WEEK ONE: EASLEY 36 PICKENS 27
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
EASLEY, S.C. - Not a bad opening act for The Drive's Friday Night Lights High School Game of the Week.
For the second straight year we opened with Easley and Pickens, this time at Brice Field in Easley, and the Green Wave sent the home fans away happy with a 37-26 victory.
Easley head coach Jabo Burgess wondered during pregame about his team's depth. Well, with the temperature 92 degrees at kickoff and a steady stream of players coming out in the second half with cramps, the third-year mentor discovered that maybe his depth is better than he thinks.
For a while it looked as if Pickens would overcome a 23-8 halftime deficit, getting as close as 30-26 early in the fourth quarter. But Jordan Robinson's 37-yard touchdown run down the right sideline stopped the Blue Flame momentum and allowed Easley to escape with the 11-point victory.
Easley stays home in Week 2 for a matchup with Riverside, while Pickens has its home opener vs. Walhalla.
-- Dan Scott
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Pickens - Holley 93-yard kick return
Easley - Schonhar to Robinson TD
Easley - Schonhar to Raymond TD
Easley - Schonhar to Garrett TD
Pickens - Lawson to Rice TD
Pickens - Lawson to Crumpton TD
Easley - Robinson 37-yard run TD
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WEEK TWO: GREENVILLE 43 J.L. MANN 7
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
GREENVILLE, S.C. - Matt Lentz may be gone, but the Greenville Red Raiders showed they can score points in bunches without him Friday night.
Chris Wallace threw a touchdown pass, caught a touchdown pass and ran the opening kickoff back 88 yards for a score to lead Greenville to a 43-7 victory over rival J.L. Mann at Sirrene Stadium. It is the 11th straight win in the series for GHS, who now holds a 19-18-1 all-time advantage.
Tony Curtis added a pair of scoring receptions to the offense.
But the story of the night may well have been the Red Raider defense. Touted by head coach Jim Sosebee as the best defensive unit he's had at Greenville, the Raider D made life miserable for Patriots' quarterback Charlie Humphreys all night. Greenville had four quarterback sacks and never let Humphreys get in a rhythm.
The only blemish on the night was a Davis 34-yard TD run early in the third quarter for Mann.
The schools also competed in spirit week, an annual fund-raising competition held each year during the week prior to the game. The schools combined to raise almost $190,000, with GHS taking the competition this year by raising over $106,000.
-- Dan Scott
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G'ville - Curtis 28-yard TD Catch
G'ville - Roberts 1-yard TD Run
G'ville - Wallace 88-yard kick return
G'ville - Roberts to Wallace 12-yard TD
Mann - Davis 34-yard TD run
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WEEK THREE: DANIEL 28 T.L. HANNA 12
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
CENTRAL, S.C. - Two games into the 2007 season, Daniel High School is batting a thousand. A year ago at this time, they were winless.
Michael Wingard rushed for over 150 yards and a touchdown, and also caught a game-changing 32-yard TD pass right before the half to lead the Lions past T.L. Hanna, 28-12.
With Hanna leading 12-7 late in the first half, the Yellow Jackets were set to punt the ball away and go into the break with the lead. But after muffing the punt snap, Daniel took over at the Hanna 32 yard line. On the next play, Wingard caught a pass in the middle of the field and sprinted to his left, coasting into the end zone for the score.
Daniel had the lead, 14-12, and never looked back. A 54-yard run by Wingard and a 5-yarder by Trenton Walker polished off the scoring.
Daniel is 2-0, while Hanna falls to 1-2.
-- Dan Scott
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Daniel- Walker TD
Daniel- Fumble Return for TD
Daniel- Wingard TD
Hanna - Williams TD
Hanna - Norris TD
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WEEK FOUR: WESTSIDE 34 DANIEL 0
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
ANDERSON, S.C. - Montez Hatten knows every good running back has a strong offensive line to thank. Friday night, he said thank you to four years worth of big guys up front.
Hatten rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns to lead his Westside Rams to a 34-0 win over the Daniel Lions.
But beyond the game, the story was Hatten's individual accomplishment. He needed 126 yards to set the school's career rushing record - which stood at 4,005 yards - and he achieved the mark in style. Late in the third quarter Hatten, needing just 16 yards for the record, spun out of traffic and sped down the sideline for a 43-yard touchdown.
Score. Record. Rest of the night off.
