Laurens Academy senior Caleb Hardy named Player of the Week ahead of Danny Ford visit
October 26, 2026
The Laurens County Touchdown Club has named Laurens Academy senior Caleb Hardy its Player of the Week for games played Friday, Oct. 23.
Hardy, who plays H-back and linebacker for the Crusaders, led Laurens Academy to a hard-fought 34-28 region win over rival Newberry Academy. The Crusaders rallied after trailing at halftime for the first time this season.
Hardy rushed for 207 yards and three touchdowns and added a 2-point conversion on the ground. He also caught passes for 57 yards, including a touchdown and a 2-point conversion. On defense, he recorded a team-high 16 tackles.
“Caleb is a relentless competitor who never comes off the field for us in a close ball game,” said head coach Jolly Doolittle. “His prolific numbers are only part of the story. He is a servant leader, unselfish and as tough as they come.”
Laurens Academy closes the regular season Friday night at Richard Winn Academy. The Crusaders begin postseason play Nov. 6.
The Touchdown Club will honor Hardy at its sixth meeting of the season at noon Thursday, Oct. 29, at The Ridge, 301 Exchange Road in Laurens. Big Air of Laurens will cater the meal, and the food line opens at 11:45 a.m. Farm Bureau Insurance of Laurens County presents the 2026 Player of the Week awards.
The Oct. 29 meeting will feature former Clemson University head coach Danny Ford, who led the Tigers to their first national championship in 1981. The title made Ford the youngest head coach in college football history to win a national championship. He coached at Clemson from 1978 to 1989, compiling a 96-29-4 record and winning five ACC titles.
Player of the Week awards for the Oct. 16 and Oct. 23 high school games will also be presented at the meeting, and coaches from the area’s high school teams and Presbyterian College will give recaps of their seasons.
The Laurens County Touchdown Club meets every other Thursday during football season at The Ridge, and the public is invited. Tickets are $20 at the door. Meetings begin at noon, with the food line opening at 11:45 a.m.
