---
title: "Laurens Academy Rolls Past Wardlaw 42-8 in 8-Man Playoffs"
url: https://www.hereclinton.com/2026/11/07/laurens-academy-rolls-past-wardlaw-42-8-scisa-playoffs/
date: 2026-11-07T06:10:58-05:00
modified: 2026-11-07T06:10:58-05:00
author: "Marty Castellanos"
categories: ["High School Sports"]
site: "HERE Clinton"
attribution: "HERE Clinton"
---

# Laurens Academy Rolls Past Wardlaw 42-8 in 8-Man Playoffs

> LAURENS, S.C. — Laurens Academy settled its SCISA 8-man playoff opener well before the break Friday night, carrying a 36-0 lead into halftime on the way to a 42-8 home win over Wardlaw Academy. Senior Caleb Hardy had a hand in four Crusaders touchdowns and piled up over 100 yards from scrimmage. He was just

*Source: [HERE Clinton](https://www.hereclinton.com/2026/11/07/laurens-academy-rolls-past-wardlaw-42-8-scisa-playoffs/) — November 7, 2026 by Marty Castellanos*

LAURENS, S.C. — Laurens Academy settled its SCISA 8-man playoff opener well before the break Friday night, carrying a 36-0 lead into halftime on the way to a 42-8 home win over Wardlaw Academy.

Senior Caleb Hardy had a hand in four Crusaders touchdowns and piled up over 100 yards from scrimmage. He was just as busy on defense in the first half, with an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Quarterback Ethan Collins threw two touchdown passes and went over 150 yards through the air. Riley Whitaker caught a scoring pass and Jensen Tarver ran for another score. Sophomore defensive back Elias Littleton picked off three passes.

Wardlaw kept the shutout off the board with 7:26 left in the fourth quarter, scoring a touchdown and adding the two-point try.

Coach Jolly Doolittle said after the game that his team did a much better job avoiding penalties, a problem that had cost the Crusaders in the last game of the regular season, a loss to Richard Winn Academy.

The win moves Laurens Academy to 9-1. Wardlaw finishes at 2-8.

The Crusaders now face unbeaten Jefferson Davis Academy, 12-0, in the semifinals on Nov. 13. One more win would send Laurens Academy to the 8-man championship game for a third season in a row, with the title game set for Nov. 20 at a neutral site.