Pickens High School senior Carter McCollum scores a first-quarter touchdown on Friday night in a 47-41 win over Easley in overtime.
Scott Schroeder | The Easley Progress
PICKENS — When you hear the name of Carter McCollum, it’s easy to get all wrapped up in the individual statistics he piles up for the Pickens High School football team.
McCollum, a senior running back, scored six touchdowns (five rushing and one pass reception) in leading the Blue Flame football team to a thrilling 47-41 victory over Easley on Friday night. He carried the ball 39 times and rushed for 233 yards.
Not too bad of a night.
“He (McCollum) is just an absolute lion,” said PHS coach James Reynolds, celebrating with his team and family at midfield. “He gives an effort like no one I’ve ever seen.”
But beyond all of that, it is the senior leadership of McCollum that really stood out.
With the score knotted at 41 and going into overtime, Coach Reynolds didn’t need to give any big-time speech to his Pickens football team. He just needed seniors like McCollum to help make it happen.
“I told the defense – if you get me the ball – I’ll give you a touchdown and that’s exactly what they did,” McCollum said, shortly after the victory, still celebrating with the team.
Continued McCollum, about the season-opening win, “This shows how strong we are as a team. We came together. We made some mistakes, but we overcame them.”
To start the game, McCollum scored on three-straight touchdown runs (6, 1 and 50) to give Pickens a commanding 20-0 lead in the second quarter.
Easley junior QB Jay Stoker had a great night, too, with 408 yards passing in the air (22-of-35 accuracy with no interceptions) and it was a school record for most passing yards in a game. Plus, he had 16 rushes for 82 yards. Stoker’s favorite target was Kadin Davis with 7 catches for 237 receiving yards. Stoker nearly won the game in dramatic fashion on the final play of regulation, when he dropped back to pass and ended up sprinting down the left sideline (near the Easley bleachers) to just a yard or two short of the goal line. It was exciting plays like this that left several of the local fans – the next day on Saturday – without a voice and barely able to talk.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Jack Hodges had a huge quarterback sack for Pickens in overtime. Hodges finished with 3 solo tackles and 4 assists.
“Jack (Hodges) is an animal,” said Coach Reynolds. “More than anything, Jack was great against the run game tonight and did some big things for us. His spirit is amazing.”
Pickens sophomore QB Brooks Dow finished the night 15-of-22 for 195 yards and 2 interceptions.
Reach Jeff Holt at 864-855-0355.