The EHS cheerleaders.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
The Green Wave take the field.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
EHS players get fired up in pregame.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
Easley cheerleaders and students help the Green Wave take the field.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
EHS sidelines.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
EHS Football Coach Sam Houston.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
EHS captains.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
Matthew Hillstock breaks loose against Wren.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
EHS senior Evan Massey delivers a punt against Wren.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
The Easley defense tries to contain the ground game of Wren with the talented runningback Muntu Brown.
Mark Beery | The Easley Progress
EASLEY — You’ve probably heard that old saying: “It’s not how you start, but how you finish.”
That’s how it panned out for the Easley football team on Friday night in a 35-21 victory over Wade Hampton. The Green Wave trailed 14-7 at halftime.
“It was probably the worst half of football (in the first two quarters) that I’ve ever seen,” said EHS coach Sam Houston. “It was bad – from an operational standpoint with penalties, but I challenged them at halftime and I’m proud of how the guys responded. An ugly win is always better than a pretty loss. Coach (Reuben) Wright at Wade Hampton is doing a heck of a job. They kicked us in the mouth that first half.”
The offensive play of Matthew Hillstock and the defensive play of Kaiden Erby led Easley to the victory and a 2-1 record on the season.
Hillstock two TD catches of 35 and 20 for EHS.
“I’m glad he (Hillstock) is on our team,” Houston said. “When in doubt, find where 18 is at and get the ball in his hands. It was third and 7, and we were about to score to tie it up. We throw a little 5-yard hitch route to make it manageable, and he makes two guys miss, breaks a tackle and goes to score.”
Easley QB Jojo Coleman finished the night 17-of-27 passing with no interceptions and 220 yards in the air.
Irby finished the night on defense with 3 solo tackles and 5 assists for the Green Wave. Others contributing on the EHS defense were: Kaden Cooper (4 solos, 2 assists), Kobe Preston (3 solos, 4 assists), Jakyric Jamison (3 solos, 2 assists),
Other scores from Friday night (Sept. 5):
Liberty 42, Pickens 17
TL Hanna 49, Westside 20
Daniel 31, JL Mann 14
Liberty 42, Pickens 17
From Aug. 29 (Week No. 2): The Easley football team jumped out to an early 7-0 lead in the first quarter on JoJo Coleman’s 3-yard TD run and then suffered a 50-21 loss at Wren.
The Hurricanes were led by running back Muntu Brown who had 13 rushes for 187 yards and 3 touchdowns (TD runs of 16, 76 and 44).
Brown, a 17-year-old junior who grew up playing soccer, has only played the game of football for three years.
“I just try to rely on my line,” Brown said. “These are amazing guys and almost like family. It’s an amazing game.”
RUSHING: EHS (Jeremiah Patton 7-37, Hillstock 4-29, Coleman 4-24 and Cason Brewington 3-10).
PASSING: EHS (Coleman: 26-46-0 255)
RECEIVING: EHS (Hillstock 10-98, Malachi Debnam 7-61).
TACKLES: EHS (Brewington 8 solos, 4 assists; Jakyric Jamison 5 solos, 5 assists; Kobe Preston 2 solos, 8 assists; Kaiden Cooper 2 solos, 1 assist.)
Green Wave notes: Wren now leads the series with Easley 26-21. The Green Wave’s last win over Wren was in 2016.
Other scores: Stratford 42, Daniel 26
Pickens 70, Abbeville 28
Liberty 61, Southside 14
Reach Jeff Holt at 864-855-0355.