Category Archives: Sports
Southside hands Blue Flame first loss of season
By Cheri Anthony
Special to The Courier
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Pickens was looking to start its season a perfect 3-0, but the Flame faced a tall task with an explosive Southside offense on Friday night.
Although the Blue Flame entered the contest with confidence after Jaden Jackson racked up 305 yards the previous week against Franklin County, Ga., 
Southside’s attack was too much for the Pickens defense to contain in a 48-27 loss, the Flame’s first of the season.
Pickens’ captains for the contest were Daniel Ross, Conner Hayes, Jackson and Sammy Edwards. The Flame won the coin toss and elected to receive. With two wins already under their belt, Friday night’s game looked to be going the Blue Flame’s way, as they took the opening kickoff 61 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. Six runs were capped
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Second half slip dooms Red Devils against Eastside
By Matthew Kannarney
Special to The Courier
news@thepccourier.com
TAYLORS — After suffering its first loss of the 2022 season against Blue Ridge, Liberty tried to get back in the win column last week, but the Eastside Eagles had other plans.
The Eagles’ effective rushing attack and the Red Devils’ own turnovers in the second half were too much for Liberty to overcome at
the end of the night, as they lost 38-13 to drop to 1-2 on the year.
The game began with the Eagles taking the opening kickoff and starting on their own 29-yard line. The Eagles fed the ball to junior running back Kalvin Banks early and often. In a methodical fashion, Eastside drove 71 yards, scoring on a one-yard touchdown run by Banks. After a failed
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Daniel comes off of bye week looking to stay perfect
By Bru Nimmons
Sports Editor
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — If there were any questions about a dropoff for the Daniel High School football team this season, they have seemingly been answered with a dominant 2-0 start to the season.
Having already outscored Greer and Easley by a combined 106-28, the bigger question now seems to be whether the Lions’ 26-game winning streak will come to an end anytime soon.
Entering this season, all eyes were on the Lions’ quarterback position, where senior Blaine Simons
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Tigers overcome sluggish start to dominate Georgia Tech in opener
By Ian Taylor
Courtesy The Journal
itaylor@upstatetoday.com
ATLANTA — It was tough and gritty — there were even two blocked punts along the way — but it was a win for Clemson in its season opener on Monday night.
On the strength of 27 unanswered points to end the night after a slow start — and a mere four-point lead midway through the third quarter — the fourth-ranked Tigers ran away in the late stages against Georgia Tech for a 41-10 victory at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
The Tigers (1-0, 1-0 ACC) struggled with the Yellow Jackets (0-1, 0-1) a season ago in a narrow 14-8 win at Memorial Stadium, and it didn’t come easy again
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Clemson kicks off season Monday looking to rebound after injury-riddled 2021 campaign
By Ian Taylor
Courtesy The Journal
itaylor@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — Last year was not the best in Clemson football history — nor was it the worst.
Not by a longshot.
The Tigers didn’t start on the best of footing — a 10-3 loss to eventual national champion Georgia in Charlotte, 
N.C., and a double-overtime loss at N.C. State left them sitting at 2-2 as a raft of injuries began to pile up.
Freshman running back Will Shipley missed three games, leading receiver Joseph Ngata was out four and bulldozing defensive tackle Bryan Bresee missed nine. That is by no means a complete
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INSIDE FOOTBALL FRENZY THIS WEEK!
Blue Flame dominate up front to move to 2-0, Lions score early, often to beat county foe Easley and Red Devils drop home opener to Blue Ridge.
All this and so much more in this week’s FOOTBALL FRENZY, exclusively in the Pickens County Courier NOW ON SALE! Get the print edition at a grocery, drug or convenience store near you. On sale all over Pickens County! LOGIN AND SEE ENTIRE SECTION!
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Scholar-athletes honored
Pickens High School has announced its Scholar-Athletes of the Month for August. Krysta Bennefield is a sophomore member of the PHS JV volleyball team and was nominated by Kimberly Bright for her excellence in the classroom. Bennefield is the daughter of James and Kacie Bennefield. Tucker Perry is a senior member of the varsity football team and was nominated by Tammy Standard for his outstanding leadership both on and off the field. Perry is the son of Lori and David Kocher. PHS Scholar-Athletes are nominated by their teachers for demonstrating academic excellence, a stellar work ethic and impressive leadership in the classroom. This month’s recognition was sponsored by Bee Well Honey Natural Market in Pickens.
Blue Flame dominate up front to move to 2-0
By Cheri Anthony
Special to The Courier
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — After opening the season with a win over Crescent, Pickens looked to stay unbeaten and add another game to the win column against Franklin County (Ga.) last Friday night.
Playing without injured running back Samuel Maw, the Blue Flame used a “next man up” attitude against the 
Lions, and not even lightning could stop the Pickens running game, which tallied 505 yards on 57 carries in a decisive 42-17 victory.
“Our offensive line totally dominated,” Pickens coach Chad Smith said. “That, along with Jaden Jackson’s hardnosed running and Jacob Lewis’ ability to read blocking on the outside to give himself an
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Lions score early, often to beat county foe Easley
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — After making a statement in their season-opening win against Greer, the Daniel Lions demanded respect despite having to replace many key players from their back-to-back Class 3A state championship runs.
However, that didn’t stop Easley fans from chanting “We want Daniel!” in the time leading up to a weather-delayed kickoff on Friday night.
Those chants quickly evaporated when the action started, though, as the Lions beat down their cross-county foes 55-7 in a dominant performance on the road.
Daniel receiver Eli Merck laughed off the
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Penalties, injuries doom Wave in season-opening loss to Daniel
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Easley had the tough task of trying to stop two-time defending Class 3A state champion Daniel’s 25-game win streak Friday night in the home opener at Bill Carr Stadium.
The Green Wave knew they would have to play a nearly flawless game to win and have a few calls go their way. A 70-minute weather delay to start the game didn’t help the crowd for sure.
Unfortunately for Easley, the calls did not go the way of the Green Wave either, and the
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