Easley varsity football coach Sam Houston reads the names of his players who were pointed out for doing a top-notch job in chemistry class at EHS. The Green Wave open up the season on Friday night at Pickens.
Jeff Holt | The Easley Progress
EASLEY — Sometimes, leadership on a football team happens when you least expect it.
That’s what happened last Thursday afternoon at the Easley High School football practice. It was the day before the big Jamboree with their scrimmage against Daniel High School on Friday night.
But Coach Sam Houston, right before closing out his end-of-the-practice speech, pulled out a piece of paper and started to read an email to the team that was sent to him from a fellow teacher at EHS (chemistry teacher Heather Stallard).
It wasn’t a complaint — it wasn’t anything like they were on their cell phones too much or clowning around in the classroom.
Coach Houston then asked the following players to stand up and join him up in front of the team — Easton Lewis, Trent Coker, Cam Hunter, Kaiden Erby, Jeb Bishop, Timijio Massey and Jake McAlister.
Coach Houston went on to read the email from Stallard.
“I just wanted to take a quick moment to tell you that the football players that I have in my chemistry classes are representing Easley with great character,” said Stallard. “They are on time for class, respectful, attentive, ask questions, staying on top of assignments, such a delight in class, and the list goes on. I know you tend to get a lot of emails throughout the season with those doing not such great things, and I just wanted you to know that these young men are doing well off the field. They make me excited to watch them play!”
The term “chemistry” – like team chemistry – is used a ton in sports. This Green Wave football team has taken chemistry to another level.
Reflecting back on that email from Stallard, Coach Houston said, “We try to tell these guys that we win at everything we do. Not just on the field. It’s in the classroom or whatever they are doing to have that winning mindset. We just had some guys who had a chemistry class at different periods of the day and the teacher emailed me about how much she appreciates it. Winning in the classroom, and I’m really proud of those guys of what they have done in the classroom and what they are doing on the field. I’m excited to see what is in store for them.”
Easley HS 2024 Varsity Football Roster
2 Jay Stoker (Jr.)
3 Jeremiah Patton (Jr.)
5 Kadin Davis (Sr.)
7 Kaiden Erby (Jr.)
8 Malachi Ramey (So.)
9 Miles Campbell (So.)
10 Cason Brewington (Jr.)
11 Kobe Preston (Jr.)
13 Owen Jackson (Jr.)
14 Jonathan Isham (Sr.)
15 Kyler Turner (Sr.)
16 Cam Hunter (Jr.)
18 Matthew Hillstock (Jr.)
19 Connor Wheaton (Sr.)
21 Will Oakley (Jr.)
22 Aaron Tolbert (Sr.)
24 Tristan Blanchard (Jr.)
25 Kaden Cooper (Jr.)
27 Jonathan Thomas (Sr.)
31 Jadden Wall (Sr.)
33 Easton Lewis (Jr.)
35 Geno Cutolo (Jr.)
36 Brady Wright (Jr.)
39 Chip McCall (Sr.)
44 Jacob McAlister (Jr.)
49 Peyton Lewis (Sr.)
50 Stone Turner (Jr.)
51 Cole Watkins (So.)
53 Zayden Smith (Sr.)
54 Nick Mathis (Jr.)
55 Ezekiel Cruz (Sr.)
60 Antwon Woodruff (Jr.)
61 Trey Sutton (Sr.)
63 Ashton Woodruff (Jr.)
64 Kinley Buldo (Jr.)
65 Hunter Burton (Jr.)
66 Jaxson Wilson (Jr.)
67 James Bishop (Sr.)
75 Brody Lesley (Jr.)
77 Henry Masterson (Jr.)
80 Jacob Joseph (Jr.)
83 Jakyric Jamison (Jr.)
86 Isaac Pereira (Sr.)
87 Sean Hammett (Jr.)
88 Landon Bagwell (Sr.)
89 Evan Massey (Jr.)
95 Malachi Gambrell (Sr.)