By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter

bnimmons@thepccourier.com

CENTRAL — It seemed like it was going to be an easy night for the Daniel Lions in the third round of the Class 3A playoffs on Friday against the Wren Hurricanes.

Sure, rainfall and near freezing temperatures had made the game dreadful for those in attendance at Singleton Field, but the Lions took a 27-0 lead into halftime.

But the Lions’ fortunes changed drastically, as Wren scored lightning-quick back-to-back touchdowns to start the second half.

With the Hurricanes driving once more, junior defensive end Jared Kirksey finally put an end to the Wren momentum for good with a huge fourth-down stop, and Daniel cruised to a 36-14 victory to seal a shot at the Upper State championship this Friday night at Greer.

“That stop was huge,” Daniel coach Jeff Fruster said. “At that point, they had the momentum swing in their direction, and if we had allowed points on that drive they could have just kept moving.”

“It was a big stop for our defense,” added Kirksey. “We knew we had to go out there and do something big to stop them.”

The Lion defense did a remarkable job slowing down the Wren offense on the night, holding the Hurricanes to just 14 points and holding Mr. Football finalist Tyrell Jackson to just 32 yards passing and 25 on the ground before he left the game for good to end the first half.

“We know the caliber of athlete Jackson is,” Fruster said. “We know that he

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