Daily Archives: 09/08/2015
Loving life with the horses
The farrier came this week to shoe the horses. There are three now. Smokey, our 23-year-old gelding, Dixie Darling, our 20-year-old mare, and Caroline, our 6-year-old.
We haven’t had Caroline long — just a few months — but she has improved tremendously since being given an ample and nutritious diet.
She was thin when Fowler brought her home, but is filling out nicely. Caroline is larger than Dixie Darling and so tall she’ll have to stand in a ditch to be mounted. Or a rider can bring a stepladder to get into the saddle.
But she is a beautiful horse and as far as we know has no bad habits. And there are plenty she could have had.
She doesn’t kick when you walk behind her, doesn’t crib (gnaw the wood in the stable) doesn’t nip or kick the other horses and is easy to catch.
When it was her turn to be shod, she cooperated beautifully, didn’t resist during the process and was clearly a veteran.
Now that the weather is cooling down a little, Fowler will begin riding her. Dixie Darling is still a dependable mount and is a very smooth ride, but she does have some age and may retire from trail rides if Caroline can match her performance.
Smokey has lived with us for more than 20 years. He’s an old man now, but still considers himself the herd leader.
Each morning, he leads the mares out to the pasture to graze. He still enjoys running and makes a pretty picture galloping through the grass with mane and tail flying. And the mares run behind him. You can tell by watching them what the pecking order is.
Caroline is at the bottom of the totem pole and defers to her elders. Smokey thinks she is attractive but still demands that she mind her manners.
Fowler still has to supervise the supper hour, as Smokey will run Caroline away from her share of sweet feed if he isn’t watched.
He has plenty of sweet feed of his own, but that isn’t the point. As he’s top horse of the outfit, he wants to make sure he’s getting the best of everything.
Smokey is not an ambitious horse. He doesn’t insist on getting ahead of all other riders on the trail but could be called a bit lazy as he’s satisfied to walk along, biting off the tips of tree branches or attempting to graze.
We did have a horse, Copper Top, who should have been named Lightning, as he was the fasted thing on four legs I’ve ever seen.
When Fowler acquired him in a complicated horse trade, we saw he had a tattoo inside his ear, so we knew he’d been raced. I honestly believed the horse would have dropped dead before he’d allow another horse to pass him on the trail. He could always move into another gear to stay in the lead. He was exciting to watch, but unnerving to ride. I never rode him and didn’t want to. There was something about the expression in his eyes that gave me the idea he was just waiting for an opportunity to do away with his rider. He was unpredictable and high-strung. Fowler sold him after one season, and I was glad to see him go.
Even though Smokey is more or less just a pasture ornament, we’ll keep him in that position for the rest of his life. He’s content where he is, and we’re attached to him. If Dixie Darling retires, she will stay on Fowler Farm, too.
Each morning after waking, we’ll be able to look out the bedroom window and watch them run into the pasture. It’s a picture I never tire of, and I hope we get to see it for a few more years.
Starting anew
Thursday was a special day for me.
Without my knowledge, my sister Rhonda had set up an appointment 
with a surgeon in Greenville about my weight problem. As I understood it, this guy would somehow cut the fat from my body, leaving me with a slim, trim figure. Sounds a little too science-fiction to me, but the least I could do was go listen.
When I got to the office, I was led to a room with several other people who were considering having the operation and their families. The operation is relatively simple. They take a band and insert it into your stomach so there is less room for food. When there’s less room for food, you eat less. And eventually you lose lots of weight.
As I watched a slideshow they had prepared, the operation made more sense. Sure, I would have to adjust my diet, but finally not being overweight would be so worth it. Plus I currently have slightly high blood pressure. According to the doctors, the massive amount of weight I would lose would correct my blood-pressure issues and lead to better health overall.
At the end of the slideshow, I was convinced this operation was for me.
Of course, then came the bad news: They checked my insurance and sad it would not cover this. Apparently living longer and healthier is not the purpose of health insurance. Somehow they forgot to put the word “don’t” in the middle of the phrase “Obamacare.”
My sister was devastated. She works for a doctor and couldn’t believe a policy would not do everything possible to help a client.
Me? I guess I’ve been beaten down so long that bad news does not bother me. My sister was spending the afternoon calling anybody who she thought could reverse this situation. I was actually relieved. There was a solution, but it wasn’t coming from the government.
The fact that so many people believe in my ability to come back makes me believe in myself. And if I work hard, frankly, there’s nobody who can stop me from doing a good job.
With that in mind, I feel a confidence I have not felt since losing my job more than two years ago. Funny, I’ve been moping around all this time, and all it took was the government telling me I am not worthy of their special health insurance to pop my brain back into the “let’s get it on” mode.
So I’m vowing to work harder, write better, and do what I need to do to give you my best effort. I am starting anew here!
Letters to the Editor 09-09-2015
Blaming violence on true culprits
Dear Editor,
After seeing Vester Flanagan gunning down those two journalists, recording it all, sending off a 23-page manifesto, then calling ABC news while he was on the run, I’ve reached the conclusion our society is reaping the seeds it has sown.
