Skip to content

Stormy weather: Wildcats blank Raiders in midweek matchup

By John Clayton | September 25, 2024

Laurens may have avoided Hurricane Helene, but the Raiders couldn’t avoid Lexington Wednesday night at K.C. Hanna Stadium. In the Raiders’ final nonconference game of the season, visiting Lexington won a mistake-riddled game 29-0. The game was moved from Friday to Wednesday to avoid the torrential rains expected from Hurricane Helene over the next couple…

Lions roar past Red Devils with offensive 3rd quarter

By John Clayton | September 21, 2024

Daniel won a battle of No. 2-ranked teams Friday night, pulling away in the third quarter for a 37-12 victory over visiting Clinton Friday night. The Lions, ranked No. 2 in Class 4A behind Westside, scored three unanswered third-quarter touchdowns to turn a 14-6 halftime advantage into a lopsided 34-6 lead over the Red Devils,…

Knight shift: LA finally takes down W.W. King

By John Clayton | September 20, 2024

Laurens Academy players finally solved their W.W. King problem Friday night at Todd Kirk Field. No player on the Crusaders roster had ever beaten the Knights – at either the middle school or varsity level – a streak of futility that ended with a 52-36 victory highlighted by big plays as LA improved to 4-2…

Raiders on bye, ranked Red Devils, Lions battle, LA hosting King

By John Clayton | September 19, 2024

Games are expected to be back on a normal Friday night schedule this week after expected rains from Hurricane Francine in the Upstate caused both Clinton’s and Laurens Academy’s games to be moved to last Thursday. Those rains never really arrived, so the teams were saved from playing under partly cloudy skies. This week, Laurens…

Finding Nemo: Raiders’ Fernandez has career night in loss

By John Clayton | September 13, 2024

A.C. Flora overcame three first-half turnovers and gritty Laurens performance to escape with a 20-17 victory over the Raiders Friday night at Memorial Stadium in Columbia. For the second straight week, LDHS (0-4) was playing without a true quarterback due to injuries at the position, running a wildcat offense featuring running backs Nehemias “Nemo” Fernandez,…

Red Devils find early groove, pound Panthers, 49-27

By John Clayton | September 13, 2024

INMAN – Clinton shrugged off the slow starts that had plagued the Red Devils in three games this season, scoring early and often in a 49-27 victory at Chapman Thursday night. The game was moved up one day due to predicted heavy rains from Hurricane Francine in the Upstate Friday and Saturday. The Red Devils…

PC to honor Clinton downtown fire first-responders at GWU game

By John Clayton | September 11, 2024

Presbyterian College will honor the firefighters and first responders who answered the call to combat a devastating blaze that destroyed or damaged several businesses in downtown Clinton on Tuesday, Aug. 27. Firefighters and first responders from 31 agencies throughout Laurens County and the Upstate will be recognized on the field at halftime of the Blue…

Red Devils legend, Hall of Famer Long passes away

By John Clayton | September 11, 2024

Kevin Long, a member of the Laurens County Sports and University of South Carolina Gamecocks Hall of Fame, died Tuesday morning after an extended illness. He was 69. Long was a standout running back at Clinton High School and a member of the Red Devils’ 1972 State Championship team. He went on to play at…

Weather concerns cause changes to gridiron schedule

By John Clayton | September 11, 2024

Clinton and Laurens Academy will play their varsity football games a day early this week due to heavy rains from Hurricane Francine expected in the Upstate Friday and Saturday. “Francine” was upgraded from a Tropical Storm to a Class 1 Hurricane Tuesay night. Clinton is now scheduled to play its varsity game at Chapman Thursday…

Hardy scores 5 TDs to lead Crusaders

By John Clayton | September 8, 2024

Caleb Hardy’s uniform didn’t include a cape during Laurens Academy’s 40-20 victory over visiting Oakbrook Prep Friday night, but maybe it should have. Hardy had 10 catches for 120 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 60 yards with two scores for five total touchdowns in the win. With a 2-point conversion, he accounted for…