Category Archives: Sports
Offense surges to lift Pickens to win in season opener
By Scott Sasser
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Facing a 16-0 deficit in the first quarter, the Pickens Blue Flame seemed poised to 
repeat the failures of last season against the Walhalla Razorbacks on
Friday night.
The Blue Flame, however, had other plans, staging a furious comeback and dominating the second half on their way to a 46-30 win — Pickens’ first season-opening victory since 2010.
“That was a good football team with a Division I athlete in the backfield,” Pickens head coach Chad Smith said of the Razorbacks and standout running back Zaire Scotland. “We proved a
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Red Devils still waiting for first game
By Clay Counts
Special to The Courier
claycounts21@yahoo.com
LIBERTY — After watching the other three Pickens County high schools open their 2020 seasons on 
Friday night, Liberty fans are unfortunately still playing the waiting game after COVID-19 postponed the start of the Devils’ season.
School District of Pickens County spokesman John Eby announced on Sept. 18 that football activities at LHS had been suspended for two weeks due to positive
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Quarterback injury hampers Wave in first game under new head coach
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — The Jordan Durrah era at Easley High School didn’t get off to the start Green Wave fans would 
have liked Friday night, as the visiting Westside Rams had a scoring outburst that turned a close game into a 45-0 win in the teams’ season opener and Region I-4A opener.
The game was tight until a 24-point five-minute spurt to close the first half and to start the second.
“We didn’t play well,” Durrah said. “We made a lot of mistakes. We’re still trying to learn and get better as a team. But tonight was not our best
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Lions rack up 76 points in win over Seneca
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
SENECA — After the Daniel High School football team fell 
behind by a touchdown early in the first quarter of Friday’s night
season opener at rival Seneca, the Lions seemed like they might be in for a fight.
However, the Lions put that notion to rest quickly, reeling off six straight touchdowns before halftime and dominating the Bobcats for a 76-34 win at Tom Bass Field.
The Lions’ 76 points were the most ever scored in the rivalry and seemingly answered any questions about the Daniel offense following the graduation of all-state quarterback Tyler
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Tigers cruise in win over Citadel
By Eric Sprott
Courtesy The Journal
esprott@upstatetoday.com
CLEMSON — The atmosphere was a bit unusual in and around Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but the Clemson football team managed to deliver a few hours of normalcy with the performance it turned in against the Citadel.
Led by an impressive, if brief, showing by quarterback Trevor Lawrence, the top-ranked Tigers
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‘I expect us to win’
Blue Flame eager to take field after offseason of hard work
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — For Pickens High School head football coach Chad Smith, last season’s failures were certainly a disappointment following a playoff berth
two years ago.
The Blue Flame were beset by injuries in 2019, including the early-season loss of standout running back Brady Batson, and finished just 2-8 on the year. Now entering his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater, nothing has changed about Smith’s expectations for his team, and with two
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INTO THE UNKNOWN
Devils entering uncertain season with two-week COVID-19 delay
By Clay Counts
Special to The Courier
claycounts21@yahoo.com
LIBERTY — The offseason has been a long and stressful one for high school football coaches, 
players and fans around the state and nation, but the long wait is finally
coming to a close for most South Carolina teams, with season openers set for this Friday night.
The Liberty Red Devils, however, will have to wait at least a couple more weeks after some members of the team tested positive for COVID-19 recently.
School District of Pickens County spokesman John Eby announced last Friday that all football activities at LHS had been suspended for two weeks due to the positive cases on the team. Eby said all close contacts of the positive cases had been notified, and games are being rescheduled as necessary in accordance with the South Carolina High School League.
Liberty is entering the pandemic-shortened 2020 season coming off a 3-8 finish a year ago, although the Red
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fresh start
Easley seeks improvement entering 2020 season with third coach in as many years
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
ejolley@thepccourier.com
EASLEY — Although many people are resistant to change, it isn’t always a bad thing.
And Easley High School football fans can take solace in that fact as the Green Wave head into the
pandemic-shortened 2020 season with their third head coach in as many seasons.
After Caleb King announced his surprise resignation following his only season at the program’s helm, former Byrnes offensive coordinator Jordan Durrah was announced as the Green Wave’s new head coach in February.
A former state championship-winning coach in North Carolina, King moved back to the Tar Heel State, where he is now an assistant coach at Rose High School. That move opened the door for Easley administrators to bring Durrah back to the school after he previously served as a Green Wave assistant during the Chad Smith era.
“I’ve always felt it was a special place,” Durrah said of Easley. “I think it’s got a strong community. We have strong people in administration and we have strong leaders in the district and
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‘Tough Sledding’
Lions tasked with keeping up success amid pandemic and other challenges
By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter
bnimmons@thepccourier.com
CENTRAL — The Daniel Lions have seen plenty of ups and downs during the tenure of head coach Jeff Fruster.
After the Lions managed to go just 8-13 in his first two seasons at the helm,
Fruster has taken Daniel to a combined 22-3 record, an Upper State championship appearance and a region title since 2018.
Now, Fruster faces what could possibly be his biggest challenge yet — replacing star quarterback Tyler Venables and nine other starters after the longest, strangest offseason he has ever seen due to the COVID-19 virus.
Set to kick off the season this Friday at rival Seneca, the Lions are taking COVID-19 very seriously and following all the various suggestions recommended by the S.C. High School League, according to Fruster. He also said the team had yet to see a positive case as of last week and commended the attitude shown by his players to the necessary changes.
“I told the kids way back in the summer that we’re going to
have to remain very flexible this year, and I think the kids have done a very good job with that,” Fruster said. “I know it’s not ideal and it goes against the very nature of everything they’ve done in this sport, but they have had a positive attitude if this is what it takes to play.”
Despite the challenges with COVID-19, the Lions have plenty to look forward to this season. Daniel boasts its
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Almost Go Time
High school football teams around the county are putting in the final preparations before the pandemic-shortened 2020 season officially kicks off next week. Above, Daniel quarterback Trent Pearman rolls out under pressure from defender Griffin
Batt at practice last week. At left, a group of Pickens linemen wait for a signal at practice on Monday. All four county teams will 
open the season Sept. 25, with Daniel visiting Seneca, Easley hosting Westside, Liberty taking on West-Oak at home and Pickens entertaining Walhalla. To read more about the local teams ahead of the season, check back next week for the Courier’s Football Frenzy season preview.
Bru Nimmons/Courier