The root cause of all of this has been the breakdown of the family, which started with the divorce craze in the 1970s. Today, too many children are growing up unsupervised, and the parental vacuum in many homes has been filled by the media, Hollywood and TV. Seeking the almighty dollar and appealing to the sinful side of human nature, the media is peddling titillating violence, promiscuous sex, drug use, kill-and-be-killed video games or whatever gets them ratings and viewers. Our nation’s developing children are seeing this all, absorbing it all, and unfortunately too many are becoming what they have been fed and then are acting it out.
The media coverage makes these young killers household names — think Dylann Roof and James Holmes — glamorizing them with infamy and encouraging more to act out, seeking the same notoriety.
This was not the cultural dynamic of in the 1950s or the “Leave It To Beaver” generation of the early 1960s. Today it is; heck, today we have terms like “snuff movies.” No need to say more; our society is in a self-feeding downward spiral that we must grab hold of and stop.
So far, the talking heads in the media are blaming guns and mental illness. Neither are the root cause. When are our elected leaders going to point a finger at the breakdown of the family and the media, which is feeding our children all this violence?
Alex Saitta
Pickens
Thankful for change in district
Dear Editor,
I write this letter with a heart filled with gratitude and thanks.
[cointent_lockedcontent]I am grateful for the step increases that the School District of Pickens County’s Board of Trustees recently put in place for the teachers of the district.
At Pickens High School, I was able to hire five top-level first-year candidates to fill vacancies left by wonderful teachers with years of experience. One brand-new teacher greeted students in mathematics, science, and English respectively, and two met students in social studies.
These first-year teachers are second to none academically and are equipped by professional preparation to lead students in the path of excellence.
We were also able to hire three veteran teachers, two of whom are outstanding teachers from neighboring districts. This is possible in part because our school board placed a priority on hiring the brightest and best early and restoring the steps in the pay scale! I am thankful to the board for giving us a competitive advantage in hiring!
With the additional pay steps in place, the SDPC takes a backseat to no one. Thank you, school board for placing your vision and leadership in securing these folks and many others for the benefit of our 16,000-plus students.
I understand that the vote was not unanimous. I also understand that the dissenting vote was not against the third step per se, rather it was a vote to wait one year on adding it. I am thankful to live in these United States, where a dissenting voice can be heard and where we don’t have to all agree on everything. We have the right to disagree. As good citizens, we can do so respectfully.
I am also thankful for the strong leadership of the district administration. Dr. Danny Merck and his team have shown the district a vision and given us a five-year plan of action. Good planning, open and honest communication and a clear focus on the students’ well-being have placed us on the road to excellence district-wide. A winning culture prevails in the SDPC.
It is important that we all notice that the landscape of education has changed dramatically over the past decade. Public education began in one-room schoolhouses and progressed through the decades to be the primary promoter of democracy in America. Now it has grown to offer families choice in everything, from location and curriculum to a fully virtual online model.
The beauty of public education is that it is offered to all. The difficulty of public education is that it is offered to all. The challenge for SDPC and other districts is to anticipate the needs of our community and provide an excellent education with a broad brush that prepares students for college, career and citizenship. What a task! What an opportunity!
Finally, I am thankful for the citizens of Pickens County who spoke up for public education. Realizing that a strong partnership between school and community is necessary, many citizens, business owners, industry leaders, economic experts and public servants voiced their commitment to public education by calling for a commitment to a budget that included provisions to hire the very best teachers. We must believe that our greatest resources in Pickens County are our young people. We must also believe in the power of teamwork! Working together as citizens, families, business leaders, district leaders and school board leaders, we can meet the challenges of the day and present a winning model for all to see! Thank you all!
Marion Lawson
Principal
Pickens High School
[/cointent_lockedcontent]
DAR wants your old Bible records to preserve history
By Lynda Abegg
Special to the Courier
news@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — Do you have an old Bible at home? Maybe it’s sitting in a dusty box in the attic with a lot of old photographs. Maybe it once belonged to your crazy Great-aunt Bess, who always claimed she was related to George Washington. Maybe it’s kept in a glass case in the living room and no one is allowed to touch it.
Mary Ann Ward displays her family Bibles.
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) want your old Bible records. According to Harriet Nash, registrar for the Fort Prince George Chapter of DAR, Bible records have long been a family’s way of recording special moments in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
“Bibles have been handed down through families for many generations,” Nash said. “These family records are priceless, for they tell, in the very handwriting of our ancestors, the story of their lives.”
Particular emphasis is on records of the 1880s and 1890s to help fill in the void left by the loss of the 1890 federal census in a fire in 1921, but older historical records, particularly Bible records and cemetery transcripts, are always wanted.
Mary Ann Ward, 87, dusted off the box she kept her Bibles in and spread them across the coffee table.
“I have nine Bibles that date from 1888 to 1923,” she said.
Ward was pleased that DAR wants to preserve the information in her Bibles because “it is the history of my family.”
DAR established the Genealogical Research Committee in 1913, and its name was changed to the Genealogical Records Committee in 1932. The purpose of the committee is two-fold: to collect, preserve and increase the holding of unpublished genealogical source materials in the DAR Library and to make these records available worldwide through an online index.
Because DAR is concerned that many old Bibles are disintegrating and countless family histories will be lost, they will digitize the records to preserve them and make them available to the public, as well as genealogists, in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C.