Westside is now 3-0 on the season. Daniel is 2-1, and begins Western 3A conference play next Friday vs. Belton-Honea Path.
-- Dan Scott
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Westside- Tolliver TD Run
Westside- Swinger TD Catch
Westside- Hatten TD Run
Westside- Hatten Sets Record
Westside- Butler TD Catch
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WEEK FIVE: GREENVILLE 59 PICKENS 20
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
GREENVILLE, S.C. - D.J. Jules isn't the biggest guy on the football field.
In fact, at 5-feet-4, he's usually the smallest player out there. But given the chance to start for Greenville High this season, the little fella is putting up some awfully big stats.
Jules rushed for over 150 yards and a touchdown Saturday night, helping balance out the Red Raiders' passing attack in a 59-20 victory over visiting Pickens. The game was the Western 3A Conference opener for both schools. With the win, Greenville is 3-1 overall, 1-0 in the conference. Pickens falls to 2-2 (0-1).
Chris Hall and Tony Curtis scored two touchdowns apiece in the rout, while the Greenville defense also added a fumble recovery for a score.
The major highlight for Pickens came when their talented tight end, Josh Crumpton, made a one-handed catch with a defender hanging on him down the near sideline for a touchdown.
-- Dan Scott
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G'ville- Barnes Fumble Return
G'ville- Curtis TD Catch
G'ville- Curtis TD Run
G'ville- Hall TD Catch
G'ville- Jules TD Run
G'ville- Roberts-Hall Wild TD
Pickens- Crumpton TD Catch
Pickens- Rice TD Catch
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WEEK SIX: PENDLETON 31 WEST OAK 8
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
PENDLETON, S.C. - Injuries had racked Paul Sutherland's Pendleton Bulldogs in the early going, contributing heavily to their uncharacteristic 1-3 start.
Unfortunately for visiting West-Oak last Friday, the 'Dogs health began an upswing.
Pronouncing his team about 90 percent fit, Sutherland watched Pendleton roll over the visiting Warriors, 31-8, in a Skyline 2A matchup at Cunningham Stadium. The loss dropped West-Oak to 1-4 (0-1 conference). Pendleton is 1-1 in the Skyline.
Even with the injuries healing, it was a backup running back who led the Pendeton offense. Christopher Lee, who had totaled just 153 yards over the first four games, rushed for 135 and a pair of short touchdowns on the evening.
Meanwhile, the Bulldog defense kept West-Oak off the scoreboard until the latter stages of the fourth quarter.
-- Dan Scott
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Pendleton- Sears 37-yard Field Goal
Pendleton- Reverse TD Pass to Blanding
Pendleton- Owens Short TD Plunge
Pendleton- Lee 4-Yard TD Run
Pendleton- Lee 3-Yard TD Run
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WEEK SEVEN: DANIEL 67 TRAVELER'S REST 7
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
CENTRAL, S.C. - Facing a struggling Traveler's Rest program, Randy Robinson wanted his Daniel Lions to get off to a quick start and build up enough of a lead so his second and third teams could get significant playing time.
No problem.
The Lions scored six different ways and had a seventh called back last Friday in a 67-7 victory over the Devildogs. The win improves Daniel to 5-1 (3-0 Western 3A), while TR is 0-6 (0-3).
The Lions scored via the run, the pass, a kickoff return, an interception return, a fumble recovery and a safety (twice). Daniel also had a punt return for a score wiped out via penalty.
DeAndre Hopkins started the onslaught by picking off his ninth pass of the season and returning the interception 23 yards for the score. Quarterback Justin Walker only threw three passes all night, but two of them went for long touchdowns. And Michael Wingard added a pair of scoring runs to help salt away the game.
TR avoided the shutout by scoring its lone touchdown with three seconds remaining in the game. Through six games, the 'Dogs have only managed 20 points.
NOTE: There is only one highlight available for this game (see box to right). The recording of the broadcast was inadvertently wiped out, with only the Hopkins interception surviving.
-- Dan Scott
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Daniel- Hopkins INT Return
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WEEK EIGHT: GREENVILLE 47 BEREA 7
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
GREENVILLE, S.C. - The opponents keep stepping up to bat, and Greenville keeps knocking them down.
The Red Raiders totaled 511 yards in total offense last Friday in a 47-7 win over visiting Berea at Sirenne Stadium. The win improved Greenville to 6-1 overall, 4-0 in Western 3A.
