, and for them to bounce back like they did says a lot about them and their character.”
Tigers outlast Trojans
By Cole Little
Courtesy ClemsonTigers.com
news@thepccourier.com
CLEMSON — The second-ranked Clemson Tigers extended their home winning streak to 17 games on Saturday, defeating Troy 30-24 at Memorial Stadium.
The Tigers (2-0) were led by quarterback Deshaun Watson, who was 27-of-53 passing for 292 yards and three touchdowns, as he moved ahead of Woodrow Dantzler for third place on Clemson’s all-time passing yards list.
The first quarter featured little scoring, as both teams struggled to develop any type of offensive rhythm. Favorable field position following a punt allowed the Trojans (1-1) to convert a short drive into the game’s first score, a 39-yard field goal by Ryan Kay. On the ensuing possession, the Tigers reciprocated with a 26-yard field goal by Greg Huegel.
The second quarter was a far different story. Watson took advantage of a Troy turnover by throwing a 35-yard touchdown pass to Hunter Renfrow, marking the sophomore’s fourth straight game with a touchdown reception.
Interceptions played a key role in the second quarter, with Troy quarterback Brandon Silvers throwing three to Clemson linebackers Jalen Williams, Kendall Joseph and Dorian O’Daniel.
Williams’ interception, which was the byproduct of a tipped pass at the line, bailed out the Tigers, who had just turned the ball over in their own territory.
A 66-yard touchdown run by Troy running back Jabir Frye tied the score at 10-10.
Late in the quarter, Clemson’s Ray-Ray McCloud appeared to have returned a punt for an electrifying touchdown, but dropped the ball on the 1-yard line, and after a lengthy video review, Troy took over on a touchback.
After Kay missed a 48-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds, the Tigers took a 13-10 advantage into halftime.
McCloud, who had seven catches for 86 yards in the game, had three receptions on a key third-quarter drive en route to a goal-line situation. Defensive lineman Christian Wilkins then made the second-most important reception of his college career later in the drive in the fourth quarter, a one-yard touchdown grab, the first of his career, that gave the Tigers a 20-10 lead.
Clemson scored to take a 27-10 lead with 10 minutes remaining in the game when Watson found Deon Cain in the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown. After a Huegel field goal with 2:25 remaining, Troy drove 68 yards and scored to cut the deficit to 30-24, as Silvers connected with Deondre Douglas for a one-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds remaining. The Tigers recovered the ensuing onside kick and held on for the 30-24 victory.
The Tigers will host South Carolina State at noon this Saturday.
More charges in Central shooting
By Jason Evans
Staff Reporter
jevans@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — A third person has been charged in connection with the shooting of a Tri-County Technical College student last month.
Haleigh Lynn Wallace, 19, of Clemson, is charged with felony accessory after the fact. She was arrested Wednesday, according to a news release from the Pickens County Sheriff’s Office.
She is accused of helping hide a gun allegedly used in the shooting and also helping to hide another suspect, according to warrants.
Wallace was released Wednesday afternoon after posting bond, the release said.
The shooting occurred on Aug. 28 at The Cottages at Clemson, an apartment complex on Smoke Rise Drive in Central.
Deputies were dispatched after reports of gunfire within the complex.
Deputies found the streets within the complex “locked down” with “numerous pedestrians standing in the streets,” according to a release from the sheriff’s office
The victim, identified as 21-year-old Jaye Andrew Stuck of Pomaria, was found with what was determined to be a gunshot wound to the neck or head area. He was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Stuck is still recovering, the release said.
Witnesses told investigators both the victim and the suspected shooter were attending a party held at 102 Sunrise Lane within the complex.
A crowd of between 500-1,000 people is believed to have been present when a physical confrontation erupted between several men, including the victim, the release said.
“During the encounter, one round was discharged at the victim, striking him while he was on the ground in the struggle,” the release said.
A 9-mm pistol was recovered from the scene.
Two men also face charges in connection with the shooting.
Jackson Quaid Rowland, 21, is charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime.
Daniel Dixon, 21, is charged with felony accessory after the fact. He was arrested shortly after the shooting and is accused of helping clean and hide the gun allegedly used in the shooting.
Pickens Fire Department plans dedication service
PICKENS — Saving lives and homes for the ravages of fire is what all area firefighters do. Each day they know their lives could be put on the line. These heros are selfless, loyal and dedicated to the communities that they serve.
The Pickens Fire Department is inviting all current and retired firefighters, their families and members of the community to a special memorial celebration recognizing the dedication of firefighters to the Pickens community.
The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, with an inaugural flag raising at the memorial. The memorial is located in front of the fire station at 302 Johnson St. in Pickens.
Pickens High Athletic Hall of Fame nominations open
PICKENS — The Pickens Athletic Association is now accepting nominations for the 2016 class of the Pickens High School Athletic Hall of Fame.
The 2016 Hall of Fame Game is scheduled for Oct. 14, when the Blue Flame play host to the Wren Golden Hurricanes
Nominations may be sent to Pickens High or dropped off at the Pickens County Courier, The Corner Drug Store or Brock’s Department Store. Nomination forms can also be picked up at these locations. Deadline is Oct. 7.
Enrollment up at SWU for fall 2016
CENTRAL — At the beginning of the 2016-17 academic year, Southern Wesleyan University again experienced record enrollment.
