Managing Editor

brobinson@pickenssentinel.com

PICKENS - For the first quarter and half, the Pickens-Easley football game was like a heavyweight fight, with each team slinging "haymakers."

But in the final three minutes of the second quarter, Pickens scored three touchdowns, basically putting the game out of reach for the visiting Green Wave.

The Blue Flame held on through the second half to earn a 48-30 victory.

It was Pickens' first victory over their rivals from Easley in five years. The Blue Flame earned the win with an almost unstoppable offense and a defense that came up with big plays when needed.

Kelby Jones had another outstanding game for the Blue Flame, rushing for 185 yards and scoring three touchdowns. Quarterback James Lawson passed for two touchdowns and ran for a third for the Blue Flame.

Lawson used five different targets, the most common being Jake Cuthbertson with 6 catches for 64 yards and Will Burgess with five catches for 61 yards.

For Easley, freshman Zach Lappin continues to grow into his role, passing for 313 yards and four touchdowns.

Lappin's favorite targets were Rashaad White with eight catches for 57 yards; Trevin Franklin with five catches for 88 yards; and Zack Fowler, with five catches for 52 yards.

The game, which started 30 minutes late because of the Meals on Wheels Food Fight, lasted just over three hours. The first quarter, with seven kickoffs (two repeated due to penalties) seemed to last forever.

A penalty on the opening kickoff forced Easley to line up for another kick after a five-yard penalty. Kelby Jones took advantage of the kick, returning the ball 90 yards to the Green Wave 2.

Another off-side penalty against Easley cut the Blue Flame's distance to the goal in half. From there, Jones ran in from one yard for Pickens' first touchdown of the night. Justin Gravely added the extra point to give Pickens a 7-0 lead.

Easley drove the ball to the Pickens 5 on its next possession, but the Green Wave was unable to push into the end zone and instead had to settle for a Devin Southerland 22-yard field goal, making the score Pickens 7, Easley 3.

Pickens' next drive stalled at the Easley 11. Justin Gravely hit a 28-yard field goal to give the Blue Flame a 10-3 lead.

Easley answered quickly, scoring on a 41-yard pass from Lappin to Franklin for a touchdown. Southerland's kick tied the game 10-10.

The teams quickly exchanged fumbles. On the third play of Pickens' next drive, Easley's Joe McNeely recovered a Blue Flame fumble. On the next play, Pickens' Z Hendricks returned the favor, recovering an Easley fumble at the Blue Flame 23.

Later in the first quarter, Aaron Hester intercepted an Easley pass at the Green Wave 41 to help set up another Blue Flame scoring drive.

Lawson capped that drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to Cuthberson to give Pickens a 17-10 lead early in the second quarter.

Easley's next scoring drive was set up when Aaron Duncan returned a punt to the Blue Flame 24. Four plays later, Lappin hit Brandon Grady with an 11-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 17-17.

In the final minutes of the first half, the Blue Flame pulled away. Pickens drove down field to set up a 1-yard rush by Lawson for a touchdown with 2:45 remaining in the half.

On Easley's next drive, Z Hendricks intercepted a Green Wave pass and returned it to the Easley 24. Five plays later, Jones looked to be stopped for a short gain, but instead seemed to carry tacklers with him 13 yards for another Blue Flame touchdown. Gravely's extra point gave Pickens a 31-17 lead with 1:44 remaining in the half.

A 43-yard pass from Lappin to Grady on Easley's next drive put the Green Wave in scoring position. But Aaron Hester picked off his second pass of the quarter at the Pickens 5.

A 56-yard pass from Lawson to Michael Johnson pulled Pickens into scoring position. Two plays later Lawson hit Will Burgess for a 16-yard touchdown pass that put Pickens ahead 38-17 with just 5 seconds remaining in the half.

Pickens continued to roll in the third quarter. On Easley's first drive of the period, Pickens' Aaron Porter recovered a Green Wave fumble at the Easley 21. A few plays later, Jones ran in for his final touchdown of the night, this time from five years out, giving the Blue Flame a commanding 45-17 lead.

Porter recovered another Green Wave fumble on the ensuing kickoff, giving Pickens the ball on the Green Wave 25.

The Easley defense played tough, holding Pickens to a 42-yard field goal by Gravely to give the Blue Flame a 48-17 lead.

Easley finally put together a 7-play, 37-yard drive to cut into the Blue Flame lead. Lappin hit Zack Fowler with a 9-yard touchdown pass on a fourth and goal play.

Later in the third quarter, Easley's Jerry Helton intercepted a Pickens pass and returned if to the Pickens 44. From there, Lappin hit Cuthbertson with a 44-yard pass for another Green Wave score, pulling score to 48-30.

Neither team was able to score in the fourth quarter, so Pickens held on to earn its third win of the year against no losses. Pickens has an opportunity to go to 5-0 Friday as the Blue Flame travel to Traveler's Rest. Easley hosts Eastside.