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CLINTON, S.C. - The Presbyterian College football team held its annual Fan Day at Bailey Memorial Stadium on Saturday, featuring a strong turnout and a competitive scrimmage.
The day began at 9 a.m. as fans chatted with players and coaches while members of the Blue Hose autographed schedule posters and magnets. The Kid's Zone Fun Zone offered inflatable castles and games as well as a professional face painter and balloon artist while the Carolina Choo-Choo Train chugged its way through the stadium concourse.
After a performance by the PC Blue Hose cheerleaders and an a capella rendition of the PC fight song from Head Coach Harold Nichols and the football team, the Blue Hose headed into the locker room to prepare for the 20th practice of the season-a scrimmage on the field at Bailey.
The team led off with punting and kicking drills before the offense set up at its own 35-yard line. PC's defense held its ground early, guided by tackles from Josh Polk (Lithonia, Ga.) and Kyle Sharman (Redondo Beach, Calif.).
Running backs Seth Moreland (Conway, S.C.) and Lance Byrd (Jacksonville, Fla.) helped move the team to the defense's 28-yard line where quarterback Brandon Miley (Wilmington, N.C.) took over. Miley delivered a perfect spiral to a leaping Jeremiah McKie (Simpsonville, S.C.) in the corner of the end zone for the day's first score.
McKie emerged as one of PC's brightest spots on Saturday. Midway through the practice, the freshman receiver hauled in a 32-yard pass that set up a touchdown run from Lance Byrd on the next play. Eight yards away from paydirt, Byrd ran up the gut and powered through a defender to cross the goal line.
After McKie's touchdown grab, the defense stymied the offense by breaking up passes and keeping rushes short. Cedric Byrd (Tyrone, Ga.) and LJ Perry (Augusta, Ga.) made several plays on consecutive possessions and Rickey Floyd (Jacksonville, Fla.) delivered a key tackle on a third-down pass from Chad Sanders (St. Simons Island, Ga.) after the offense began a possession on the defense's 35.
On third and four during the next possession, Cory White (Anderson, S.C.) ripped the ball away from a receiver in midair for the only interception of the practice.
The offense and Miley struck again shortly after the interception. Facing second and eight on the defense's 33-yard line, Miley found Patrick McKoy (Fayetteville, N.C.) in the middle of the field and McKoy did the rest, sprinting and juking all the way for a touchdown.
After Byrd's rushing score, the team sent up for punt practice. Big South Conference all-time leading kick blocker Justin Bethel (Blythewood, S.C.) proved why he holds the record on the first punt, breaking up the play and taking the ball in for a touchdown.
The Blue Hose then practiced its hurry-up offense with a four-minute drill, highlighted by a Demarcus Rouse (North Augusta, S.C.) 44-yard scamper that was part of a 62-yard performance on the ground from Rouse on the possession.
The scrimmage wrapped up in one-minute and minute-and-a-half drills. The defense held strong as Donelle Williams (Starke, Fla.) recorded two sacks and CeeJay Harris (Long Beach, Calif.) and Isaiah Lynn (Fort Lawn, S.C.) each broke up a pass.
PC will resume practice this week as the team prepares for its season opener against Wofford on Saturday, September 3. The game is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m. at Bailey Memorial Stadium.