“If you have a photograph or other image of the original owners of the family Bible or photographs of their immediate family, we would like copies of them, too,” Nash said. “If you wish to donate your Bible, it will be preserved in the DAR Library in Washington, D.C.”
The DAR Library, founded in 1896, has grown nto a specialized collection of American genealogical and historical manuscripts and publications, as well as powerful on-site databases. It ontains more than 225,000 books, 10,000 research files, thousands of manuscript items and special collections of African American, Native American and women’s history, genealogy and culture. Nearly 40,000 family histories and genealogies comprise a major portion of the book collection, many of which are unique or available in only a few libraries in the country. The library is free and open to the public.
“You don’t have to give up your family Bible to be part of the preservation of your family’s history,” SC DAR membership chair Lynda Abegg said. “Make a copy of the Bible’s title page and copyright page, as well as the handwritten pages with birth and death information and take it to your local DAR chapter.”
Contact Abegg at lyndaabegg@charter.net to find the chapter closest to your home and to get detailed instructions to submit your pages. DAR has 71 chapters in South Carolina, added Abegg.
Known as one of the largest women’s patriotic organizations in the world, DAR has more than 180,000 members with 3,000 chapters in the United States, as well as chapters in 13 foreign countries. DAR has long promoted patriotism through commemorative celebrations, memorials, scholarships and activities for children as well as programs for new immigrants. For more information on DAR and its programs, visit dar.org.
To submit your Bible’s history, scan, copy or photograph the title page, copyright page, marriage record page, birth record page and death record page.
Community Calendar 09-09-2015
• Children’s Fall Festival set in Easley
The city of Easley and Gilstrap Family Dealerships will host a Children’s Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 4-8 p.m.
The event will be held around the downtown merchants and at Old Market Square in Easley. Children can trick or treat with the downtown merchants and then join a fun-filled festival with games, music, costume contests and more. The festival is free.
For more, visit easleyevents.com or call (864) 423-4344.
• Luter to speak at Rock Springs
Dr. Fred Luter Jr., pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans and past president of the Southern Baptist Convention, will be speaking in a one-night crusade at Rock Springs Baptist Church on Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Pre-service music will begin at 6:45 p.m. and will be provided by Crusade choir and orchestra.
Rock Springs is located at 201 Rock Springs Road in Easley.
• Winchester reunion set for September 20
The annual Winchester reunion will be held at the Shady Grove Baptist Church Fellowship Building on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 12:15 p.m. Table accessories will be provided. Each family will provide food and drinks. There will be a memorial candlelight service for those who passed away during the past years and a video to portray the 70th wedding anniversary of Jack and Sheila Winchester of Florida. Hough Pace is president, Dale Winchester is vice president and David Winchester and daughter are serving as treasurer and secretary.
• Legion Post 67 seeks members
American Legion Post 67 in Liberty is accepting applications for membership from all U.S. military wartime veterans.
For more information, call (864) 787-2322.
• Pickens Lions plan meetings each month
The Pickens Lions Club is in need of new members. The club meets the first and third Thursday of every month at Pizza Inn in Pickens. Dinner begins at 6:40 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7 p.m.
Meetings are open to anyone interested in joining the club or simply finding out more about the club and how it serves Pickens.
• Sertoma Club invites locals to meet
The Clemson Sertoma Club invites all interested local residents to attend its meetings. The club meets at noon the first and third Tuesdays of each month at Occasions at Wedgefield, located at 1551 Eighteen Mile Road in Central. New visitors are always welcome.
Courier Obituaries 09-09-2015
BERNICE “COUTE” SMITH
Liberty — Bernice Crowe “Coute” Smith, 95, of 105 Five Forks Road, passed away peacefully Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, at Pruitt House of Pickens.
A lifelong resident of Liberty, she was a daughter of the late Benjamin Harrison Crowe Sr. and Maggie Janie Patterson Crowe and the widow of Mack Smith. She was retired from American Enka and enjoyed reading and doing crafts such as ceramics, needlework and sewing. She was a volunteer at Baptist Easley Hospital and a member of Calumet Baptist Church.
Surviving are a daughter, Donna Harris (Thomas) of Liberty; a son, David Smith (Sybil) of Belton; a sister, Joyce Crowe of Easley; a brother, B.H. Crowe of Liberty; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by a son, Tony Max Smith; and two sisters, Lillian Crowe Stewart and Mildred Crowe Thrasher; and two brothers, Doyle and Horace Crowe.
Funeral services to honor the life of Mrs. Smith were held Sept. 3 in the Liberty Mortuary Chapel, with burial following at Abbott Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Calumet Baptist Church, 400 S. Peachtree St. Liberty, SC 29657 or the charity of one’s choice.
Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.
BOBBY JOE ABERCROMBIE
CENTRAL — Bobby Joe Abercrombie, 76, of Central, husband of Willene Grant Abercrombie, died Monday, Aug. 31, 2015, at his home.
Born in Six Mile, he was son of the late Robert H. and Cora Tompkins Abercrombie. Joe was the former owner and operator of Joe’s Body Shop and was a retired member of the Central Volunteer Fire Department and the Central Rescue Squad. He was a member of Cannon Memorial Baptist Church for 42 years.
