Daniel Jamboree a taste of what’s to come

CENTRAL — Daniel High School hosted the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Jamboree on Aug. 8, allowing Pickens County residents to get a preview of several local teams before the beginning of the 2015 season.

Special rules in place for the night gave teams an opportunity to scrimmage in full uniform against a team other than themselves. Special teams were all played under a dead ball rule and each match-up — three in all — were two quarter affairs instead of a full game.

Each match-up featured a Pickens County team. The first two quarters were played by Pickens and Southside Christian, followed by Liberty and Christ Church, and the final scrimmage featured the host Daniel and Berea. Pickens County struggled in the first two but Daniel was able to dominate the Bulldogs on the ground for redemption.

For Pickens it was a difficult two quarters as the high octane passing attack of Southside proved too much in two quarters. The Cavaliers scored on big pass plays early in the contest before adding a late uncontested field goal for a final score of 17-0.

The Blue Flame gave up two fumbles to kill drive opportunities and give Southside a boost before the final horn sounded.

Round two was more of the same for Pickens County, except it proved to be a slashing ground game that wreaked havoc on the Liberty Red Devils defense.

Christ Church’s Sabers lived up to their name as their ground attack sliced its way through the Liberty defense repeatedly, assisted by a couple of turnovers, to jump out to a 30-0 lead.

Liberty mounted promising drives in the two quarters, going for it on fourth down most of the contest and often giving Christ Church a short field after the Sabers’ defense stepped up for big stops.

Before the final horn, Liberty was able to plunge into the endzone, but failed on the PAT, bringing the final to 30-6.

Daniel’s Lions picked up where they left off before falling out of the state playoffs last season. Berea was unable to slow down the Lions ground attack, surrendering two TD’s in the opening quarter to stake Daniel to a 14-0 lead. The Lions never looked back, pounding their way into the endzone and a strong showing at home.

The regular season kicks off for Pickens County teams on Aug. 28.

The Blue Flame weren’t able to keep the high powered passing attack of Christ Church in check in their two quarters of play.

https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_8852.jpgThe Blue Flame weren’t able to keep the high powered passing attack of Christ Church in check in their two quarters of play. D. C. Moody | The Easley Progress

Liberty came out looking to dominate the ball and clock against Southside Christian but found the Sabers a little too effective with the ball themselves in jamboree action.

https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_8896.jpgLiberty came out looking to dominate the ball and clock against Southside Christian but found the Sabers a little too effective with the ball themselves in jamboree action. D. C. Moody | The Easley Progress

Daniel squared off with Berea’s Bulldogs in the final matchup of the night and dominated the action during their two quarters of play.

https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/web1_IMG_8928.jpgDaniel squared off with Berea’s Bulldogs in the final matchup of the night and dominated the action during their two quarters of play. D. C. Moody | The Easley Progress