Laurens Academy waiting to see how season plays out

By Dennis Brunson

hssr.com Associate Editor

Laurens – Jolly Doolittle liked where his Laurens Academy 8-man football team was after six games. The Crusaders owned a 4-2 record as they prepared to play the games that counted against SCISA Region 1 foes.

Two weeks later and Doolittle didn’t know what kind of team he had. That’s because LA was still stuck on six games after having two games postponed as people along the middle to northern portion of the South Carolina-Georgia state line tried to recover from the devastation brought by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

“I felt like we were about to get to the point where we were playing our best,” said Doolittle, who is in his second season at Laurens. “Now we haven't had grass under our feet in two weeks.”

The Crusaders had their game against Newberry Academy scheduled for September 27 postponed as well as their October 4 game against Wardlaw. The Newberry game was rescheduled for October 18, however it remains to be seen what will happen with the Wardlaw game.

The six Region 1 teams were all scheduled to play each other twice with the second meetings being the ones that counted in region play. The first meetings could come into play if the second meetings can’t be made up.

“We may have to sit down as a region and talk about different scenarios,” Doolittle said. “Decisions could have to be made where people do things for the greater good.”

Senior Garrett Murphy was leading LA offensively, rushing for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns on 94 carries. Sophomore Caleb Hardy had 53 carries for 379 yards and eight TDs.

Sophomore quarterback Ethan Collins had completed 65 of 96 passes for 807 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 204 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Hardy had 34 catches for 309 yards and five scores. Murphy had 10 catches for 108 yards and a TD, Nathan Bell had eight catches for 102 yards, Anthony Candeles had seven receptions for 116 yards and two TDs, and Spires McCameron had four catches for 164 yards and one touchdown.

Doolittle gives credit for the offensive success to Laurens’ line. The Crusaders have an experienced group along the line in Bell and Candeles as tight ends, Garrison Vaughan and Jay Riddle as guards and Hack Hardy at center.

“We knew coming in the strength of the team is the offensive line,” he said. “Certainly, that's been the key to our success.”

Laurens has been a big play defensive team. Vaughn had 17 ½ tackles for loss followed by Hack Hardy with nine, Bell with 7 ½, Murphy with six and Caleb Hardy with five.