Surviving in addition to his wife, are his son, Keith (Susan) Abercrombie of Central; grandson, Kyle Joseph Abercrombie of Central; brothers Gene (Pauline) Abercrombie and Charles (Shirley) Abercrombie, all of Pickens; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Fred Elton Abercrombie; and a sister, Martha Stone.
Funeral services were Sept. 5 in the chapel of Duckett-Robinson Funeral Home, with burial following in Mt. Zion Cemetery. Officiating ministers were the Rev. Randall Perry, the Rev. Darren Rood and the Rev. William Fendley.
The family would like to extend their appreciation to Joe’s caregivers, Sue Jones, Helen McCall, Annette Holder and Hospice of the Upstate for all their love and kindness.
Condolences may be expressed online at www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or at the funeral home.
GRACE C. LACKEY
EASLEY — Grace Crum Lackey, 88, of Easley, passed away Wednesday Sept. 3, 2015, at her home.
Born in Greenville County and raised in the Arial community of Easley, she was the daughter of the late James Edgar and Georgia Ellen Ross Crum.
Mrs. Lackey dedicated her life to serving God and caring for others. She was a member of Arial United Methodist Church and former member of Red Hill Baptist Church.
Surviving are her daughters, Nita Stephens, Kay Cooper and her husband, Greg, and Tammy Lackey, all of Pickens; grandchildren, Andy Stephens, Amanda Grace Cooper and Ryan Cooper; a great-granddaughter, Lily Grace Stephens; a son of the heart, Mike; a brother, Ross Crum (Peggy) and a sister, Lucile Lesley, all of Easley.
In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by brothers, Richard Crum and Leonard Crum; and sisters, Elizabeth Greer and Evelyn Bagwell.
A service to celebrate Mrs. Lackey’s life was held on Sept. 6 in the chapel of Robinson funeral Home-Downtown. Burial followed in Hillcrest Memorial Park in Pickens.
Flowers accepted or memorials may be made to Country Santa, P.O. Box 856 Pickens, SC 29671.
Condolences may be expressed online by visiting www.robinsonfuneralhomes.com or in person at Robinson Funeral Home-Downtown, which is assisting the family.
MARK DAVIS
Liberty — Mark Allen Davis, 52, of 707 Anderson Drive, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at the Hospice House in Anderson.
He loved to fish and had previously worked several years as a truck driver.
Surviving are his parents, Rev. Larry and Mary “Bo” Gillespie Davis of Liberty; a sister, Amy Bott (Jeff) of Easley; two nieces, Chelsea and Kenley Knott; two uncles and an aunt, Rev. Charlie and Alta Mae Bowen, and Rev. Norman Gillespie.
Funeral services to celebrate Mark’s life were Sept. 8 at East Side Baptist Church. Burial was at Flat Rock Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family requests memorials be made to East Side Baptist Church, 920 Anderson Drive, Liberty SC 29657. Liberty Mortuary is handling arrangements.
TOMMY “CHARLES” STEWART
PICKENS — Tommy “Charles” Stewart, 66, of Pickens, passed peacefully on Friday, Sept. 4, at Manna Health and Rehab.
He was born in Pickens on May 5, 1949, the son of the late Tommy and Frances Ellenburg Stewart. Charles was a member of Mountain Grove Baptist Church. He was an avid bear hunter and fisherman. He was a retired mechanic from the South Carolina Department of Transportation. Charles was also a loyal volunteer to the city of Pickens and its surrounding community.
He also served on the Pickens rescue squad for many years. Prior to retiring with 25 years of service, he served as a volunteer firefighter for the city of Pickens and enjoyed helping others in their time of need. Charles was a member of several volunteer organizations, including South Carolina Forestry Strike Team and the South Carolina Disaster Relief Team. He also served as the “Santa” for the Pickens Christmas parade for many years.
Surviving, in addition to his wife of 45 years, Helen Renee Cassell Stewart, are his daughters, Missy Stewart Nicholson (Gary) of Pickens and Crystal Stewart Stone (Bradley) of Sunset, and four grandchildren, Seth and Colby Nicholson, and Emmalee and Ivey Grace Stone.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Dillard Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Mountain Grove Baptist Church Children’s and Youth fund, 644 E. Preston McDaniel Road, Pickens, SC 29671.
The family will be at the home of Missy Nicholson.
The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to family, friends and the doctors and staff at Manna Health and Rehab.
**JAMES DELBERT GARDNER**
Pickens — James D. Gardner, 81, husband of the late Eunice Ray Tyler Gardner, passed from this life Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Greenville Memorial Hospital.
Born in Albany, Mo., a son of the late Charles James and Inez Bell Gardner, he was a member of Westview Baptist Church and was a retired United States Air Force veteran with 20 years of service, having served in Japan, Korea and Turkey.
Survivors include two daughters, Debra Link and her husband, Rev. Paul Link of Greenville, and Kathy Street and her husband, Michael Street of Pickens; five grandchildren; Jonathon Link, Andrew Link, Robert Dobbins, Samantha Dobbins and Alex Street; two great-grandchildren, Levi Link and Caleb Link; a sister, Annie Hughes of Albany, Mo.; and two brothers, Charles W. Gardner of Albany, Mo., and Lawrence Gardner of Milwaukee, Wis.
