Laurens Academy’s Caleb Hardy named Touchdown Club player of the week
September 7, 2026
Laurens Academy senior Caleb Hardy, an H-back and linebacker for the Crusaders, has been named the Laurens County Touchdown Club player of the week for games played Friday, Sept. 4.
Hardy, a multiple-position player, led the Crusaders on both sides of the ball Friday night in their 44-6 win against Oaktown Academy, formerly Cathedral Academy, at Todd Kirk Field.
The senior rushed 18 times for 130 yards and two touchdowns and added two catches for 83 yards and another score. On defense, Hardy recorded five total tackles, one tackle for loss, one deflected pass and a fumble recovery in the home win.
“Caleb has and does everything a good football player does,” head coach Jolly Doolittle said. “He is a tough, relentless and unselfish player who contributes when the ball is in his hands, he is seeking the ball on defense or whether he is called upon to block or sacrifice his body.”
The Laurens County Touchdown Club will honor Hardy on Thursday, Sept. 17, at the club’s third meeting of the year. The meeting will be at noon at The Ridge in Laurens, with Whiteford’s Drive-In of Clinton serving the meal and the food service line opening at 11:45 a.m. Player of the week awards will be presented in 2026 by Farm Bureau Insurance of Laurens County. Awards for both the Sept. 4 and Sept. 11 high school football games will be presented at the meeting.
The featured speaker will be recently retired NFL official Rick Patterson of Gaffney. Patterson has officiated the second-most NFL games in league history and is one of only nine NFL officials to work 30 years or more in the league. He has officiated numerous divisional and conference championship playoff games and three Super Bowls.
The Laurens County Touchdown Club meets every other Thursday throughout the football season at The Ridge, located at 301 Exchange Road in Laurens. The public is invited. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $15. All meetings are at noon, with the food service line opening at 11:45 a.m.