According to Chad Peters, vice president for enrollment, traditional enrollment is up to 756 full-time equivalent (FTE), representing a six percent increase over enrollment at the beginning of the last academic year. According to Peters, freshmen and transfer students totaled 257.
Also, student housing has reached an all-time high. According to Dr. Joe Brockinton, vice president for student life, 455 students moved into residence halls and apartments on the Central campus – an increase of 32 students over last year this time. To accommodate future growth, Southern Wesleyan has begun construction on a new residence hall, capable of housing 243 students when it opens for the Fall 2017 Semester.
In addition to the traditional program at Central, a total of 932 students are enrolled in adult and graduate studies and online degree programs across the state. Of that number, 358 are enrolled in graduate degree programs and 574 are in undergraduate programs.
“As Southern Wesleyan University fills an incredibly important need in the region, we sense a movement happening at all our campuses and online,” university president Dr. Todd Voss said. “Our focus on being a faith-filled community with a passion to serve, provides a foundation for learning that is truly inspiring. We recognize the need in this State and country for leaders who have the courage and conviction to work hard, stand in the gap and pursue integrity and honor in all vocations, and our SWU grads are doing just that.”
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant-leaders who impact the world for Christ.
PES Golf Classic scheduled Oct. 8 at Rock at Jocassee
PICKENS — For almost 15 years, the Holly Springs community helped support the “Puttin for PAWS” golf tournament to benefit Holly Springs Elementary through the school’s PTO.
The recent school consolidation closed Holly Springs Elementary in June, causing many teachers and students to change schools. Starting at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year, Pickens Elementary found itself the new home to several teachers and students, as well as principal Donna Harden. In an effort to bridge the two school communities together, the golf tournament is going to continue under the new name the Pickens Elementary Golf Classic, or PES Golf Classic for short.
The tournament will be held this year on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Rock at Jocassee Golf Club. In previous years, the golf tournament proceeds have been the primary financial support for the PTO. The PTO contributes and supports several things in the school such as classroom and school improvement, student awards and recognition, staff appreciation events, and other needs the school has that aren’t directly budgeted from regular budget.
“We are looking forward to putting this event on and we appreciate all of the support that the Holly Springs family has received from the Pickens Elementary family as several of our staff and students have merged together,” Harden said. “We are looking forward to a great day on Oct. 8.”
There are several ways that people from the community can contribute and participate in the event. You can play in the tournament on a golf team. Teams are made up of four individuals, and the fee per team player is $85. The fee includes 18 holes of golf with a cart, breakfast, lunch, mulligans and red tees.
Also, anyone with a hole in one will have a chance to win an XRT 850 Utility Vehicle. Another way to contribute without participating is to help sponsor. Any amount would be welcome but starting at $100 you can be a silver sponsor and advertise your family or business name on each golf cart used by participants. Also other levels of sponsorship are available including a hole sponsor for $150, gold sponsor for $250, which includes your name on each lunch or breakfast bag, a hole sponsorship as well as silver sponsor benefits. Platinum sponsorship is $500 and includes being the name sponsor for a watering hole as well as gold and silver benefits. This year’s corporate sponsor is Ivey’s Furniture in Pickens. They will have a team represented as well as co-owner Alicia Ivey serving on the board for the tournament. She said the company is “very excited to be able to give back to an event that will help bring the families and students of these two schools together”
A silent auction with lots of donated events from local businesses will also take place to help raise funds for the golf tournament. The items will be on display and available for bidding at Ivey’s Furniture, located at 502 Ann St. in Pickens, from Saturday, Oct. 1, through Friday, Oct. 7, during their normal business hours.
For more information, contact PES PTO president Lynette Brackett at (864) 704-0484 or vice president Tom Kelley at (864) 430-8743.
Soapstone set to host fundraiser
PICKENS — Soapstone Church invites everyone to a special fundraiser at the church, located at 296 Liberia Road in Pickens, this Saturday, Sept. 17.
The event will feature fine cooking and will be held from noon-8 p.m.
Visitors will enjoy true Southern cooking, including a fish fry, barbecue and fried chicken with all the fixings right from Mrs. Mabel’s kitchen.
For more information, call (864) 414-8470.
OPDG Society resumes monthly meeting Sept. 20
CENTRAL — The Old Pendleton District Genealogical Society will resume its monthly meetings on Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Central-Clemson Library on S.C. Highway 93.
Guest speaker will be OPD member Nan Jones, who will discuss “D-Day through the eyes of her Dad.”
Haven of Rest Pickens Thrift Store closes doors
PICKENS — Haven of Rest Ministries closed its thrift store in Pickens as of Aug. 31.
After much prayer and consideration, and a variety of factors, organizers felt it was in the ministry’s best interest to close the store.
While the Haven of Rest and the town of Pickens are saddened to see the store go, it will allow the organization to strengthen other areas of the ministry and propel them to success.
“We are thankful for our loyal customers through the years for investing in our mission to restore broken lives of men and women in need,” Haven of Rest executive director and CEO Stu Butler said. “We feel grateful to have been a part of downtown Pickens for several years.”
Haven of Rest has eight thrift stores located closer to its home base in Anderson, where its Bible-based recovery programs are located. Haven of Rest’s thrift locations include seven thrift stores in Anderson County, including a used appliance store, and one thrift store in Hartwell, Ga.
Haven of Rest Ministries seeks to provide Biblical hope, healing and recovery to men and women who struggle with life-dominating problems such as drug and alcohol addiction or homelessness. For information about the ministry or other locations, visit havenofrest.cc.