Mr. Gardner was predeceased by his wife, parents and three sisters.
A graveside funeral service was held Sept. 5 at Mountain View Memorial Park in Travelers Rest, officiated by Rev. Paul Link.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westview Baptist Church, 616 Cherokee Drive, Greenville, SC 29615.
Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Gardner family.
EVELYN MARCELLE MCGAHA BROOKS
Pickens — Evelyn M. McGaha Brooks, 88, wife of the late J.C. Brooks, passed from this life Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015.
Born in Easley, a daughter of the late Colonel Benton McGaha and Sadie Brown McGaha. Mrs. Brooks has been a member of East Pickens Baptist Church since 1956, where she enjoyed knitting sweaters so the children on the church bus would stay warm.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Carol James Brooks of Liberty; two grandchildren, Angela Galloway (Michael) of Seneca, and Crista Massie (Jeff) of Liberty; four great-grandchildren, Tori and Madi Galloway, and Nathan and Payton Massie; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Brooks was predeceased by her parents, her husband, a son, Roger Charles Brooks, seven sisters and three brothers.
Funeral services were held Sept. 5 at Dillard Funeral Home Chapel. Entombment followed at Hillcrest Memorial Park and Gardens Mausoleum.
Special thank you to April Medgyesy, Hospice Care of South Carolina, Chaplain Albert, Vivian, Belinda, Madison and Shelli for their kind and compassionate care to our family.
In lieu of flowers. memorials may be made to Hospice Care of South Carolina, 900 East Main Street, Easley, SC 29640 or Alzheimer’s Association, 301 University Ridge, No. 5000, Greenville, SC 29601.
Condolences may be expressed by visiting www.dillardfunerals.com.
Dillard Funeral Home is assisting the Brooks family.
Emerald beats Lions in OT heartbreaker
By Rocky Nimmons
Publisher
rnimmons@thepccourier.com
GREENWOOD — With a storm blowing in and lightning flashing all around, the Daniel Lions failed to hold on to a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter,
Rocky Nimmons/Courier
Daniel defensive linemen Avery Conrad, right, and Miles Turmon combine to sack Emerald quarterback Meldrecous Jones during the Vikings’ win over the Lions on Friday night in Greenwood.
allowing the Emerald Vikings to battle back and force Friday night’s non-region contest into overtime and eventually take a 27-21 victory.
“We gave them 14 points when we had the game in hand,” Daniel coach Randy Robinson said following the heartbreaker. “We didn’t do a good enough job in the secondary and we get beat twice.
“That is two weeks in a row the secondary didn’t know the down and distance. That is our fault. We didn’t do a good enough job coaching them. There is no way they should have gone 60 yards untouched or beat us on a halfback pass with both our corner and safety biting up and getting beat.”
The Lions did play much better in week two, but the results were still the same as the Lions are still winless on the season and looking for answers with maybe their toughest challenge to date slated for this Friday night. The Columbia blue and gold will travel to Anderson to face an undefeated Westside Ram team at District 5 Stadium.
“Westside is probably the most talented team we will face all year,” Robinson said. “They are loaded. We saw them on the 7-on-7 circuit. The good news is that we are playing good competition and maybe they will help us when we get into region play. They have a D1 guy and they have a couple of outside receivers that are as good as you will find. They will be a challenge for our kids.”
The Lions were tested from the opening whistle on Friday at Emerald. The Vikings got on the scoreboard first, producing a six-play drive that covered 65 yards.
The Lions’ defense looked to have the series in check until Viking quarterback Meldrecous Jones went to the air on the drive’s fourth snap and found Will Reynolds open for a 22-yard pass that pushed them deep into Lion territory at the 26-yard line. One play later, Reynolds’ number was called again. The running back took a pitch and raced 26 yards for the game’s first touchdown. Kicker Josh Davis added the extra point, and the Lions were quickly trailing 7-0 with 9:10 left in the first quarter.
Daniel’s offense produced a three-and-out on its first possession, calling on punter Justin Craig to kick the ball away. Disaster struck on the play, as Emerald’s De Drennon found a seam and got a hand on the punt, giving his team great field position at the Daniel 13-yard line.
The Lion defense intensified after the block and hammered the Vikings. On the very first play of the possession, defensive end Avery Conrad got into the backfield and laid a big hit on Jones, sacking the quarterback for a one-yard loss. Three incomplete passes later, the Lions had the ball on downs.
The great play by the defense set the stage for the offense to get moving. The Lions mounted a beautiful 10-play drive for a score. Running back Stephon Kirksey was the workhorse early, carrying the rock three of the first four plays, picking up a total of 28 yards. The drive stalled late, as the Lions faced a fourth and 10 at the Emerald 35. Robinson dug into his bag of tricks and found a nice play. Daniel quarterback Ben Batson pitched the ball back to wideout Dante Gilliard, who then pulled up and slung a deep pass to Carter Groomes for a score with 3:21 left in the first quarter. Kicker Rivers Sherrill added the point after, and the game was tied 7-7.
