Pickens High School football coach James Reynolds talks to his team last week in Easley at the Jamboree. Reynolds and his team will be hosting rival Easley High School on Friday night.
Jeff Holt | The Easley Progress
PICKENS — There’s an old saying you’ve probably heard: “The little steps turn into big steps.”
That one saying seems symbolic for the 2024 Pickens High School football team. The Blue Flame squad pulled out a 16-14 win over Woodmont last Friday night in the Jamboree at Easley High School.
The PHS players were fired up after the win.
However, Coach James Reynolds had to remind his team that it was just two quarters of a game and it was a preseason game. Yet, it was still a big leap of improvement on display after last season’s 1-9 varsity record that featured seven season-ending injuries. It was momentum on what they are trying to build.
“In our circumstance, we can’t allow anyone to get too high or too low,” said Coach Reynolds, shortly after the victory. “If this hadn’t gone like we wanted it to, I would have told them the same thing. It’s only two quarters and we have to learn how to win after four quarters. We have to take it for what it is, but the things we are doing to get ready are working. We can’t get too high after a 2-point lead at a half.”
Senior runningback Carter McCollum did not miss a beat against Woodmont, scoring two touchdowns for the Blue Flame.
McCollum piled up over 1,400 all-purpose yards for the Blue Flame football team last season.
“We were pretty much a one-dimensional offense (last season) and everyone knew that he (McCollum) was getting the ball,” said Coach Reynolds. “He was still able to do that against all of the great teams that were on our schedule last year. So, we are excited about the possibilities for Carter for the upcoming season.”
This Pickens offense, though, will look a bit different this season.
Senior Landon Pace, who served as the quarterback the past two seasons, will not be the signal caller this season. He is moving into another role on offense.
“We are excited about how much stronger and faster he has gotten, and the example that he sets for our team every day,” said Reynolds. “He’s responded in an outstanding way. He’ll be utilized in our offense in a lot of ways.”
Senior Walker Kelley is returning to the Blue Flame roster after a season-ending knee injury last season. “He got injured in the first scrimmage last year against Walhalla and never saw any game action,” said Reynolds. “His rehab has been amazing and he is a tremendous leader for our football team.”
There is one player on this team, too, who fires up everybody.
“Brayden Powell is kind of the emotional leader of our football team,” said Reynolds. “He sets the tone every day and gives us huge energy every day.”
McCollum, Pace, Kelley and Powell will be serving as the captains this season for the PHS football team.
One big boost is the coaching staff that Reynolds has put together this season. They include: Rich Windham (OC), Ridge Vining (OL/Strength), Gary Roberson (WR), Tim Sheppard (RB), Bart Turner (Asst. OL), Stephan Rowland (Quality Control), Kyle Bishop (DL), Trent Frazer (LB), John Hunter (OLB), Chad Seaborn (Safeties) and Michael Williams (CB).
Commented Reynolds, “We’ve really extended our ability to enforce the standard of preparation. The standard of practice – and the habits that we want our team to have – by not only adding quality coaches to the staff, but they have remained and learned a great deal from our experience last year. They have responded in a tremendous way and I could not be happier with our staff.”
Reynolds said that “champion habits” is their battle statement – their mission statement – this season of their program. “Our big word is battle,” Reynolds said. “We don’t spell out Pickens when we do jumping jacks. We spell out battle and that’s what we have to do.”
Ending note: There are a lot of good things happening at Pickens High School right now. They have started up a booster club at PHS that should be huge down the road. Their football schedule this year has a lot of “traditional matchups” with local rivalries. They just have that “all in” mentality and you can see the steps they are taking. “The whole town, the whole school and community has responded to the difficulties of last year and the disappointments of last year – with a great amount of strength and character,” said Reynolds. “We’re all getting up off the mat every mat and are fighting back to make this place great. I could not be happier with how that has gone this past year and leading into this school year. It is a great time to be at Pickens.”
2024 Pickens Blue Flame Football Schedule
Aug. 23: EASLEY
Aug. 30: at Walhalla
Sept. 6: at Liberty
Sept. 13: ST. JOSEPH
Sept. 20: at Blue Ridge
Sept. 27: BEREA
Oct. 4: GREER
Oct. 18: DANIEL
Oct. 25: at Seneca
Nov. 1: at Travelers Rest
Reach Jeff Holt at 864-855-0355.