By Bru Nimmons
Staff Reporter

bnimmons@thepccourier.com

PICKENS — The Daniel High School football team entered Friday’s matchup at Pickens firing on all cylinders.

However, the Blue Flame, who played spoiler to Walhalla just two weeks earlier, gashed the Lions and entered the second quarter driving once more.

The Lions’ defense managed to stop the imposing threat by forcing a fumble, and Tyler Venables took care of his team the rest of the way, as the junior quarterback tossed three of his five touchdowns passes in the quarter to help Daniel pull away for a 42-17 victory.

“Those kids for Pickens fought hard tonight,” Daniel head coach Jeff Fruster said. “I have to commend (head coach Chad Smith) for what he has done with this program and getting them to the level of play they are at right now.”

The win moved the undefeated Lions (8-0, 4-0 Region I-4A) to within one game of winning their first region title since 2013. They’ll get their chance at home this week in a winner-take-all showdown with Belton-Honea Path, which trounced Wren by a final score of 41-24 on Friday night.

“The success these kids have had so far is commendable,” Fruster said. “The kind of turnaround they’ve shown from one season to the next is all on the staff and the kids for believing in what it is we presented them. I’m awful proud of them tonight and the effort they showed.”

Offensively, the Lions were paced by Venables, who enjoyed another outstanding outing. He posted one of his best passing nights of the year, throwing for 308 yards and adding five

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