The Lion defense seemed to come alive as defensive ends T.J. Reese and Conrad continued to bring the pressure.
Daniel took over at its own 26-yard line the next time it had the ball and looked to be on the move again. Kirksey ran hard on the series, picking up 19 yards on six carries. Batson also looked crisp, competing four of five passes on the drive, including a 38-yard toss to C.J. Scott and a 17-yard completion to Gilliard that pushed the Lions to the Viking 1-yard line. A sure touchdown was not to be, as a bad snap gave the ball back to Emerald and ended the threat.
Again the Lion defense held and took the ball away from Emerald after the turnover.
The Lions wanted the lead before intermission, and Robinson went to the bench and called on sophomore running back Marnielius Cobb, and the youngster answered with a pair of nice runs behind his big offensive tackles Cade Stewart and Dylan Perry. The first run went for 18 yards, and a second for eight more. The Lions were battling the clock with only seconds left to play in the half, and Robinson elected to call on Sherrill to try a 46-yard field goal before intermission. The kick never got a chance, however, and was blocked, ending the half in a stalemate with the two teams locked at 7-7.
The Lions came back from intermission and got rolling on their second possession following the break. Daniel produced a seven-play drive on the legs of Batson, who picked up 25 yards on three scrambles. Kirksey added a nice 17-yard scamper, but it was Cobb who got in for the score from seven yards out to cap the drive with 6:24 to play in the third quarter. A bad snap cost the Lions the PAT, but they had their first lead at 13-7.
It looked to be all Lions as the Daniel defenders continued to play well, forcing the Vikings to hand the ball over on downs yet again — this time on a fourth and five play, where Scott, playing in the defensive backfield, made a great play to take down Jones on a run.
The Lion offense was stroking, taking over at its own 25 and going the distance on seven plays. Batson raced for 27 yards in a single run, but it was Kirksey who was the man of the hour, gaining 48 yards on six carries, including the final three yards for the touchdown. Robinson wanted a two-point conversion, and Batson answered his coach by diving across the goal line with 17 seconds left in the third to give the Lions a 21-7 advantage.
The Vikings were not going to be humiliated on their home turf. In only two plays, Emerald was right back in it. The touchdown came when Reynolds took a pitch and broke the line of scrimmage and sprinted through the secondary for 62 yards and a score. Davis added the PAT, and the Lions’ lead was cut to 7.
Neither team could produce points on the next two series.
With a little more than two minutes to play, Emerald knew it was do-or-die time. Starting at their own 35-yard line, the Vikings gave the Lions a taste of their own medicine, as they too went to their bag of tricks and called a halfback pass. Jones took the snap and handed the ball to backup quarterback Anthony White, who pulled up and threw the pigskin way downfield to wide receiver K.J. Chamberlain. All the Lions’ defensive backs bit hard on the apparent run, leaving Chamberlain wide open, and the receiver trotted untouched in for the score. Davis added the PAT, and the game was set to go to overtime knotted at 21-21.
The Lions lost the coin toss to start overtime, so Robinson sent his offense on the field first. Emerald was fired up and shut down the Lions fast. Robinson called on Sherrill to chip in a 24-yard field goal to take the lead with hopes his defense could hold. Sherrill hit the kick, but a flag was thrown and the Lions were called for a chop block, costing 15 yards. Sherrill now had to retry the kick — now from 39 yards. The kick ended up wide left.
The Vikings were fired up and took the field. On the first snap, Reynolds ended it quickly, going in for a touchdown and giving his team a 27-21 win.
Despite the loss, Robinson, acknowledged his team had shown improvement since a week-one loss against Easley.
“When the kids saw the film, they played better,” he said. “They worked hard and they played together. A lot of good things happened. They just didn’t play good enough to not lose.
“Emerald has some great team speed, and they have some athletes. It was a talented group we faced. We learned a little bit after the Easley game. We practiced fast and we played harder. We just have to build on that.
“I hope we come out with a lot of intensity on Monday morning in practice. I am just disappointed — I don’t like losing when we play good.”
Bobcats hand Wave first loss in blowout
By Kerry Gilstrap
Courier Sports
news@thepccourier.com
EASLEY —- After Friday night’s contest with the Seneca Bobcats got started,
Kerry Gilstrap/Courier
Easley quarterback Dalton Black scrambles away from pressure during the Green Wave’s home loss to Seneca on Friday night.
the Easley Green Wave may have wished the game had been postponed or even canceled.
The Wave never saw what hit them, and a physically impressive Bobcat team led by former Pickens coach Brett Turner laid a shellacking on Easley, posting a 38-0 victory in front of the Green Wave faithful.
In a game that was set to kick off at 7:30 p.m., fans who persevered did not see the opening kick until around 10:30 p.m., all thanks to Mother Nature. A huge lightning storm blew into Easley just before kickoff, and officials delayed the contest as a result.
When play finally began, Easley came out and ran into a buzzsaw, as the Bobcats where hitting on all cylinders from the start. Seneca dominated the game, outgaining the Green Wave 383-171 and jumping out to a 21-0 first-half lead before cruising to the victory.
“They were the more physical team. They were big, strong and fast,” Easley head coach John Windham said after the game. “My hat goes off to them. They have a lot of good players. They beat us in every way tonight.”