Berea is 3-4 (2-2).
Marquese Young had a big night for Greenville, hauling in six passes for over 130 yards and two touchdowns. Both scoring passes came in the first half when the Red Raiders were struggling to get in synch offensively. But Young's hookups with quarterback Matt Roberts helped the offense get untracked.
The highlight of the second half was a 79-yard Roberts-to-Tony Curtis scoring pass, a play in which Curtis went up between two defenders to catch the ball and then raced the remaining 50 or so yards for the touchdown.
-- Dan Scott
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G'ville- Curtis 79-Yard TD Catch
G'ville- Koenig Field Goal
G'ville- Wallace 54-Yard TD Catch
G'ville- Young First TD Catch
G'ville- Young Second TD Catch
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WEEK NINE: RIVERSIDE 21 WADE HAMPTON 7
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
GREENVILLE, S.C. - He didn't know it at the time, but Brendan Espy's interception return for a touchdown late in Riverside's 21-7 win at Wade Hampton last Friday not only sealed the game but ultimately put his team alone in first place in the Peach Blossom 3A.
Riverside led just 14-7 with 90 seconds left in the game when Wade Hampton took over at its own 10-yard line. But instead of a miracle finish, quarterback Hartman's pass was picked off by Espy at the 16 yard line. Espy waltzed into the end zone untouched for the score.
Earlier, Riverside had taken a 14-0 lead on a pair of Pegler-to-Reese touchdown passes - one of 10 yards and the other from 53. Wade Hampton's only score came on a halfback pass late in the third quarter from Byrd to Alexander.
With the win Riverside (7-1, 5-0 in conference) stands alone atop the Peach Blossom thanks to Blue Ridge's wild 57-50 loss at Union. The two schools meet on Oct. 26.
Wade Hampton is 4-4 (2-2) after the defeat.
-- Dan Scott
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Riverside- Reese TD Catch No. 1
Riverside- Reese TD Catch No. 2
W. Hampton- Alexander Falling Catch
W. Hampton- Byrd to Alexander TD
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WEEK 10: DANIEL 35 GREENVILLE 23
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
GREENVILLE, S.C. - In a showdown for Western 3A supremacy, Daniel chose to break out an old - but true - cliche':
Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games.
The Lions intercepted Greenville quarterback Matt Roberts six times, returning two for touchdowns, en route to a 35-23 win on the Red Raiders' home field. The win means Daniel (8-1, 6-0 conf.) clinches the Western 3A championship and, with it, home field advantage in the playoffs for at least the first two rounds.
Wynton Botchway (35 yards) and Jerrod Williams (60-plus yards) took Roberts' passes back the other way to help the Lions build a 28-9 lead. Greenville (7-2, 5-1) fought back to within 35-23 with almost a full quarter to play, but could get no further.
The Lions can secure at least a first round playoff game this week if they can win on the road at B-HP. Daniel closes out the regular season at Woodmont.
-- Dan Scott
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Daniel- Botchaway INT TD Return
Daniel- Walker TD Run
Daniel- Williams INT Return
G'ville- Curtis TD Catch
G'ville- Jules TD Run
G'ville- Wallace TD Catch
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WEEK 11: WESTSIDE 33 EASLEY 7
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AUDIO HIGHLIGHTS |
EASLEY, S.C. - The score of the game was 33-7, Westside over Easley.
But for the first time this season The Drive's Friday Night Lights Game of the Week wasn't on hand hoping for a tight outcome or a fantastic finish. No, this was different.
We wanted to be there to pay our respects to and honor the late Tom Oxendine. Oxendine, nearly 30 years a teacher and mentor at Easley High School, died suddenly of heart difficulties midway through this football season.
Mr. O, as he was known, made it his purpose in life to be a friend to others. His ready smile and easy-going manner made him easy company. His desire to make visitors feel at home made him indispensable to someone like me; I had a thousand questions, he had a thousand answers.
There will be no playoffs for Easley this year, head coach Jabo Burgess having to deal with a number of issues - including internal problems - that led him to remove a number of his better players from the team. It was the right thing to do, even if it wasn't popular.
Had Mr. O been around, he would have been the first one to put a loving arm around Jabo's shoulder and console him with the knowledge that he did the right thing.
That was Tom Oxendine.
May he rest in peace.
-- Dan Scott
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Westside- Butler Short TD Run
Westside- Crump TD Catch
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