Clay took over the Sports Desk in 2020, but has been with The Courier Herald as a virtual jack of all trades since joining the staff as a student intern in 2010. The Dublin native, a graduate of the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, has worked all over the newsroom in a variety of full- and part-time roles and received numerous Georgia Press Association awards for his writing, photography and editing. In addition to reading his area sports coverage, you can also hear him on the radio as a local play-by-play voice, host of 92.7 WKKZ’s “Tailgate Party” and occasional contributor to the Georgia Southern Sports Network.
The Raiders scored 23 unanswered points, then made two defensive stands in the last five minutes, to overcome Friday's three-score deficit and even their record.
There were plenty of crazy turns and unexpected developments between rollercoaster games and shocking upsets in the Heart of Georgia's week 3 high school football action.
Whether unbeaten, winless or somewhere in between, Laurens County's teams will each have some type of chip on their shoulder going into some important week 3 matchups.
First victories, confident second wins and heartbreaking fourth quarters highlighted a second week of football in the Heart of Georgia filled with single-score games.
The Irish rushed for 568 yards, and spurned the Panthers on downs four times, in Friday's declarative victory to remain unbeaten, and hand a nearby AAAAA powerhouse its second-straight loss.
Record participation and the exciting potential of some emerging underclassmen has the Raiders anticipating good things in both the near and long-term future.
A glance at statement wins by the Irish and Johnson County Trojans, and shortfalls by the Falcons and Trinity Crusaders, among other week 2 football results in the Heart of Georgia.
A first meeting in 23 years between old rivals in the Irish and Panthers has the marquee of a week 2 slate that will also have another top-10 showdown and local grudge match on tap for Friday night.
The Raiders will spend the early part of this season adjusting at some key positions as they bridge the gap between last year's senior class and a new roster relying heavily on freshmen.
The Royals, led by a senior quarterback in command and a defense that bent but didn't break, outplayed the comparatively fresh-faced Raiders to win Friday's season opener.