EASLEY — New Easley head football Coach Chad Smith has been implementing a new direction for the Green Wave program since being named to the position several months ago. But Smith’s official era as the Green Wave skipper will not begin until Easley hosts West-Oak Aug. 20 on Brice Field.

The game will be played a week before the S.C. High School League season officially opens Aug. 27. The league allows teams to work around scheduling conflicts by playing games one week before the season begins for other schools.

Easley is coming off a 1-10 season.

Easley’s 2010 schedule features seven home games. Daniel, Easley’s opponent for Aug. 27 game, will almost be a secondary “home team” at Brice Field this season as the Lions will return to Easley during the season for their only two “home” games of the season. Singleton Field is being destroyed to make room for the new Daniel High School facility.

Last year Daniel defeated Easley 35-0.

Easley will have a bye week Sept. 3, then travel to Pickens Sept. 10. Last year the Blue Flame defeated Easley 37-17.

Easley will then hosts Riverside Sept. 16 for a Thursday night game.

The Green Wave will then open Region 1-AAAA play at home against Westside Sept. 24. Last year the Rams defeated Easley 29-9.

Easley’s first game outside Pickens County will be played Oct. 1 at Greenwood.

The Green Wave will return home Oct. 8 for a non-conference game against Hillcrest. Because Region 1-AAAA and Region 2-AAAA both have an odd number of teams, the two regions are “married” this season, with each team playing one team in the opposite region to even out the weekly schedule.

Last year Easley opened the season with a 28-14 loss to Hillcrest.

Easley then has its final two road games back-to-back, starting with Hanna Oct. 15. Last season Hanna defeated Easley 41-13.

The Green Wave then travels to Laurens Oct. 22. The Raiders defeated Easley 41-14 last season.

Easley hosts new Region 1-AAAA member Woodmont Oct. 29.

Easley ends the regular season with a home game against defending Region 1-AAAA champions Wren Nov. 5. For the past several years, Easley has faced Wren twice each year, with only the second meeting counting in the Region standings. Last year Wren swept the Green Wave, defeating Easley 35-0 at Brice Field, then 63-20 at Wren.

Season ticket applications are available at the Easley High School office or at the school’s Web page.