Hanna shuts out Green Wave as Fuller honored

By Eugene Jolley
Courier Sports

ejolley@thepccourier.com

EASLEY — Playing with heavy hearts following the death of former Green Wave standout CJ Fuller, the Easley High School football team lost to undefeated defending region champion T.L. Hanna 41-0 Friday night at Bill Carr Stadium.

The Green Wave brought Fuller’s high school No. 24 jersey out for the coin flip, and there were 24 seconds of silence before the national anthem. Easley’s helmets will also bear a “24” decal for the rest of the season. Fuller, who holds several school records, died following knee surgery on Oct. 3.

“It was hard for the whole community,” Easley coach John Windham said. “I talked to our guys about it. They were in the fifth through seventh grade (during Fuller’s EHS career), most of them. They really looked up to him. That was hard on them. That was hard on everybody. We’re certainly thinking about his family and praying for them. We definitely dealt with that and continue to do so.”

Easley could only muster six first downs in the homecoming game — four in the first half and two in the second half — as Hanna’s front seven proved too much for the Wave offense.

Hanna won the toss and deferred to the second half. Early in the opening drive, Easley lost junior left tackle Jackson Wilson to a knee injury.

“We’re thin up there anyway, and he goes down two plays into the game,” Windham said. “I’m hoping he’s going to be OK. We’ve got to try and stay healthy.”

Hanna won the field position battle all night, beginning with their first possession starting at the Easley 49. Three plays later, fullback Zacch Pickens scored from a yard out, making it 7-0 with 6:02 left in the first quarter.

Easley started the next drive at its own 13 and eventually punted.

But the Green Wave defense held thanks to a chop block penalty and a dropped pass. Hanna then shanked a punt 14 yards, and the Green Wave, for one of the few times all night, started with great field

You must be logged in to view this content.