The Clinton High School Red Devils secured their sixth consecutive victory over cross-county rival Laurens in the 107th Laurens County Football Championship on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. The game, played in the rain, was decided in the final two seconds with a 29-22 score.
Senior quarterback Owen Glenn delivered the winning 3-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Caleb Gary in the Laurens end zone. This play followed Glenn’s scramble that positioned Clinton at the 3-yard line. Junior kicker Gray Garrett successfully converted the extra point. The Red Devils then used a squib kick to run out the clock after recovering the ball.
Red Devil Football Head Coach Corey Fountain, now in his eighth season, holds a 6-1 record against Laurens. He emphasized the team’s resilience, noting their ability to overcome setbacks during the game. Fountain also reflected on a missed scoring opportunity before halftime when a snap over the punter’s head could have led to a scoop and score, and a pass to Damajia Crooks was ruled out of bounds.
Laurens entered the game with a more potent offense compared to the previous season, having scored 35 points against Woodruff and 42 against JL Mann in their season opener. This was Clinton’s first game of the 2026 season, and the team displayed multiple penalties.
During halftime, CHS Athletics honored the varsity baseball team with 2A State Championship rings for their title run last spring. Individual state champions recognized included Mia Carles for golf, Mario Del Vecchio for wrestling, and sophomore Samari Mims, the 2A Track State Champion in High Jump with a mark of 5 feet, 7 inches.
In the third quarter, Clinton stopped Laurens at their own 13-yard line but couldn’t advance the ball. Glenn then punted to the Laurens 2-yard line. However, Laurens responded with a 98-yard, 10-play drive, capped by sophomore quarterback Logan Bragg’s 59-yard scoring pass to Brayden Patterson. An Elijah Cheeks 2-point conversion tied the game at 22.
Clinton’s senior running back and defensive back Angelo Cromer was a key player, rushing for 152 yards on 17 carries. Rhett Gilliam contributed 66 rushing yards. Crooks also had 151 yards on three kick returns, including runs of 58 and 75 yards. Laurens’ Travion Robinson accounted for 123 rushing yards of his team’s 264 total offensive yards.
The Red Devils will next face Newberry this Friday at Mike Ware Field, approximately 20 miles from Clinton, with kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Coach Fountain expressed the team’s desire to reclaim the CNNGA Belt, a symbol of football supremacy jointly owned by the Cities of Clinton and Newberry. Following the Newberry game, Clinton will travel to Inman to play Chapman.
Coach Fountain acknowledged the team’s reliance on new names this season, with only 13 seniors. He highlighted players like Joshua Winbush, a junior defensive lineman, and Damajia Crooks, who transferred from Laurens. Other new or returning players include Graydon Watkins, Lincoln Alexander, Camden Gregory, Jason Hood, and Gray Garrett handling kicking and punting.
On October 16, a tribute game will be held against Mountain Valley Prep to honor the late Bill Rhodes, who served District 56 public education for 65 years. A remembrance will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the Clinton Middle School Gym, adjacent to Wilder Stadium, with a special announcement at halftime.