After the three-hour weather delay, Seneca didn’t come out sleepwalking. Instead, the Bobcats came out running wild.
Braxton Gambrell totaled 153 yards on the ground, and Jacory Benson added 95 more, as the Bobcats scored five rushing touchdowns.
Not to be outdone, the Seneca defense picked off Easley quarterback Dalton Black four times in pitching the shutout.
After the opening kickoff, Seneca’s Brandon Gibson promptly sacked Black on second down to spoil the Green Wave’s opening drive. The quick start defensively was a sign of things to come for the Bobcats.
Seneca’s Chris Webb notched his second and third interceptions of the season, while Drew Boggs and Deandre Alexander chipped in one apiece.
“I just saw great intensity,” Turner said of his defense. “We as a staff saw that, and the turnovers are huge because it sets the offense up in good field position, and it was just a great team effort defensively and offensively.”
Seneca opened its first drive at Easley’s 45-yard line, and the Bobcats scored on their sixth play of the contest thanks to a two-yard Braxton Gambrell plunge that was set up by his 21-yard rush to the Green Wave’s 3-yard line two plays earlier.
After Easley had its second of four straight three-and-outs to start the night, the Bobcats methodically worked their way down to the 10-yard line, where Daquan Mackey motioned to the right from his wide receiver position, took the handoff, turned the corner and then headed up the field for a score. The touchdown pushed Seneca to a 14-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Easley managed to force Seneca to punt for the first time on its ensuing series thanks to some good defensive play by the Green Wave.
The Bobcats responded on their next possession by producing a touchdown drive of two plays. The series ended with the second of Gambrell’s two touchdowns on the night.
Seneca took a 21-0 lead into the locker room, and Benson scored twice after halftime to put the finishing touches on an especially long night for Easley.
Bobcat quarterback Elijah Turner was efficient, completing eight of his 12 throws for 105 yards, while Easley’s attack was led by Bralan Fuller and his 118 receiving yards.
This week the Green Wave will look to get back on the winning track as they travel to face the rival Wren Golden Hurricanes.
Wren enters the contest after taking a 61-28 beating from Anderson County rival T.L. Hanna last Friday night. Wren did win its first contest of the year, beating Woodmont 28-14 on the road two weeks ago. Friday’s game with the Green Wave will be the home opener for the Golden Hurricanes and will kick off at 7:30 p.m.
— Gavin Oliver of The Journal contributed to this report.
Red Devils face struggles in early-season schedule
By Jimmy Kirby
Courier Sports
jkirby@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — The first two games of the 2015 season have been a struggle
John Bolton/BoltonPhoto.com
A trio of Pickens defenders closes in on Liberty quarterback Austin Hughey on Friday night. The Red Devils have yet to find the end zone through the first two games of the season, including Friday’s 30-0 loss to the Blue Flame.
offensively for the Liberty Red Devils, as they have yet to score a point during regulation play, including a 30-0 loss at the hands of county rival Pickens on Friday night.
The team’s only points came in overtime in the opener against Crescent on a 20-yard Dylan McCall field goal.
The Red Devils have struggled with consistency in moving the football. Six fumbles and one interception in two games have contributed to the offensive inconsistency.
Austin Hughey was forced into the starting quarterback role with the departure of two-year starter Tyler Burgess and a summer football injury to Nick Reeves, who had been the anticipated starter. Reeves should return sometime soon, but Liberty coach Kyle Stewart has announced no specific timetable. The learning curve for Hughey has been tough being thrust into varsity play for the first time.
Against the Blue Flame, the Red Devils had a total of 10 possessions in the game, and half of them resulted in turnovers.
They had four possessions that resulted in three-and-out drives and just one possession that was longer than three plays. The longest drive was 12 plays, and the Red Devils gained 46 yards on the possession. That was the only time the Red Devils crossed into Pickens territory. It is very difficult to score when you are playing on your own side of the field all night. The Red Devils would certainly love to see someone break a long one to shift field position and provide an opportunity to put points on the board.
The longest gain from scrimmage on the night for the Red Devils was a 19-yard run by Hughey that came late in the fourth quarter, but it also resulted in a turnover to give the ball back to the Blue Flame.
The Red Devils were also forced to start each possession deep in their own territory by the booming leg of Pickens kicker Matt Gravely. Liberty’s average starting field position was its own 21-yard line. Gravely accounted for five touchbacks on seven kickoff attempts on the evening.
The Red Devils managed only 89 total yards of offense on the evening, all coming on the ground. Eddy Mathis led the way for the Red Devils with 31 yards on 10 carries. Hughey was 0-for-4 through the air with one interception.
The Red Devil defense held the Blue Flame rushing attack in check for most of the evening, as the Blue Flame gained just 105 yards on the ground. Gunner Covey gained 69 yards on 15 carries to lead Pickens.
The spread formation Blue Flame coach John Boggs decided to go with against the Red Devils made the difference. Sophomore quarterback Tanner Stegall finished the game 12-for-20 on the night for 188 passing yards and one touchdown. He completed passes to six different receivers in the game. The Blue Flame had previously used the power run game in the first two games of the season in losses to Easley and Pendleton.
