Laurens Academy football team striving to get better
Crusaders hope to make another playoff run after finishing as runner-up last season
Laurens – A year ago at this time, the Larens Academy football team was coming into the season off of a 4-8 campaign. Things are different this year after the Crusaders went 9-4 and played for the SCISA 8-man state championship in 2024.
That has LA head coach Jolly Doolittle and his staff being vigilant in reminding the players not to lose sight of what got them there.
“We’ve been preaching from Day 1 that preparation is the separation,” Doolittle said. “We’ve got guys that returned who enjoyed getting there, and they want all that again. The goal every day is to get better. If we do that, the performance will take care of itself.”
Laurens, which opened the season with a what Doolittle called a “weird” 30-14 win over Newberry Academy, has several key performers back. Junior Ethan Collins is back for his third year starting at quarterback.
“I can’t say enough good things about that kid,” Doolittle said of Collins, who completed 159 of 222 passes for 1,893 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 277 yards and three more TDs.
Junior Caleb Hardy returns at running back. He caught 83 passes for 751 yards and seven TDs while rushing for 488 yards and nine TDs on 66 carries.
“He’s one of those guys who makes us go,” Doolittle said of Hardy. :He’s a3-year starter and is as solid as they get. He’s pivotal to the success on every play.”
Sophomore Mason Cooper will take over the other tailback slot after rushing for 441 yards and two TDs in a parttime role.
The tight ends are freshman Riley Whittaker and senior Nathan Bell. They combine with senior center John Walters and tackles Garrison Vaughan and Jeb Walters to lead the way.
The 6-foot-4-inch, 300-pound Vaughan is a monster on both sides of the ball. He played 15 snaps on offense against Newberry and had eight knockdown blocks. He led the defense with 125 tackles last season, including an amazing 44 ½ tackles. He had 7 ½ quarterback sacks, caused six fumbles and recovered three fumbles.
“I think he’s the best lineman in 8-man football,” Doolittle said.
Vaughan and John Walters are the tackles on defense. Whittaker and freshman Eli Gossett are the outside linebackers with Hardy and Bell roaming on the inside. Cooper and freshman Elias Littleton are the defensive backs.
Doolittle, who saw his team beat Wardlaw Academy 34-8 in its second game, believes the best is yet to come for the Crusaders.
“There’s just a lot of areas on the team where we can and will get better at,” he said. We’re always chasing for our best. I don’t believe it was our best against Newberry. I do believe can get better.”