Stewart will continue to work his squad on fundamentals to develop the run game, using the clock to his advantage as the Devils head into a home matchup with Walhalla this Friday night. Liberty will also have to do a better job of holding onto the football in order to gain the consistency Stewart is seeking in order to nab the first win of the season.
There is an end zone on both ends of the field, and the Red Devils are determined to get there sooner than later.
Kickoff for Friday night’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Blue Flame shut out county rival
Tommy McGaha/Courier
Pickens senior Gunner Covey gets around the end of the Liberty defense for a gain during the Blue Flame’s 30-0 win over the Red Devils on Friday night.
By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports
ejolley@thepccourier.com
PICKENS — It was nearly the perfect storm for Pickens Friday night in a 30-0 home win over county rival Liberty.
The Blue Flame defense forced five turnovers, the offense didn’t turn it over once and the team and fans waited out a near two-hour weather delay to avenge last year’s defeat to the Red Devils.
It was the first win at Pickens for coach John Boggs.
“We threw the ball when we needed to throw it and we ran the ball well,” Boggs said. “Defensively, we get the shutout and I’m not sure of the yardage but I believe their biggest play was in the last series.
“I was very proud of our guys. There were a lot of distraction with the weather and everything else, but I thought they handled it well and came back and did a good job. I was proud of them for being resilient and bouncing back every week. We started out 0-2, and that’s not where we want to be, but the most important one is the next one, and that’s the one we got tonight. I was very proud of these guys.”
The two teams traded punts to open as the defenses came up big. Linebacker Clay Adcox had a four-yard tackle for loss for Pickens, and Aaron Bates had a sack for Liberty.
Pickens then marched 65 yards in 10 plays, mixing pass and run. Gunner Covey had an early 25-yard run, and a Tanner Stegall to Sam Lawson pass covered 11 to the 14. Four plays later, tailback Brandon Batson took a toss right and scored from two yards out with 4:06 left in the first quarter. Matt Gravely’s kick was good, making it 7-0.
Liberty reached the Red Devil 47 when the first lightning strike was spotted at 7:53 p.m. The game didn’t resume until 9:40. The stadium was emptied for safety, and the players went to the locker rooms.
“You don’t even want to know,” Boggs said, laughing about the long delay. “They were stacking cups. You know it’s 30 minutes and then another 30 minutes. You keep having to wait and wait. The biggest thing is you want to keep them off their feet and saving energy. The kids are already wired up and ready to play. (Liberty coach Kyle Stewart) and I were laughing about it.”
The Red Devils, continuing to keep the ball on the ground, reached the Blue Flame 27 after converting on fourth and three. But on first down, Matt Gravely made possibly the biggest play of the game as he made a leaping interception of quarterback Austin Hughey, who was being pressured by Tyler Gravely on the attempt.
As the Blue Flame would do on four of the five turnovers, Pickens converted the miscue into points. Adam Thomas gave Pickens a huge boost, first with a 23-yard catch and run, and then with an 11-yard carry. The drive stalled, and Matt Gravely hit a 38-yard field goal, making it 10-0 with 4:55 left in the half.
The Liberty gifts kept coming three plays later, when a handoff was fumbled and Corbin Hinkle recovered at the Red Devil 32.
A penalty forced Pickens into a second and long, but Stegall found Kirkland Gillespie over the middle and he threaded through four defenders en route to a 47-yard score. Gravely’s kick made it 17-0 with 3:14 left in the half.
“That was big because whenever you have (Gravely) on the field, you have a chance to get points,” Boggs said. “It’s nice to be able to score. I thought the offensive line for the most part did a good job tonight. Our receivers did a good job. Kirkland Gillespie made a nice catch in a backed-up situation. We didn’t get the ball to Isaiah (Ferguson) deep like we wanted to, but he made some big catches. It was a good overall win.”
The second half saw more Liberty presents for Pickens. Three plays into the second half, to Devils lost another fumble, this one recovered by Bryson Capps at the Liberty 29. Eight plays — all runs — later, Stegall snuck it in from a yard out, making it 24-0 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.
The next series was very frustrating for Liberty. The Red Devils were hit with a personal foul on first down, then had a back tackled for a five-yard loss by Ridge Clark and Jerrad Pace. Then, on third and long, Liberty lost another fumble, this one recovered by Renny Croley at the Red Devil 18.
The Devil defense held, and Gravely kicked a 30-yard field goal to make it 27-0 with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
Liberty was held to just 89 yards rushing and again found the going tough, as Croley, Covey and Tyler Gravely ganged up to tackle Cavaugio Butler for a four-yard loss on third down.
Pickens went 65 yards in nine plays for its final score. Stegall hit Ferguson for 15 and Covey for 22 before settling for a 20-yard Gravely kick with 8:23 left.
The Blue Flame got the ball back twice, but one ended on a sack by DeAndre Mansell. The other came in the final two minutes following another fumble, this one recovered by Will Reynolds after a hit by Jamal Blythe on Hughey on a scramble play. Reynolds was ejected following the play for a personal foul and will miss the next game.
Pickens will take this week off before traveling to Wren next Friday to begin region play. Liberty will play host to Walhalla this Friday night.
